Mammuthus

Mammuthus is a genus of extinct proboscideans in the family Elephantidae, commonly known as mammoths. The genus includes several species, most notably the woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) and the Columbian mammoth (Mammuthus columbi). Fossils are found across Africa, Europe, Asia, and North America, with a record spanning from the late Miocene or early Pliocene into the Holocene. Mammuthus is part of the broader elephant lineage that also produced living elephants.

Mammuthus likely originated in Africa during the late Miocene and later dispersed into Eurasia and North America. The genus is closely related to other Elephantidae members, including the modern elephants of the genera Elephas and Loxodonta, and exhibits adaptations that supported cold and open-habitat living in many species.

Mammoths were large herbivores characterized by long curved tusks, a robust skull, and molars with high‑crowned ridges that wore down as they processed tough vegetation. In many species, fur was long and dense, with reduced ears and a body fat profile suited to cold climates. Diet varied by species and habitat but commonly consisted of grasses and other herbaceous plants, with some individuals exploiting shrub and browse in mosaic landscapes.

Fossils of Mammuthus occur in many fossil-rich regions, and research using ancient DNA and isotopic data has clarified their phylogeny, biogeography, and responses to climate change. Island forms show insular dwarfism, illustrating rapid evolutionary change in isolated settings.

Most mammoth populations disappeared with the end of the Pleistocene, around the close of the last ice age. mainland populations largely died out by about 11,000 years ago, while some island populations persisted for several thousand years longer. Extinction is attributed to a combination of climatic warming and human hunting, though regional patterns vary. Mammoths remain iconic in paleontology and popular culture.