Mammal Hall
Why aren't they here today?
Megafauna! Large mammals like the American Lion, Western Horse, and American Mastodon once roamed Arizona, yet they are no longer here today. Why? Explore the answer to this mystery in our newest gallery, 'Why Aren't They Here Today?' inside of Mammal Hall.
With the scientific guidance of Dr. Robert McCord, Curator of Paleontology, the new gallery is a fact-based presentation that engages users through large displays, videos and questions that place the events of the past alongside modern life. Do you think animals are adapting to change now? How does climate change affect plant distribution? Who is the top predator today? Visitors can ponder these questions on their own, back in their classrooms or in a quiet conversation nook in the gallery itself.
Come and see the massive American Mastodon, a relative of the elephant — yes, there were once elephants in Arizona, the American Lion, an apex predator that was 25% larger than the modern lion and the American Horse, a stocky horse that resembled a zebra in proportions.
They lived here in Arizona. Why aren't they here today?