Garry Pioch Jr., age 9, of South Bend, Ind., for his question:

WERE WHOLE MASTODONS PRESERVED IN ICE?

The mastodon was an elephant like animal that lived in North Africa about 40 million years ago. He spread to Asia, Europe and the rest of Africa and reached North America about 15 million years ago. About 8,000 years ago he became extinct.

Scientists know from fossil remains that there were about 100 different kinds of mastodons. They were stockier than modern day elephants but not as tall. None of them have been found whole, preserved in ice.

Early mastodons had tusks in both jaws but some of the later species lost their lower tusks. The large animals had teeth that were up to three inches wide and six inches long. Each tooth had four to six cross rows of heavy enamel cones which helped the mastodon to grind the plants he ate.