Understanding What a Mammoth Is
A mammoth was a large prehistoric elephant that lived during the Ice Age. It had long curved tusks, a thick coat of hair, and a strong build suited for cold climates.
How Mammoths Looked
Mammoths were similar to modern elephants but often larger. Their shaggy fur and layers of fat helped them survive freezing temperatures.
What Mammoths Ate
They were herbivores that fed on grasses, shrubs, and small plants. Their long tusks helped them dig through snow to reach food.
Where Mammoths Lived
Mammoths lived across North America, Europe, and Asia. Many fossils have been found in cold regions where the ground preserved their remains.
Why Mammoths Went Extinct
Scientists believe climate warming, habitat changes, and hunting by early humans contributed to their extinction around 4,000 years ago.
Why Mammoths Matter
Mammoth fossils provide insight into Ice Age ecosystems and early human history. Some remains are so well preserved they still have skin and hair.
The Simple Takeaway
Mammoths were huge, furry relatives of elephants that roamed Ice Age landscapes. They are extinct today, but their fossils reveal much about the past.