Woolly Mammoth
Mammuthus primigenius
Meet the Woolly Mammoth
The Woolly Mammoth was a large, prehistoric relative of modern elephants, well-adapted to the cold steppe-tundra environments of the Pleistocene epoch. It was covered in a thick, shaggy coat of fur, had a layer of insulating fat, and possessed long, curved tusks that could reach up to 4 meters in length. Its molars were specialized for grinding tough grasses and sedges. Woolly Mammoths lived in large herds and played a crucial role in shaping their ecosystem. They became extinct around 4,000 years ago, likely due to a combination of climate change and human hunting.
Wikipedia Data 🎥 6 Videos 📚 4 Sources Classification
Mammal
Habitat
Tundra and steppe
Diet
Herbivore
Lifespan
60-70 years
Conservation
Extinct
Weight
4,500–6,800 kg
📖Fascinating Facts
Thick Fur Coat
The Woolly Mammoth's fur could reach lengths of over 90 cm, providing essential insulation against the frigid Ice Age temperatures.
Massive Tusks
Their tusks were among the largest of any elephant species, sometimes spiraling and measuring over 4 meters long, and were used for defense, digging, and foraging.
Cold Adaptations
Besides their fur, Woolly Mammoths had small ears and tails to minimize heat loss and a thick layer of subcutaneous fat up to 10 cm thick.
📋Detailed Description
The woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) was a large, cold-adapted proboscidean, closely related to modern Asian elephants. Adult males typically stood 2.7 to 3.4 meters at the shoulder and weighed between 4,500 and 6,000 kilograms, while females were slightly smaller. Its most distinctive features included a dense, double-layered coat of long guard hairs (up to 90 cm) and a soft underwool, providing insulation against frigid temperatures as low as −50°C. Beneath the skin, a subcutaneous fat layer up to 10 cm thick further aided thermal regulation. The mammoth's long, spirally curved tusks, sometimes exceeding 4 meters in length, were used for foraging under snow, combat, and social displays. Its high-domed skull and sloping back were adaptations for supporting heavy tusks and foraging in deep snow. The molars were large and plate-like, specialized for grinding coarse, abrasive grasses and sedges typical of the mammoth steppe. Woolly mammoths lived in matriarchal herds, similar to modern elephants, with complex social structures and communication. Fossil evidence suggests they migrated seasonally in response to changing vegetation and climate. Reproduction was slow, with long gestation periods and extended parental care, making populations vulnerable to rapid environmental changes.
💡 Did you know?
The last population of Woolly Mammoths survived on Wrangel Island until about 4,000 years ago, thousands of years after most populations went extinct.
🔬Research & Sources
Wikipedia Summary
The woolly mammoth is an extinct species of mammoth that lived from the Middle Pleistocene until its extinction in the Holocene epoch. It was one of the last in a line of mammoth species, beginning with the African Mammuthus subplanifrons in the early Pliocene. The woolly mammoth began to diverge from the steppe mammoth about 800,000 years ago in Siberia. Its closest extant relative is the Asian elephant. The Columbian mammoth lived alongside the woolly mammoth in North America, and DNA studies show that the two hybridised with each other. Mammoth remains were long known in Asia before they became known to Europeans. The origin of these remains was long debated and often explained as the remains of legendary creatures. The mammoth was identified as an extinct elephant species by Georges Cuvier in 1796.
Last Modified: 6/9/2025
🎭Behavior & Social Structure
Woolly mammoths were primarily grazers, feeding on grasses, sedges, herbs, and woody plants, with a daily intake estimated at 180 kg of vegetation. They used their tusks and trunks to clear snow, uproot plants, and strip bark from trees. Herds were typically led by an older matriarch, with females and juveniles forming the core social group, while adult males were more solitary or formed bachelor groups. Social interactions included tactile communication, vocalizations, and possibly infrasonic calls. Seasonal migrations followed the availability of food, often covering vast distances across the mammoth steppe. Mammoths exhibited dust-bathing and wallowing behaviors, likely for parasite control and thermoregulation. Defensive behaviors included forming protective circles around calves when threatened by predators such as wolves or large felids.
👶Reproduction & Life Cycle
Woolly mammoths had a reproductive strategy similar to modern elephants. Females reached sexual maturity at around 10–15 years, with estrus cycles likely occurring annually or biennially. Mating occurred during the summer months, and males engaged in musth, a period of heightened aggression and competition for mates. Gestation lasted approximately 22 months, resulting in a single calf weighing about 90 kg at birth. Calves were nursed for several years and remained dependent on maternal care and protection within the herd. Interbirth intervals were long, often 4–6 years, contributing to slow population growth. Fossilized remains of calves indicate that mortality rates were high, especially during harsh winters or periods of resource scarcity.
