Columbian Mammoth (Mammuthus columbi)

Status: extinct

This was the largest mammal ever trapped within the La Brea tar pats. Similar in size to the modern day African Elephant, the adult Columbian Mammoth stood over 13 feet at shoulder height, and weighed as much as 10 tons.

The teeth of mammoths were comprised of many enamel plates; the surface of the teeth resembled a washboard. When used, it made an effective system for grinding up tough plants and grass. The mammoths were herbivores, which typically lived in savannas, grasslands or tundra landscapes.

The tusks found at La Brea measure in excess of 13 feet. Its large size, likely meant it had few natural predators, although many speculate that the saber-toothed cat possibly preyed upon its young.