An incredible paleontological discovery recently made on the Argentine Coast surprises national science: it is a giant tusk fossil belonging to a Notiomastodon platensis.
These creatures of the mastodon genus inhabited South America between 460,000 to 11,000 years ago, mainly in the area that is now Argentina.
The discovery was made in the vicinity of Centinela del Mar. In particular, they found the tusk fossil within the Centinela del Mar Natural Reserve, about 50 kilometers south of Miramar.
The specimen, over 100,000 years old, appeared in Quaternary sediments. This means its age exceeds a hundred millennia.
This tusk fossil measures more than one and a half meters in length, an exceptional size that also stands out for its good state of preservation.
These characteristics make the tusk fossil a discovery of high scientific and patrimonial value for the region.
How the tusk fossil was discovered and preservation tasks
The rescue tasks were carried out by the technical team of the Municipal Museum of Natural Sciences of Miramar “Punta Hermengo”.
Volunteers from the Technician in Paleontology program taught in the city actively participated in the operation.
Additionally, specialized personnel from the Lorenzo Scaglia Museum of Natural Sciences in Mar del Plata collaborated in the work, while the Foundation of Natural History “Félix de Azara” also provided institutional support.
The work was carried out from the Scientific Station “Eduardo P. Tonni”, located in the area of the discovery.
This experience highlighted the importance of interinstitutional cooperation dedicated to preserving the natural heritage of Buenos Aires.
After its unearthing, the tusk fossil was transferred to the laboratory of the Miramar museum. There it will undergo conditioning and conservation tasks before its public exhibition.
The characteristics of Notiomastodon platensis
The Notiomastodon platensis was a large proboscidean mammal of the gomphothere family. These animals, known as mastodons, inhabited South America during the Pleistocene.
In the past, various important fossil evidence of this mastodon species was found in Argentina.
In particular, fossils were found in the Pampas region and the Gran Chaco, including Santa Clara del Mar in Buenos Aires -near Miramar- and the Dulce River in the province of Santiago del Estero.
This period spanned from about 2.6 million years ago to approximately 11,700 years ago.
Scientific studies indicate that these animals were comparable in size to the current Asian elephant.
Their height ranged between 2.5 and 3 meters, with a weight of between 3 and 5 tons. They were distinguished by their relatively straight or slightly curved upper tusks.
These specimens had a flexible herbivorous diet, adapted to different environments of the South American territory. The tusk fossil found reinforces the knowledge about these prehistoric species.
The importance of the tusk fossil discovery for the region
From the Municipal Museum they highlighted that the discovery represents a significant contribution to the study of the regional prehistoric fauna.
Additionally, they also reinforced the importance of protected natural areas as key spaces for scientific research.
It should be noted that the remains of large prehistoric mammals are not exceptional in this region. In 2024, fragments of several specimens were rescued north of the Mar del Sud resort.
These discoveries confirm the paleontological richness of the southeast of the province of Buenos Aires.
The species arrived in South America from North America 2.5 million years ago.
This faunal exchange was generated by the union of both continents through the Isthmus of Panama.
The specimen will be exhibited in the Miramar Museum, located next to the access to the Florentino Ameghino Forest and Nursery.
Thus, visitors and residents will be able to get to know up close one of the giants that inhabited the region during the Ice Age.
