Chapter 2- The Mastodon's Molars

In chapter 2 Kolbert discusses the concept of extinction as being universal scientific idea that even children can tackle. However, the concept of extinction was not a relatively known idea. Carl Linnaeus book Systema Naturae lists various organisms like scarab beetles, cone snail and flat fishes. In the Systema Naturae presented the general belief during that time that the only kind of  animal were the ones that existed. Extinction emerged as a concept during the late 18th century introduced by naturalist Georges Curvier because of the animal now known as the American mastodon, or Mammut americanum. The mastodon teeth was probably discovered in the early eighteenth century; later in 1739 Charles le Moyne discovered the mastodon bones. The bones were presented to Louis XV and installed into his museum. Those that encountered the bones were left confused  and questioned the origins and animal of the bones.

During most of the 18th century scientists debated the origins of the bones as “the femur and the tusk looked as if they could have belonged to an elephant or,... a mammoth.” which left many questioning what the animal was. Some believed the remains belonged to the American elephant.  Others argued that the remains represented three separate animals an elephant, a hippopotamus and an unknown species. Cuvier arrived in Paris late 18th century spending long hours studying the bones and later presenting his research. Curvier’s  analysis convinced him that some of the animal species he discovered were no longer in existence, “they were espèces perdues, or lost species.” Curvier declared there must be other species as well  that have vanished based upon other findings of lost creatures. Another question arose: what lead to the massive wipe-out of these species?

Curvier’s lecture established the theory of extinction as a fact. His discovery of extinction of a “world previous to ours” was a widespread phenomenon spreading like wildfire. However, Curvier opposed the idea of evolution presented by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck that there was a driving force pushing organisms to become increasingly complex. Curvier disagreed as idea if animals changing their body types was absurd. Nonetheless, Curvier wanted to understand what lead to the demise of certain species.

The author utilizes the idea that science is a progress. Curvier learned that the changes that caused extinction were so extreme many animals couldn’t cope with such conditions. On page 44 it states,”The rocks showed that the region had, at various points, been submerged. The shifts from one environment to the other-from marine to terrestrial...had…”had not been slow at all;rather, they had been brought about by sudden “revolutions on the surface of the earth.” His idea that species go extinct over time paved the way for future research. The physical evidence provided proof of a “revolution” that life on earth has been disturbed by catastrophes and many organisms have been the victims. Many didn’t believe in his theories and posed it as pseudo-science or false because of certain ideologies during the time.