Last week, I presented you with a set of mammal molars that were neither mastodon nor mammoth. Dan Phelps was the first to identify it as one of the Gomphotheriidae—a four-tusked relative of the elephant.
From the UCMP:
"Gomphotheres were large proboscidean mammals that had global distribution (except for Antarctica and Australia) during the Miocene, Pliocene and Pleistocene...They had four tusks—two upper and two lower—that were oval and sometimes round in cross section..."
Four tusks? I wish they were still wandering around today, as I would love to have seen that.
Ok, Dan—as the winner of this week's Fossil Friday—any special requests?
