Woolly Mammoth Facts
The Woolly Mammoth was a prehistoric animal who became extinct about 4,000 years ago when the last ice age ended. Scientists have a lot of information about what this animal looked like thanks to the discovery of frozen mammoth carcasses in Alaska and Siberia. In 2012, an 11 year old Russian kid discovered the remnants of what turned out to be a very well preserved 30,000 year old woolly Mammoth in the area where he walked his dogs. In 2013, scientists discovered a baby woolly mammoth in an ice tomb in Russia. Every so often a Wooly Mammoth tooth will be discovered as well. On this page of Extinct Prehistoric Animal Facts are some interesting facts about the wooly mammoth including why they were covered with fat, why their ears were so short and what purpose their long tusks served.Woolly Mammoth General Facts
- In 1796, Georges Cuvier, a French Zoologist, was the first to identify the Woolly Mammoth as an extinct species of the elephant.
- Similar in size and features to the Asian elephant, the adult Woolly Mammoth was approximately 10 feet tall (3 meters) and weighted about 6 tons (5443 kg). Newborns weighed approximately 200 pounds (90kg) at birth.
- Early humans killed Woolly Mammoths for a number of reasons. They ate the meat, but they also made art, homes and tools out of the bones and tusks.
- Why did the Woolly Mammoth become extinct? A definitive reason for why they became extinct is not available; however most scientists believe climate change caused its demise.
- Although ethical questions remain, the possibility exists that scientists could use the Woolly Mammoth's genetic material to one day clone and recreate the animal.
- The Woolly Mammoth was a herbivore that ate a variety of leaves, fruits, berries, nuts, and twigs.
- Similar to the rings on a tree, scientists can determine the age and health of a Woolly Mammoth by the rings on its tusks.
- Wrangel Island in the Arctic Ocean, was the last known home of about 500-1000 Woolly Mammoths until just before 1700 BC when they fully became extinct.
Woolly Mammoth Adaptation Facts
- The Woolly Mammoth lived in extremely cold, arctic environments. They became well adapted to survive in this type of habitat.
- As the name suggests, the Woolly Mammoth was covered with fur but to really keep them warm, they had about four inches of pure fat for insulation underneath their skin.
- The ears and tail of the Woolly Mammoth were relatively short so they would not get frostbite and to minimize heat loss. Modern day elephants have ears that reach 180 cm (71") where the Woolly Mammoth's ears only reached about 30 cm (12").
- Blood samples taken by scientists have determined that the hemoglobin of the Woolly Mammoth was even adapted to the cold environment, allowing the animal's tissue to be supplied with oxygen no matter what the temperature.
- The jaw and teeth of the Woolly Mammoth were more vertical than modern elephants and it is believed that it allowed them to more easily feed on grass.
- The long prominent tusks of the Woolly Mammoth could reach up to 15 feet (4.5 meters) long. It is theorized that they would have been used for pushing away ice and snow as well as fighting and defending.
EXTINCT ANIMALS FACTS