Observing Fossil and Living Organisms

BACKGROUND:
After the extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago, mammals dominated the land. Many of the large mammals are now extinct as well, but many of their descendants, however, can be easily recognized.

Arsisnoitherium lived about 35 million years ago. It resembles a mix between a rhinoceros and an elephant. Zeuglodon was a large sea mammal that was 80 feet long. Imagine a dolphin or porpoise with large, sharp teeth. Hyracotherium was a small mammal that is thought to be the direct ancestor of the horse. Indricotherium, which stood 18 feet tall, is a giant ancestor of the rhinoceros. Smilodon, better known as the saber-toothed tiger or cat, is likely related to most large cats that now prowl the earth. Dinictis was small and slender, and is also probably related to the cheetah and other large cats. Moeritherium was smaller than its ancestor, the present day elephant. Platybelodon and the Wooly Mammoth are also related to the elephant. The mammoth was adapted to live in colder climates.

Elephants are the largest living land mammals. Their ancestors included the Wooly Mammoth, the Columbia Mammoth, the Imperial Mammoth and the Mastodon. Today’s elephants are adapted for warm climates, but their ancestors were adapted to both warm and cold climates.

Frozen mummified mammoths have been found in Siberia and Alaska. Dimo, the complete carcass of a six_month_old baby mammoth, was discovered in 1977. Another mummified baby mammoth, less than three months old, was found in Siberia in 1988.

Mastodons (Mammut americanum) are part of a group of extinct elephant-like mammals that first appeared during the early Miocene Epoch, about 20 million years ago. They became extinct at the end of the Pleistocene Epoch, about 10,000 years ago. The Mastodons belong to same Order of mammals as the elephants, Order Proboscidea.
PROCEDURE:

Read Mammoth Mary to students which helps students visualize the animals that roamed in Northern California during the Irvingtonion Stage, which is the beginning of the Pleistocene in North America. For more information on this site in Fremont, California consult A Pleistocene Ecosystem by Wes Gordon.

Mammoth Mary
by Cassy Fries

More than a million years ago
Near Irvington where we call home
There were grasslands and trees
Where animals would roam

A mammoth named Mary
Had once lived here
She was so big and tall
Making friends was her fear

She wanted to make friends
So she went on a walk
She met a short-faced bear
And began to talk

My name is Mammoth Mary
And grass is what I eat
I don’t want to be rude but
You have very big feet!

Well, I stand eleven feet tall
My name is Short Faced Bear Steve
I’ll eat almost anything
So , Mary Mammoth, just leave!

Mammoth Mary was sad
But continued on her walk
She met Sam Saber Tooth Cat
And began to talk

My name is Mammoth Mary
10,000 pounds is what I weigh
I’m looking for a friend
What do you say?

I have very sharp teeth
A short tail, and I’m strong
You shouldn’t have come here
So you better be gone

Mammoth Mary was sad
But continued on her walk
She met a ground sloth
And began to talk

My name is Mammoth Mary
And I’m over twelve feet tall
I see you eat many plants
Do you want a friend at all?

I’m Gary Ground Sloth
And my tongue is very long
I have large claws
Coming here was wrong

Mammoth Mary was sad
But continued on her walk
She met a Pronghorn antelope
And began to talk

My name is Mammoth Mary
Do you have time to share?
I’m looking for some friends
But no one seems to care

I’m Polly the Pronghorn antelope
But I’m bigger than a deer
I have two horns and two prongs
Any you don’t belong here

Mammoth Mary was sad
But continued on her walk
She met a western horse
And began to talk

I am Willy a Western Horse
An African Zebra is what I'm like
I don't want to be bothered
So Mammoth Mary take a hike

Mammoth Mary was sad
But continued to walk
She met a camelid
And they began to talk

My name is Mammoth Mary
Do you have time to play?
I’m looking for a friend
Do you have plans today?

My name is Camelid Cathy
And I have no humps to see
Plants are what I like
But I’m as busy as can be

Mammoth Mary has no friends
She cried and was so upset
As she stared to walk home
A mastodon is what she met

I eat leaves and twigs
My name is Mastodon Mike
I am much smaller than you
But we look somewhat alike

Mammoth Mary was happy
The two began to talk
She finally had a friend
Together they would walk

Mammoth Mary was happy
And lived a great life
She like Mastodon Mike
And soon became his wife

Sixty years had gone by
And they grew old every day
Their teeth had fallen out
Mary and Mike passed away

A million years later
Scientists dug in the ground
Mammoth Mary, then Mike
Their skeletons were found

Use the background information to remind students that there are many types of extinct mammals. Tell them that we know these extinct animals only through their fossils. Have the students imagine what the fossil organisms looked like, by giving them clues from the background section. You may want them to draw a picture of what they think the mammal looked like.

Mastodons and mammoths were not the same type of animal. They are both related to the elephant, but have a number of important differences. Instruct the students to search the World Wide Web for information on mastodons and mammoths. Have them try to learn differences between these creatures. You may wish to suggest that they find pictures of each creature, and use them as a guide.
Instruct students to make a list of the sites they searched, and to identify the sites that were most helpful.

Useful sites include:

http://www.beringia.com

http://www.calvin.edu/academic/geology/mastodon/about.htm

http://www.museum.state.il.us/exhibits/larson/mammut.html/


OBJECTIVES: Interpreting evidence from fossils. Comparing modern day elephants with their extinct ancestors. VOCABULARY: mastodon mammoth prehistoric MATERIALS: Mammoth Mary by C. Fries Internet	Students use the Internet to research.
	A wooly mammoth