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LATE PLIOCENE TO LATE PLEISTOCENE PERIOD: 1.8 million - 11,000 years ago Found in the sediments of the Pleistocene layer of the Withlacoochee River in North Florida, USA, this is a tooth from a juvenile Mammut americanum or 'American' mastodon. It is called a 'spit tooth' because this tooth was naturally ejected from the mouth of the Mastodon when alive as the newer teeth move up from the back of the jaw and pushed the older, worn teeth out. Its smaller size indicate this came from a very young juvenile beast and the complete, worn chewing surface shows the animal actively fed and used this tooth as it was growing into an adult. Common with all spit teeth, the roots are lacking as these would have been ejected separately from the tooth. The enamel is a fine hue of blue, gray and black and still exhibits a natural gloss. This tooth is rare as it is without any repair nor restoration. A very affordable specimen from a juvenile Mastodon from the Southeastern United States.Emerging 55 million years ago, the group of mammals called Proboscideans are identified by the presence of tusks and a trunk and comprise three families: Mammutidae, Gomphotheriidae and Elephantidae. In Florida, the mastodon, a member of the family Mammutidae (mammoths are members of Elephantidae), represents one of two of the oldest known proboscideans first dating back to the Miocene. They became extinct 11,000 years ago along with all other proboscideans in Florida. When standing aside a mammoth, the mastodon looks just like a Neanderthal version of the proboscideans. The body form is shorter, more stout and robust and lends itself to a much more muscular physique in contrast to the more graceful and taller mammoth. The cheek teeth of mastodons are also more primitive with sharp crests and a dramatic lobed surface in unworn examples compared to the flat and fine ridged surface of mammoth teeth that resemble the sole of a boating sneaker. These differences tell us about the types of food that both types of creatures ate. The mastodon was more suited for forest environments with teeth that were well adapted for chewing tougher vegetation like twigs, leaves, shrubs, fruits, pinecones, pine needles and mosses. The mammoth with its smoother teeth, was best suited for the open plains feeding on a variety of grasses. A mastodon, like all proboscideans, has a system of horizontal tooth replacement whereby new molars erupt from the rear of the jaw and move forward. The most worn teeth at the front, are pushed out of the jaw. Sometimes while still in the jaw, the anterior portion of a worn front tooth is broken off. These partial teeth are found as fossils along with complete specimens. A baby proboscidean at age 6, will have already had three sets of teeth. By 13 years of age, the fourth set emerges followed by a fifth set at age 27 years. The final set of teeth come in around 43 years of age and as it wears away, the animal eventually starves to death and dies on average between 60 and 80 years of age. Interestingly, the animal's life is limited by the fact that after the sixth set, no new teeth grow in to replace the final worn down set and the animal is no longer able to chew its food. This characteristic is still true of modern elephants. NICE EARLY TOOTH FROM A VERY YOUNG MASTODON WITH CHEWING SURFACE AND COLOR 2.5" long x 1.9" wide SOLD LM15-005 INCLUDES STAND Actual Item - One Only |
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Florida 'American' mastodon |
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Comparison of the skeletal structure and body types of a Florida 'American' mastodon (left) and a Florida 'Columbian' mammoth (right) |
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Withlacoochee River - North Florida, USA |
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