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MAMMOTH FOSSILS FOR SALE
When Did Mammoths First Appear?
The first mammoth (Mammuthus subplanifrons) lived in Africa about 5 million years ago, at the end of the Pliocene. Mammuthus africanavus appeared about 3 million years ago and began the move into Europe. The earliest Ice Age mammoth (Mammuthus meridionalis) appeared in Europe about 2 million years ago at the beginning of the Pleistocene. As the climate cooled, it is believed that M. meridionalis did not die off but evolved into Mammuthus trogontherii, the Steppe Mammoth. It is commonly held that the two species found in America, Mammuthus primigenius and Mammuthus columbi, are descended from M. trogontherii.
When Did Mammoths Go Extinct?
It is widely held that by about 10,000 years ago, mammoths of all species had died out across their mainland ranges. A few isolated populations did remain on islands that did not see human activity. St. Paul Island in the Bering Sea had a mammoth population that survived until about 5600 years ago, likely dying out from a lack of fresh water. The last mammoths were on Wrangel Island in the Chukchi Sea, north of Siberia, who died out about 4000 years ago. About 500 years after that, the Great Pyramid at Giza was built.
Why Did Mammoth Die Out?
There is some controversy as to exactly why mammoths are extinct. Many believe that climate change at the end of the Ice Age caused a loss of habitat that precipitated their extinction. Others believe that human activity in the form of hunting was the cause of the demise of these Ice Age megafauna. Still others believe that a comet explosion in the atmosphere or disease was the cause. The common thinking today is that climate change and human activity combined to cause the mammoths' extinction.
How Many Kinds Of Mammoth Were There?
There were six important species of mammoths:
Mammuthus subplanifrons - The first recognized form of the genus Mammuthus. This mammoth stood between 10-12 feet tall, weighed 9 tons, and although it did not have the heavy hair of later species, it did have the long curved tusks that help define the genus.
Mammuthus meridionalis - Also known as the Southern Mammoth, this mammoth was about 13 feet (4m) tall and weighed about 10 tons. Like M. subplanifrons, it lacked the heavy hair of later species but did have the long curving tusks. This mammoth lived in Europe and Asia. Unlike other mammoths this species lived in a woodland environment and ate leaves as well as grasses.
Mammuthus trogontherii - Known as the Steppe Mammoth, this is the largest of the mammoth species at 14.5 feet (4.5 meters) tall and 9-10 tons. It was the first of the heavily furred mammoths. Its tusks could get as long as 16 feet in older males. It lived in eastern Asia and Siberia and may have moved into the Beringland bridge or even Alaska.
Mammuthus primigenius- This is the iconic Woolly Mammoth. It descends from the Steppe Mammoth and lived in the northern parts of North America. It had long, heavy hair, and long, curving tusks. It is quite likely that a dwarf version of this mammoth was the last living mammoth species. The woolly mammoth is the state fossil of Alaska.
Mammuthus columbi - This mammoth lived in what is now southern Canada through the United States. It is descended from M. trogontherii but was slightly smaller at 14 feet and 9 tons. It had the heavy hair and fur of M. primigenius as well as the long tusks.
Mammuthus exilis - This is a dwarf mammoth from the Channel Islands of California. It likely evolved from a group of M. columbi that were isolated when the sea level rose and cut the islands off from the mainland. M. exilis was about 5 feet (1.7m) tall and weighed about 1500 pounds.
Though these five are the only true mammoth species, many mamoths found in other areas were attributed to other species before reassignment. M. jeffersoni is a common one: current thinking is that M. jeffersoni is an age or size variation of M. columbi rather than a separate species. Many of the old scientific or common names are being reclassified into the five species listed above.
Where Did Mammoths Live?
