Ancient mastodon tooth discovered in California
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Brigid Lynch, a geomorphologist in California, United States, discovered a 10,000-year-old fossilized mastodon tooth while working in a nature preserve in San Mateo County.
Paleontologists identified the find as a molar from a Pacific Mastodon, a relative of the mammoth. Wayne Thompson, a paleontologist, described the tooth as remarkably well-preserved and the most complete mastodon molar found in the region.
The Pacific Mastodon, the most recent known species of mastodon, lived in areas of present-day California, Oregon, the northern Rocky Mountains, and parts of Mexico. Researchers differentiate it from the American Mastodon by its narrower teeth and thicker leg bones. Lynch donated the fossil to Stanford University for research. Christine Garcia, a curator at the university, explained that fossils provide crucial insights into past biodiversity and ecosystems.
Studying these remains helps scientists understand Earth’s history and make informed decisions about preserving current ecosystems and the species they contain.