🛡️Adaptations & Survival
The woolly mammoth evolved a suite of adaptations for survival in cold, arid environments. Its thick, layered fur and subcutaneous fat provided insulation, while small ears (about 38 cm long) and a short tail minimized heat loss and frostbite risk. The trunk was highly dexterous, with specialized finger-like projections for manipulating food and objects. Large, spiraled tusks were used not only for foraging but also for social interactions and defense. The high-crowned, ridged molars were adapted for grinding tough, silica-rich grasses. Genetic studies have identified mutations in mammoth hemoglobin that enhanced oxygen delivery at low temperatures. Behavioral adaptations included seasonal migrations, herd living for protection and cooperative care, and the use of tusks to access buried vegetation in winter.
📚Research Sources
🎨Cultural Significance
Woolly mammoths held significant importance in prehistoric human cultures. They were a major source of meat, hides, bones, and ivory for Upper Paleolithic peoples, who used mammoth bones to construct shelters and carve tools and art. Mammoth imagery appears in cave paintings, carvings, and portable art across Eurasia. In mythology and folklore, mammoth remains were often interpreted as the bones of giants or legendary creatures. In Siberia, mammoth ivory has been traded and carved for thousands of years, and the animal remains a symbol of Ice Age fauna. The discovery of frozen mammoth carcasses in permafrost has inspired legends and scientific fascination alike.
🔬Recent Research & Discoveries
Recent advances in paleogenomics have yielded high-quality woolly mammoth genomes, revealing adaptations to cold, disease resistance, and evolutionary relationships with modern elephants. Studies of preserved soft tissues and stomach contents have provided insights into diet, health, and environmental conditions. Ongoing research includes attempts at de-extinction through cloning and gene editing, aiming to introduce mammoth traits into Asian elephants. Isotopic analysis of tusks and teeth has reconstructed migration patterns and seasonal behaviors. New discoveries of well-preserved carcasses in Siberian permafrost continue to refine our understanding of mammoth biology, ecology, and extinction dynamics.
🎥Wildlife Videos
Great Mammoth Mystery | Full Documentary | NOVA | PBS
Sir David Attenborough explores a site with traces of ancient mammoths and Neanderthals. (Aired February 16, 2022) Official ...
NOVA PBS Official
Woolly Mammoths for Kids | Learn all about this furry animal and its existence during the Ice Ages
Have you ever heard of a woolly mammoth? If you have, you probably know that it looks pretty similar to the modern-day elephant.
Learn Bright
Woolly Mammoth - Secrets from the Ice (BBC)
BBC documentary. Professor Alice Roberts reveals the natural history of the most famous of ice age animals - the woolly ...
Culture Vulture Rises
The Island of the Last Surviving Mammoths
The Wrangel Island mammoths would end up being the final survivors of a once-widespread genus. In their final years, after ...
PBS Eons
Could This Animal Help Bring Back The Mammoth? (Wildlife Documentary) | Natural Kingdom | Real Wild
In the exotic tundra of eastern Siberia, a bizarre Canadian experiment is delivering extraordinary natural and human dividends.
Real Wild
The Woolly Mammoth: A Legend of the Cenozoic Era | Pre-Historic Animals Documentary
Some animals define the eras in which they live, or have lived. Today, the animal kingdom is defined by the big cats of Africa and ...
EarlyHumans
🌍Habitat Information
The Woolly Mammoth typically inhabits Tundra and steppe environments. Woolly Mammoths have adapted to their environments with specialized features and behaviors.
Primary Habitat:
Tundra and steppe
More detailed habitat information will be available soon.
🛡️Conservation Status
The Woolly Mammoth is currently classified as Extinct. Conservation efforts are crucial for preserving this species for future generations.
Common Threats:
- 🏠Habitat loss and fragmentation
- 🌡️Climate change impacts
- 🎯Hunting and poaching
- 🏭Human-wildlife conflict
⚠️Threats & Conservation Challenges
The extinction of the woolly mammoth was likely caused by a combination of rapid climate warming at the end of the Pleistocene, which led to habitat loss and fragmentation of the mammoth steppe, and increased predation pressure from expanding human populations. Overhunting by Upper Paleolithic humans is evidenced by butchered bones and mammoth-bone dwellings. The slow reproductive rate made populations particularly vulnerable to these pressures. Isolated relict populations persisted on Wrangel Island and St. Paul Island until as recently as 4,000 years ago, but these groups suffered from inbreeding, genetic drift, and environmental instability, leading to their eventual extinction.
🔬Scientific Classification
Scientific Name
Mammuthus primigenius
Classification Hierarchy
🔍 About Taxonomic Classification
Taxonomic classification is a hierarchical system used by scientists to classify and organize living organisms based on shared characteristics and evolutionary relationships.
The system moves from broad categories (Kingdom) to increasingly specific ones, with each animal's scientific name typically consisting of its Genus and species.
📝Community Notes
Share your observations and insights about the Woolly Mammoth with our community of wildlife enthusiasts.
Join Our Community
Sign in to share your observations and connect with fellow wildlife enthusiasts.
Sign In to ContributeNo community notes yet
Be the first to share your observations about the Woolly Mammoth!
Explore Woolly Mammoth
Select a tab above to learn more about this amazing animal.
📸Photo Gallery
No photos available for this animal yet.
🌟Discover More Wildlife
Continue your journey of discovery with more fascinating animals from our database