With the exception of the Southern Mammoth, which lived in woodland areas, mammoths lived in open temperate grasslands called steppes. These landscapes are characterized by heavy grass cover, few trees, and limited precipitation. The grasslands of Europe and Siberia as well as the Great Plains of the United States and Canada are examples of steppe grasslands. The steppe was much more widespread during the Ice Age than it is today. Mammoth remains have been found throughout the Northern Hemisphere from as far north as Wrangel Island in the Bering Sea south to southern Mexico.
How Long Did Woolly Mammoths Live?
It is thought mammoths of all species lived between sixty and eighty years. This has been determined by counting the growth rings found inside their tusks.
What Is The Difference Between A Mammoth And A Mastodon?
Mammoth (Mammuthus sp.) and American Mastodon (Mammut americanum) both existed during the Pleistocene but there are some major differences. Both mammoth and mastodon resemble modern Indian elephants, but mammoths were 11-14 feet tall while mastodons were 7-10 feet. Both had heavy fur, but mammoths were plains dwellers while mastodons occupied woodlands. The biggest difference between woolly mammoth and mastodon is in their mouths. Mammoths had flat, wide teeth, primarily for grinding grasses. Mastodons had cusped teeth for chewing leaves and branches. Mastodons also only lived in North America, while woolly mammoths lived throughout the northern hemisphere.
What Is Mammoth’S Closest Living Relative?
Mammoths are most closely related to modern Indian elephants. All species of Mammuthus are extinct but both are genera of the family Elephantidae. They share several characteristics. They have similarities in dentition although their diets are different, they have similar stance with shorter back legs, and they have similar ear shape and size.
Can A Woolly Mammoth Be Cloned From Dna?
It is probably not possible to use DNA to create a genetically pure woolly mammoth. Researchers have found frozen mammoth DNA in specimens recovered from permafrost in Siberia. DNA has a half life of 521 years, so even a 4000 year old mammoth carcasses would only have a tiny fraction of its DNA left intact. It has been suggested that segments of intact DNA could be spliced into a living elephant's genes, but that would only result in a hybrid. If enough hybrids could be interbred for generations, a mostly pure mammoth might be possible but it is not likely. Modern environmental conditions could also play a role in gene expression, preventing a woolly mammoth as we envision them.
What Color Were Mammoths?
Woolly mammoths had a dual-layered coat. The undercoat was made of a light colored fur. The outer coat was made up of long guard hairs: it is these guard hairs that gave a mammoth its color. Like all true hair, there are four possible color:, black, brown, blonde, and red. Most preserved mammoth remains show red hair. This is most likely due to color change brought about by extended burial. Most mammoths were likely a variation of brown with some black and blond as well as red.
Are Mammoth Bones/Tusks/Molars Fossils?
Yes, woolly mammoth bones are fossils! Actually, that answer could depend upon where the particular specimen is found. The remains found in the rivers of the southeastern US are fully fossilized, while remains out of the Siberian permafrost are almost as fresh as the day they died. These often have undigested food in their stomachs or even intact blood cells. Remains found in the North Sea are halfway in between fossilized and fresh. Despite these different levels of preservation, we call all mammoth remains fossils.
Are Mammoth Tusks Teeth?
Yes! Tusks of all Elephantidae are modified incisors. They are the same teeth as the fangs on a sabertooth cat, or your on cat or dog. Mammoth tusks grow forward instead of down like fangs. Because they grow for the entire life of the animal they can get quite long. The longest known mammoth tusks are 16 feet long! The average male tusks were 7-8 feet and female tusks were 4-6 feet.
Did Woolly Mammoth Have Predators?
While a full grown, healthy mammoth had no real predators, young mammoths and weak adults were often food for the predators of the time. Sabertooth cats, American lions, dire wolves, and short-faced bears all preyed on woolly mammoth. The greatest predator they faced, however, were humans. Humans may have been major contributors to the extinction of all Mammuthus species.
What Does Woolly Mammoth Taste Like?
Since the only mammoth flesh available today comes from the permafrost of Siberia, only the most curious have ever tasted it. It has been described by one such individual as tasting like bitter mud!