Woolly mammoth

The smallest of the giants: the largest European mammal during the last ice age, yet smaller than their earlier ancestors

Thomas Quine


Woolly mammoth

EXEWCRENVUNTLCDDNE

The smallest of the giants: the largest European mammal during the last ice age, yet smaller than their earlier ancestors

Population

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

Anything we've missed?

Help us improve this page by suggesting edits. Glory never dies!

Suggest an edit

Get to know me

Terrestrial / Aquatic

Altricial / Precocial

Polygamous / Monogamous

Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic

Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal

Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd

Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore

Migratory: Yes / No

Domesticated: Yes / No

Dangerous: Yes / No