What were mammoths, and where did they come from?
The mammoths were members of the order Probiscidea, within the family Elephantidae. Their genus, from which we derive their common name, was Mammuthus. Over the course of time, many species of mammoths evolved, and these species lived in vastly different habitats.
The most inspiring thing about mammoths is their large size. Nothing this large lives in the Arctic regions of the Earth today. Only in Africa, in the form of the African Elephant, are we given a glimpse of the majesty of the extinct mammoth.
Left to right: Modern Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus), Modern African Elephant(Loxodonta africana), Columbian Mammoth (Mammuthus columbi)
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