The genus Mammuthus comprises a diverse array of prehistoric elephants that dominated the landscape during the Pleistocene epoch, spanning from approximately 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago. These majestic creatures, with their iconic long, curved tusks, shaggy coats of fur, and immense size, have captured the imagination of people for centuries. Among the most renowned members of this genus is the woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius), which is perhaps the most well-known and thoroughly studied of all prehistoric elephants.

Woolly mammoths were marvels of adaptation, perfectly suited to the frigid environments of the ice age. Their thick, insulating fur, which often ranged in color from dark brown to ginger, helped them withstand the harsh temperatures of the Pleistocene tundra. These mammoths also possessed a layer of fat beneath their skin, providing additional insulation and energy reserves during times of scarcity. Their characteristic long, curved tusks, which could reach lengths of up to 4 meters (13 feet) in some individuals, were used for various purposes, including digging for vegetation buried beneath snow and ice, as well as for defense and display.

While the woolly mammoth is undoubtedly the most famous member of the Mammuthus genus, it is by no means the only one. Fossil evidence reveals a rich diversity of mammoth species, each with its own unique adaptations and evolutionary history. For example, the Columbian mammoth (Mammuthus columbi), which roamed the grasslands of North America, was larger in size than its woolly counterpart and had longer, straighter tusks. On the other hand, the dwarf mammoth species that inhabited islands in the Mediterranean were significantly smaller in stature, likely as a result of insular dwarfism—a phenomenon where animals evolve to become smaller in size due to limited resources on islands.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Canada

Official estimate

EX

Extinct 10,000 years ago

Russia

Official estimate

EX

Extinct 10,000 years ago

United States

Official estimate

EX

Extinct 10,000 years ago