Researchers in the San Francisco Bay Area have made a remarkable paleontological discovery: a pristine fossilized molar from an adult Pacific mastodon. The tooth was initially mistaken for an unusual stone by geologists working in a nature preserve managed by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space district. The exceptional specimen was quickly identified as a significant fossil and forwarded to Stanford University for dating analysis.
The molar exhibits remarkable preservation, according to paleontologist Wayne Thompson of Pacific Paleontology, who conducted preliminary examination of the find. Thompson described it as the most complete mastodon tooth recovered from the region and expressed enthusiasm about its scientific value. The fossil was discovered this summer by geomorphologist Brigid Lynch while her team surveyed a creek bed as part of a habitat restoration initiative designed to protect threatened California red-legged frogs.
The discovery dates back at least 10,000 years, coinciding with the extinction period of the Pacific mastodon species. This particular species, formally recognized in 2019, inhabited western North America including present-day California, Oregon, Mexico, and the northern Rocky Mountains. The Pacific mastodon differed slightly from its eastern cousin, the American mastodon, displaying traits such as a narrower third molar and thicker leg bones. Researchers plan to create a three-dimensional replica of the tooth for educational and public outreach purposes.
Originally reported by Livescience →
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