The mammoth ( Mammuthus ) is a mammal in the same family as elephants and has been extinct for over 10,000 years. They were considered sociable animals, since they lived in groups.
Its ivory tusks, trunk and exuberant size are its main marks.
Features of the mammoth
The size of the mammoth is one of its main characteristics, some species could reach up to 5 meters in height and weigh up to 20 tons.
They had a thick coat of hair and fat to help withstand the low temperatures of the places they lived.
Ivory tusks were used to dig snow and mark territory. In addition, males with larger, more curved tusks could breed with females. The prey size in the male was 2.5 meters on average and in the females, the average size was 1.6 meters.
Its trunks reached approximately 3 meters in length and aided in the removal of snow and food, which was based on roots, leaves, vegetables and fruits.
Mammoth habitat
Found mainly in places with low temperatures, researchers report that mammoths lived on the European, Asian, African continents and also in North America, around 10,000 to 20,000 years ago.
Siberia was the place that mammoths survived until they became extinct. It is also in this region that fossils with a better state of conservation were found. This is because the cold place where they lived, covered with ice, contributed to the preservation of their characteristics, preventing their decomposition.
Mammoth extinction
Extinct at the end of the Ice Age, mammoths are studied from fossils found by researchers and archaeologists.
There are two theories about the extinction of mammoths, but the main reason is not clear.
The first is related to climate change , since they contribute to the increase in temperatures, the melting of glaciers and the increase in humidity and temperature of the environment.
From these changes, it is considered that these characteristics were not appropriate for the survival of the mammoth and, therefore, the population was decreasing until total extinction.
Did you know that some animals that live in icy waters and in the coldest regions of the planet, with the penguin and the orca whale also suffer from the consequences of global warming ?
The second theory for the extinction of the mammoth refers to predatory hunting by man. Reports point out that each part of the dead mammoth had a function: the bones for building huts and fire pits, the skin for covering the huts and as clothing and, finally, the meat was used for consumption.
Predatory hunting is one of the reasons for extinction.
Mammoth species found
From the study of mammoth fossils found, researchers and archaeologists have identified, cataloged and described 10 species of mammoth.
- African mammoth ( Mammuthus Africanavus ): extinct approximately 2 million years ago, this mammoth species was found in Libya, Morocco and Tunisia;
- Dwarf Mammoth of Sardinia ( Mammuthus Lamarmorae ): native of the island of Sardinia, this mammoth was considered one of the smallest, being able to weigh 800 kilos and measuring approximately 1.50 in height;
- Ancestral Mammoth ( Mammuthus Meridionalis ): reaching up to 4 meters in height and 10 tons, this mammoth species appeared approximately 4.8 million years ago;
- Columbian Mammoth ( Mammuthus Columbi ): represents the species that migrated to North America, living closer to the south. Researchers found a molar of approximately 45 thousand years old in Rondônia, leading to believe that it is of this mammoth species;
- Steppe mammoth ( Mammuthus Trogontherii ): this was the first species to live in the temperate climate. The first fossil was found in 1885 in the Siberian region;
- Jefferson Mammoth ( Mammuthus Jeffersonii ): this species is considered a mixture of two species of mammoth, the Columbian Mammoth and the Woolly Mammoth;
- Imperial Mammoth ( Mammuthus Imperator ): considered the tallest mammoth species, reaching 5 meters in height and weighing up to 18 tons;
- Woolly Mammoth ( Mammuthus Primigenius ): this was the most abundant mammoth of all species. Its size was approximately 3 meters high and thinking up to 10 tons;
- Pygmy Mammoth ( Mammuthus Exilis ): descendant of the Columbian Mammoth, this species lived on the Channel Islands of California and was about 2 meters tall and 900 kg;
- South African mammoth ( Mammuthus Subplanifrons ): extinct over 3 million years ago, this is the ancestral species of all mammoths. Its height was about 4 meters and its weight reached 9 tons.
Can the mammoth be cloned?
Researchers and archaeologists studying the mammoth fossils have pointed out the possibility of cloning the mammoth.
The technique used would be the extraction of genetic material to generate an animal similar to the mammoth. The pregnancy would be done on an elephant, which has an equivalent structure and anatomy.
This is a recent discussion that researchers and scientists at Harvard University have been discussing, as it is important to consider the consequences for fauna and the food chain.