Project Description

In ancient Greek, Mastodon means, “breast tooth.” Named by the famed French naturalist Georges Cuvier, who evidently thought the domed ridges of the teeth resembled human breasts. (They don’t). This large elephant-like mammal roamed North America during the last Ice Age, living as late as 10,000 years ago. Its ridged molars were used for grinding up tough plant material such as pine and spruce twigs.