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Paleontologists in New Mexico pull three-million-year-old giant elephant skull out of Elephant Butte
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Paleontologists in New Mexico pull three-million-year-old giant elephant skull out of Elephant Butte
Skull was discovered on Monday by stag party who stumbled across it
Scientists at Elephant Butte lake say it is in ‘almost perfect’ condition
Skull is from stegomastodon, a elephant-like animal that reached 9ft tall
Skull could be 3million years old and weigh as much as 100lb
By CHRIS PLEASANCE
Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk
Paleontologists working in Elephant Butte State Park have unearthed a giant fossilised elephant skull weighing almost 100 pounds.
Scientists say the skull, from an elephant-like creature called a setgomastodon, is among the most complete every discovered and is in ‘almost perfect’ condition.
The fossil was discovered on Monday after a group of revelers out for a bachelor party who just happened to stumble across it.
Scientists in Elephant Butte State Park are working to excavate a giant elephant skull that was discovered by a stag party who stumbled across it on Monday
Paleontologist Gary Morgan (pictured) said the skull is among the most complete ever discovered
Experts say from the skull is around 3million years old, adding that it will be invaluable to science because of its completeness.
Speaking to Las Cruces Sun-News, paleontologist Gary Morgan estimated the animal was 50 years old when it died, and would have weighed more than six tons.
He added: ‘This is far and away the best one we’ve ever found. Maybe the only complete one found in New Mexico.’
Officials at Elephant Butte Lake State Park say the skull was being dug out Thursday. It will be protected with plaster and transported to Albuquerque.
Stegomastadons roamed New Mexico between 3million and 1.3million years ago, and looked like squatter versions of modern elephants.
Describing the find as being in ‘almost perfect’ condition, Morgan added that it will be invaluable to scientists
Park officials have not released the location of the dig so as to protect the delicate find
They could reach up to 9ft tall and had tusks measuring up to 11ft long. It was a herbivore, and had large, ridged molars similar to a cow’s designed to chew grass.
Morgan said that the extraction still gives him butterflies after 20 years in the job, adding that he cannot wait for the remains to be turned over so he can see the ‘face’ side.
He hopes the skull will eventually go on display on a museum, but says it is still too early to say where.
Park officials have not given away the location of the site in order to protect the find, but say the area will be filled in and reopened as soon as the paleontologists are finished.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2656742/Prehistoric-elephant-skull-excavated-New-Mexico.html#ixzz34fB23Lfa
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