It was relatively small and is seen as the direct ancestor of M. meriodionalis, although its tusk diverged more widely from its skull than later species of mammoth, which might indicate that it was an evolutionary dead end.
This early relative was modest in size and is regarded as the direct precursor to M. meriodionalis, but its tusk diverged more widely from its skull compared to subsequent mammoth species, potentially indicating that it represented an evolutionary dead end or a turning point.