Mastodons were an extinct species of elephant that lived during the Pleistocene epoch, which lasted from about 2.6 million years ago to 11, 700 years ago. They were similar in size and shape to modern elephants, but had shorter legs, a longer body, and a thick coat of fur. They were also equipped with large tusks and long, curved upper incisors. Mastodons were once widespread across North America, Europe, and Asia, but went extinct around 10, 000 years ago.