Woolly mammoth

Siegsdorfer Mammut

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Boltunov mammoth

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Mammuthus primigenius lectotypes

Cuvier elephant jaw

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Mammoth molars compared

Mammuthus Scale

Woolly Mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius), an extinct species of the family Elephantidae, roamed the northern parts of Earth during the Pleistocene epoch until its disappearance in the early Holocene. Known for its long, curved tusks and a coat of shaggy hair, the woolly mammoth is one of the most iconic mammals of the Ice Age, symbolizing the megafauna that once dominated prehistoric landscapes.

Description

The woolly mammoth was roughly the same size as modern African elephants, standing up to 3.4 meters (11 ft) tall and weighing up to 6 tons. Its most distinctive features were its long, curved tusks, which could reach up to 5 meters (16 ft) in length, and its thick, woolly coat, which helped it survive the harsh, icy conditions of its environment. Other adaptations to cold climates included a high, domed skull, small ears, and a short tail, all of which minimized heat loss.

Habitat and Range

Woolly mammoths primarily inhabited the mammoth steppe, a vast, cold, and dry environment that stretched from western Europe through northern Asia to North America. This extensive range allowed them to be one of the most widespread species of the mammoth genus.

Diet

The woolly mammoth was a herbivore, with a diet that consisted mainly of grasses, sedges, and other low-lying vegetation. Its teeth were highly specialized for grinding these tough, fibrous plants, and it likely used its tusks to clear snow and ice to reach food during the winter months.

Extinction

The exact causes of the woolly mammoth's extinction are still debated, but it is believed to be a combination of climate change at the end of the last Ice Age and overhunting by early human populations. The last known population of woolly mammoths lived on Wrangel Island in the Arctic Ocean until about 4,000 years ago.

Discovery and Study

Fossils and frozen remains of woolly mammoths have provided a wealth of information about their anatomy, behavior, and environment. Notably, well-preserved specimens found in the permafrost of Siberia and Alaska have allowed scientists to study their DNA, offering insights into their evolutionary history and relationship to modern elephants.

Cultural Significance

The woolly mammoth has held a prominent place in human culture and imagination for thousands of years. Prehistoric humans depicted mammoths in cave paintings, and today, they continue to be a subject of scientific research and popular fascination, often symbolizing the mysteries of the Ice Age and the concept of de-extinction.