Mastodon skull discovered in Chile

[Judi Lynn]

May 18, 2011
Mastodon skull discovered in Chile

http://www.straitstimes.com.nyud.net:8090/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20110518/ST_19574999.jpg

A perfectly preserved skull of a mastodon- a relative of today's
elephant - was found here during excavation work at a water
treatment plant. --PHOTO: REUTERS

SANTIAGO - A PERFECTLY preserved skull of a mastodon - a relative of today's elephant - was found here during excavation work at a water treatment plant, one of the scientists involved in the discovery said on Tuesday.

'This is the remains of a gomphothere (mastodon) skull in optimal condition,' palaeontologist Rafael Labarca told AFP about the discovery of the animal, which had two to four tusks and died out 10,000 years ago.

The remains were discovered on February 15 during work to expand a water treatment plant in Santiago by the French firm Suez and Aguas Chilean Andes.

A mastodon shoulder blade and lower jaw were discovered in 2008 in southern Chile, but this is the first time Chilean palaeontologists have discovered a complete skull, Dr Labarca said.

More:
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/TechandScience/Story/STIStory_669825.html

[Enthusiast]

1. Fantastic! nt

[eppur_se_muova]

2. That picture took me by surprise ...

i was expecting the usual elephant-like tusks, not the downturned ones ... then I saw the name ... Gomphotherium ... oh, yeah, a shovel-tusker!

Here's one with some cheesecake ... I don't know why.

[nilram]

3. Hm, probably so you knows they're about a cheesecake and a third tall.

About the same height as a Moose and twice as tall as a Napoleon.