Stegomastodon

Extinct genus of mammals

Stegomastodon ('roof breast tooth') is an extinct genus of gomphotheres. It ranged throughout North America from the Pliocene (early Blancan ~4 Ma), to the Early Pleistocene (early Irvingtonian, ~1.2 Ma). The former South American species have been synonymized with Notiomastodon platensis.

Stegomastodon mirificus is known from NMNH 10707, a roughly 30 year old male, of which most of the skeleton has been found. Alive, it stood about tall, with a weight around Unlike more primitive gomphotheres like Gomphotherium, it lacked lower tusks and had a shortened lower jaw. The upper tusks curved upward and were about long, and lacked enamel bands. The tall head and robust lower jaw suggest a strong vertical bite. Stegomastodon'''s third molars molars had at least 5 lophs (ridge like structures), greater than previous gomphotheres. The strong bite and increased tooth complexity are suggested to be adaptations to a grazing diet. Origin and evolution Stegomastodon is suggested to have ultimately originated from New World populations of Gomphotherium, possibly via the intermediate genus Rhynchotherium. The earliest species of the genus appeared during the Pliocene (Blancan) around 3 4 million years ago. During the early Irvingtonian, around 1.2 million years ago, Stegomastodon became extinct, which is suggested to be due to competition with the recently arrived mammoths, which were more efficient grazers. but this age was rejected in 2011 by Spencer G. Lucas et. al, who stated that the date was far too young to be viable and that it actually dates to the Blancan. The South American Stegomastodon fossils have been reassigned to Notiomastodon by the majority of recent authors.''