The story of Fred the Mastodon is one of violence and tragedy.
Born around 13,000 years ago, Fred spent most of his early life with his family but at some point was forced to leave. For the rest of his life, he roamed Indiana, competing with other males for a mate.
These battles were very violent, and during one of these encounters, Fred died after his opponent stabbed its husks into Fred’s head. He was only 34.
Researchers have found some of Fred’s bones; They found his tusks, and they were able to make a detailed account of his seasonal migration.
Josh Miller is one of the researchers researching Fred. “Mastodons’ tusks grow in distinct layers – similar to the rings on a tree trunk. As a result, the nutrients that build the layers of Fred’s tusks can tell us a lot about where he was at different points in his life. These layers store a daily record of Fred’s behavior,” Miller said.
The Mastodons were on the planet thousands of years ago, and while they are now extinct, their remains continue to tell stories.
Born around 13,000 years ago, Fred spent most of his early life with his family but at some point was forced to leave. For the rest of his life, he roamed Indiana, competing with other males for a mate.
These battles were very violent, and during one of these encounters, Fred died after his opponent stabbed its husks into Fred’s head. He was only 34.
Researchers have found some of Fred’s bones; They found his tusks, and they were able to make a detailed account of his seasonal migration.
Josh Miller is one of the researchers researching Fred. “Mastodons’ tusks grow in distinct layers – similar to the rings on a tree trunk. As a result, the nutrients that build the layers of Fred’s tusks can tell us a lot about where he was at different points in his life. These layers store a daily record of Fred’s behavior,” Miller said.
The Mastodons were on the planet thousands of years ago, and while they are now extinct, their remains continue to tell stories.
