The Proboscidea of the Past

[epaiva]

Notiomastodon platensis

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

Notiomastodon platensis is known from MECN 82, a 35-year-old male that would be approximately 2.52 metres (8.3 ft) tall, with an estimated weight of 4.4 tonnes (4.3 long tons; 4.9 short tons).It had two tusks on either side of its trunk, like other members of Gomphotheriidae. Unlike close relative Cuvieronius its tusks were not twisted, however their length and shape are observed as greatly variable depending on the individual. Here it is Notiomastodon based on a subadult fairly complete skeleton (some parts came from other individuals).
Fully grown individuals may attained 2.9 m at the shoulders and more than 6 tonnes in body mass. Notiomastodon has been described as the 'lowland gomphothere'. The genus tended to inhabit seasonally dry, open forests, with a range lining most of the South American coastline and lowland interior, bar the Guiana Shield, with particularly large concentrations along the coast of Peru and in northeastern Brazil]
The diet composition of Notiomastodon varied widely depending on location, but probably primarily consisted of a mix of C3 shrubs and C4 grasses, whilst also serving as a primary disperser of the seeds for a vareity of different plant species. Reply