Mastodon is likely named for a fossil local to me: Bill Kelliher, raised in NY, chose the name for the band, and @Gargron invented the software a couple hours away from the Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt.

The Warren Mastodon (found 1845) is at AMNH in New York, and Peale's Mastodon (1799) is in Darmstadt; both found in/near Newburgh NY, and both responsible for worldwide knowledge of and scientific interest in the creatures.

Orange County NY: highest density of mastodon finds anywhere.