Notiomastodon platensis

PALEOFAUNA OF VENEZUELA. The Gomphotherium that populated Venezuela. More information: @jp.sitev

Clarifications: The fossil record of Gomphotheres in Venezuela covers several species, some well identified and others yet to be classified, in more than 30 localities in the country. This information focuses on one of them; Notiomastodon platensis in Venezuela previously called Stegomastodon, which was also common in much of Pleistocene South America and although research could sometimes be subject to change, it is solidly supported by international and national paleontologists.

Gomphoteriids such as Notiomastodon, despite their similarity and being a proboscidean (animals with a trunk), should not be confused with mammoths or modern elephants. They were extremely common in much of South America, from Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, to Colombia and Venezuela.

Focusing on the latter, the Venezuelan Notiomastodons differed from their relatives from Eurasia and Africa in that they lacked the peculiar defenses (lower fangs) typical of the Gomphotheres of the old continent, maintaining their long and almost straight upper fangs.

With a height of more than 2 meters, very similar to the current Hindu Elephant, but more robust and weighing between 4 to 6 tons, they were, along with the megatherios, one of the last great representatives of the Megafauna of the country. They adapted to a warm and temperate climate, rich in plains and coastal areas.

They have been found in sites such as El Polvero, Taima Taima or El Anis and generally in the states: Carabobo, Cojedes, Falcón, Mérida, Zulia, with other possible remains also reported in Guárico and Bolivar. But perhaps the best-known sites are those of the Lara state, among which is the Quíbor region.

As additional information, several of these remains have been found along with arrowheads and rudimentary tools, suggesting that they were probably married by ancient Paleo-Indians.

Sources: Von der Osten 1947. Aguilera Socorro 2006. Quíbor Museum. Book Prehistoric Beasts of Venezuela 2015.

Illustration and writing by Gerardo Guillén Poleo @eldinogerardo

Notiomastodon platensis - File

fossil material of the animal.