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: highest density of mastodon finds anywhere. 1/2
So, whether the software is named for the band or for the critter, it's likely one of ours was the vector.
I mention it because one of our local mastodons, Sugar, needs restoration, and I think Mastodon-the-federated-platform would be an ideal place to find generous contributors to the effort:
https://sunyorangefoundation.betterworld.org/campaigns/help-us-restore-sugar-suny-orang
This first-step fundraiser is for seed money to scope everything and design the restoration and move. Help Sugar!
Bill Braine