the woolly mammoth species became extinct about 400, 000 years ago.
the woolly mammoth species became extinct about 400, 000 years ago.
when did the woolly mammoth species become extinct?
about 400, 000 years ago
most woolly mammoth populations disappeared during the late pleistocene and early holocene, alongside most of the pleistocene megafauna (including the columbian mammoth). this extinction formed part of the quaternary extinction event, which began 40,000 years ago and peaked between 14,000 and 11,500 years ago. scientists are divided over whether hunting or climate change, which led to the shrinkage of its habitat, was the main factor that contributed to the extinction of the woolly mammoth, or whether it was due to a combination of the two. whatever the cause, large mammals are generally more vulnerable than smaller ones due to their smaller population size and low reproduction rates. different woolly mammoth populations did not die out simultaneously across their range, but gradually became extinct over time. most populations disappeared between 14,000 and 10,000 years ago. the last mainland population existed in the kyttyk peninsula of siberia 9,650 years ago. a small population of woolly mammoths survived on st. paul island, alaska, well into the holocene with the most recently published date of extinction being 5,600 years b.p. the last known population remained on wrangel island in the arctic ocean until 4,000 years ago, well into the start of human civilization and concurrent with the construction of the great pyramid of ancient egypt.
woolly mammoth
the woolly mammoth ("mammuthus primigenius") is an extinct species of mammoth that lived during the pleistocene until its extinction in the early holocene epoch. it was one of the last in a line of mammoth species, beginning with "mammuthus subplanifrons" in the early pliocene. the woolly mammoth diverged from the steppe mammoth about 400,000 years ago in east asia. its closest extant relative is the asian elephant. the appearance and behaviour of this species are among the best studied of any prehistoric animal because of the discovery of frozen carcasses in siberia and alaska, as well as skeletons, teeth, stomach contents, dung, and depiction from life in prehistoric cave paintings. mammoth remains had long been known in asia before they became known to europeans in the 17th century. the origin of these remains was long a matter of debate, and often explained as being remains of legendary creatures. the mammoth was identified as an extinct species of elephant by georges cuvier in 1796.
woolly mammoth