mammoth 🦣

Mammoths were large, prehistoric relatives of modern elephants. Here are some interesting facts about them:
1. **Species**: There were several species of mammoths, with the Woolly Mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) being the most well-known.
2. **Size**: Woolly Mammoths were about the same size as modern African elephants, standing roughly 10-12 feet tall at the shoulder and weighing up to 6-8 tons.
3. **Habitat**: They roamed across the northern parts of North America, Europe, and Asia during the Pleistocene epoch, thriving in cold, tundra environments.
4. **Diet**: Mammoths were herbivores, primarily grazing on grasses, but they also ate other types of vegetation, including shrubs and trees.
5. **Tusks**: Their long, curved tusks could reach up to 15 feet in length and were used for foraging, fighting, and manipulating objects.
6. **Fur**: Woolly Mammoths had a thick layer of fur, with an undercoat and a longer, coarser outer coat, helping them survive in cold climates.
7. **Extinction**: Most mammoth species went extinct around 10,000 years ago, likely due to a combination of climate change and overhunting by humans. However, a small population of Woolly Mammoths survived on Wrangel Island until about 4,000 years ago.
8. **Fossil Evidence**: Well-preserved mammoth remains, including frozen carcasses, have been found in Siberia, providing valuable information about their biology and the environment they lived in.
9. **Cultural Significance**: Mammoths played an important role in the lives of prehistoric humans, who used their bones and tusks for tools, art, and shelter.
10. **De-extinction Efforts**: There are ongoing scientific efforts to bring mammoths back through genetic engineering, using DNA extracted from preserved specimens and closely related species like the Asian elephant.