Imagine an elephant with a shovel for a mouth! This is what an ancient creature called Plat Belladon might have looked like. Plat Belladon was a relative of today’s elephants and lived a long time ago, around 4 to 15 million years ago.
Plat Belladon had a very special mouth. It had a long, wide lower jaw that stretched out under its trunk. At the end of this jaw were two long, flat teeth. Scientists believe Plat Belladon used these teeth to grab branches and leaves from trees for a tasty snack.
For a long time, scientists thought Plat Belladon used its mouth like a shovel to scoop up plants from the water. However, by studying the fossils of Plat Belladon’s teeth, they discovered something different. It turns out that Plat Belladon likely ate strong plants that grew on land.
Even though shovel-faced Plat Belladon is extinct now, scientists are still learning new things about it by studying fossils. It’s amazing how much information we can dig up about creatures that lived millions of years ago!
Make Your Own Fossil: Use clay or playdough to create your own fossil impressions. Press leaves, small branches, or toy dinosaurs into the clay to see how fossils are formed. Let the clay dry and then share your fossil with the class. Discuss what scientists might learn from your fossil if they found it millions of years from now.
Shovel-Mouth Experiment: Try using different tools to pick up objects, just like Plat Belladon might have used its special mouth. Use a spoon, a pair of tongs, and a flat spatula to pick up leaves or small toys. Which tool works best? How do you think Plat Belladon used its mouth to eat?
Imagine and Draw: Draw a picture of what you think Plat Belladon looked like based on what you’ve learned. Imagine how it might have moved and what its environment looked like. Share your drawing with a friend and explain why you think Plat Belladon looked that way.
