5 Things You May Not Know about Stompy the Mastodon
1. He’s not a Woolly Mammoth Stompy is a mastodon, but what’s the difference? For starters mastodon tusks were less curved than a mammoth's. Mastodon teeth were different from a mammoth’s as well. Why was that? Because Mastodons lived in swampy areas and chewed on branches and shrubs. Mammoths grazed on grasses in open plains. You can see the difference between the two species teeth just behind Stompy in the exhibit! 2. His fur is made of cow tails Stompy is covered in 1,500 cow tails! The cow tails were washed, bleached, and colored before being adhered to his body. This was done by the artist to achieve the look of shaggy curly hair which would’ve helped him stay warm at the end of the last Ice Age. Photo taken in 1983 right after the diorama was installed for the new museum. 3. He sheds… so please don’t pet the mastodon Stompy is now 37 years old! Over the years he lost some of his hair but who would...