Mammoths were large, extinct relatives of modern elephants that belonged to the family Elephantidae. They lived during the Pleistocene epoch, which spanned from approximately 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago. Mammoths were well-adapted to cold environments and had distinctive features, including long, curved tusks and a thick coat of fur.
There were several species of mammoths, and they were distributed across various regions, including parts of Asia, Europe, Africa, and North America. Some well-known mammoth species include the Woolly Mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) and the Columbian Mammoth (Mammuthus columbi).
The extinction of mammoths is generally attributed to a combination of factors, with climate change and human activities playing significant roles. The Pleistocene-Holocene transition, which occurred around 11,700 years ago, marked the end of the Pleistocene epoch and the beginning of the Holocene epoch. During this time, Earth's climate underwent significant changes, with the last glacial period giving way to a warmer and more stable climate.
Human populations were expanding and spreading across different continents during this period, and there is evidence to suggest that hunting by early humans, along with other factors like habitat loss and environmental changes, contributed to the decline and eventual extinction of mammoths. The exact timing of mammoth extinction varied by region and species, but most mammoths disappeared by the end of the Pleistocene epoch. The Wrangel Island population of Woolly Mammoths is believed to have survived until around 4,000 years ago, making them one of the last populations of mammoths.
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