ANIMALS OF OLD - MAMMOTH, MASTODON AND MUSK OXEN
During the Pleistocene Epoch of the Quaternary Period, the animals living in Michigan were much different than the animals we see today. This was from about 1.5 million 10,000 years ago. During the Pleistocene Epoch, also known as the Ice Age, animals like mammoths, mastodons, and musk oxen were common across many areas in present day Michigan.
During that period, mammoths, mastodons, and musk oxen were living in Michigan, the glaciers were receding and a forest habitat was taking the place of the glaciers. Mammoths are an extinct relative of the elephant. Mammoths were much larger than elephants and had curved tusks and a domed shape head. The type of mammoth found in Michigan is called the Jefferson Mammoth, with its scientific name being Mammuthus jeffersoni. [1] Both male and female mammoths had tusks. Male tusks were usually longer and bigger than female tusks. The ivory tusks grew continuously through their lives. It is thought that mammoths must have been sociable animals and probably lives in a matriarchal society, meaning the family groups were lead by adult females, (Mammoth, Ice Age Giants, 43.).[2]
A mastodon is also an extinct relative of the elephant. Its scientific name is Mammut americanum. The size of a mastodon was similar to current African elephants, although it was slightly longer and had shorter legs.[3] Although mammoths and mastodons lived during the same time and look very similar but are not very closely related. The mastodon was shorter and stockier than the mammoth. The main difference between the two species was their teeth. The mammoth�s large, flat teeth were reinforced with enamel plates � a perfect design for shearing and grinding coarse grasses. The mastodon�s teeth had high pointed ridges, allowing it to eat a wider variety of plant materials, such as branches, twigs, roots, and melons, (Mammoths, Ice Age Giants, 15.).
There is evidence of mastodon life reserved in footprints found near Saline, Michigan (this track way is actually on exhibit in the University of Michigan�s Museum of Natural History.) Bones from nearly 250 mastodons have been found throughout southern Michigan and more are found all the time.[4] Michigan�s state fossil is actually the mastodon fossil.
As the glaciers receded the climate became warmer and drier. This change in climate caused different types of trees to develop, so food for these species was not as abundant. Paleo-Indians were also present in Michigan during that time and hunted mammoths and mastodons frequently. The weapons used to hunt these animals were bow and arrows, spears, boomerangs, knives and stone points. The hunting and the change in climate are what scientists believe to be the reason of the extinction of mastodons and mammoths which happened approximately 10,000 years ago. [5]
Another animal living during the Pleiscene Epoch in Michigan was the musk oxen. Its scientific name is Symbos cavifrons. Also called Scott�s moose, musk oxen looked similar to modern moose but had longer legs and differently shaped antlers. The musk oxen also had very long fur. This species, although somewhat adapted, continues to live in areas of tundra even presently. This animal eats plants like grass, willows, arctic flowers, mosses, and lichens. Musk oxen were known for the protectiveness of their young. There is little information about the musk oxen during the ice age because its fossils appear remarkably similar to present day�s bison or cattle.
REFERENCES
[1] Silverberg, R. Mammoths, Mastodons and Man. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, 1970.
[2] "Mammoth," Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2005
http://encarta.msn.com 1997-2005 Microsoft Corporation.[3] Agenbroad, L, Nelson, L. Mammoths � Ice Age Giants. Lerner Publications Company, Minneapolis, 2002.
[4] University of Michigan, Museum of Natural History. www.exhibits.lsa.umich.edu
[5] Stone, R. Mammoth, The Resurrection of an Ice Age Giant. Peresus Publishing. 2001.
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