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California Scientist Looking for Frogs Finds a 10,000-Year-Old Mastodon Tooth
Yahoo • • science
Key Points:
- Brigid Lynch, a geomorphologist surveying habitat for the California red-legged frog, discovered a fossilized Pacific mastodon molar in a creek bed in San Mateo County, California.
- The tooth, confirmed by paleontologist Wayne Thompson as the most complete mastodon tooth found locally, is believed to be about 10,000 years old, though its exact age is pending further analysis.
- Pacific mastodons, distinct from American mastodons, lived in the western U.S. and disappeared around 11,700 years ago; their teeth had cone-shaped bumps suited for crushing twigs and leaves.
- The fossil was donated to Stanford University, where researchers will use carbon dating to determine its precise age and create a 3D-printed replica for educational purposes.
- This discovery provides valuable insight into past biodiversity and ecosystems, aiding future conservation and ecological understanding.
