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Glite Dictionary
Mastodontidae

Mastodontidae

9.9
A group of large extinct animals like elephants that lived until the last ice age
  • noun
  • /ˌmæstəˈdɒntɪdeɪ/
  • Specialized
: Mastodontidae
  • Many museums display skeletons of the prehistoric Mastodontidae family.

Examples

  • Fossils of the Mastodontidae have been found across North America and Eurasia.

  • The Mastodontidae were distinguished by their unique molar teeth structure.

  • The Mastodontidae family includes several species of extinct mammals.

  • Many fossils of Mastodontidae have been found in North America.

  • Fossils of the Mastodontidae have been uncovered in various regions of North America.

  • The Mastodontidae were known for their large size and distinctive tusks.

  • Scientists study the remains of Mastodontidae to learn about their habitats during the Ice Age.

Synonyms

Mammutidae
vsMastodontidae
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A family of large extinct animals like elephants called mastodons

specifies a narrower span from late Miocene to end of Pleistocene

Surface Forms

Mastodontidae singular
Mastodontidaes plural

Morphology

Mastodontidae = mastodon (opaque) = mastodon + idae

The suffix '-idae' is a taxonomic term not commonly known to learners, making the word opaque.

Etymology

Mastodontidae comes from Greek parts masto- meaning 'breast' and -odont meaning 'tooth', because these animals had big molar teeth with nipple-like bumps, and the ending -idae marks a 'family' of animals. So Mastodontidae is the family name for the extinct, elephant-like mastodons known for their special teeth.