Columbian Mammoth
Encyclopedia
The Columbian Mammoth is an extinct species of elephant
of the Quaternary
period that appeared in North America (in the present United States and to as far south as Nicaragua and Honduras) during the late Pleistocene
. It is believed by some authorities to be the same species as its slightly larger cousin, M. imperator, because of their similarities in fossil
location and size.
The Columbian Mammoth was one of the last members of the American megafauna
to go extinct, with the date of disappearance generally set at approximately 12,500 years ago. However, several specimens have been dated to 9,000 years ago or less and one near Nashville, Tennessee
, was reliably dated to only about 7,800 years ago.
The Columbian mammoth was one of the largest of the mammoth
species and also one of the largest elephants to have ever lived, measuring 4 metres (13.1 ft) tall and weighing up to 10 metric tons (11 ST). It was 10.7 feet (3.3 m) long at the shoulder, and had a head that accounted for 12 to 25 percent of its body weight. It had impressive, spiralled tusks which typically extended to 6.5 feet (2 m). A pair of Columbian Mammoth tusks discovered in central Texas was the largest ever found for any member of the elephant family: 16 feet (4.9 m) long.
It was a herbivore
, with a diet consisting of varied plant life ranging from grass
es to conifers. It is also theorized that the Columbian Mammoth ate the giant fruits of North America such as the Osage-orange
, Kentucky coffee
and Honey locust
as there was no other large herbivore in North America then that could ingest these fruits. Using studies of African elephants, it has been estimated that a large male would have eaten approximately 700 pounds (317.5 kg) of plant material daily. The average Columbian mammoth ate 300 pounds of vegetation a day.
, located in Los Angeles
, California, and the skeleton of one of them is on exhibit in that site's museum. The Waco Mammoth Site
in Waco, TX
holds the record for the largest known concentration of skeletons of mammoths believed to have died in the same event. This mammoth also lived in Mexico
, where its remains are very common. A large individual is the central exhibit in the Regional Museum of Guadalajara
, in the Mexican state of Jalisco
.
In 1998, the Washington State Legislature approved the Columbian Mammoth as the State Fossil.
Elephant
Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
of the Quaternary
Quaternary
The Quaternary Period is the most recent of the three periods of the Cenozoic Era in the geologic time scale of the ICS. It follows the Neogene Period, spanning 2.588 ± 0.005 million years ago to the present...
period that appeared in North America (in the present United States and to as far south as Nicaragua and Honduras) during the late Pleistocene
Pleistocene
The Pleistocene is the epoch from 2,588,000 to 11,700 years BP that spans the world's recent period of repeated glaciations. The name pleistocene is derived from the Greek and ....
. It is believed by some authorities to be the same species as its slightly larger cousin, M. imperator, because of their similarities in fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
location and size.
The Columbian Mammoth was one of the last members of the American megafauna
Megafauna
In terrestrial zoology, megafauna are "giant", "very large" or "large" animals. The most common thresholds used are or...
to go extinct, with the date of disappearance generally set at approximately 12,500 years ago. However, several specimens have been dated to 9,000 years ago or less and one near Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, was reliably dated to only about 7,800 years ago.
Size
Mammoth
A mammoth is any species of the extinct genus Mammuthus. These proboscideans are members of Elephantidae, the family of elephants and mammoths, and close relatives of modern elephants. They were often equipped with long curved tusks and, in northern species, a covering of long hair...
species and also one of the largest elephants to have ever lived, measuring 4 metres (13.1 ft) tall and weighing up to 10 metric tons (11 ST). It was 10.7 feet (3.3 m) long at the shoulder, and had a head that accounted for 12 to 25 percent of its body weight. It had impressive, spiralled tusks which typically extended to 6.5 feet (2 m). A pair of Columbian Mammoth tusks discovered in central Texas was the largest ever found for any member of the elephant family: 16 feet (4.9 m) long.
It was a herbivore
Herbivore
Herbivores are organisms that are anatomically and physiologically adapted to eat plant-based foods. Herbivory is a form of consumption in which an organism principally eats autotrophs such as plants, algae and photosynthesizing bacteria. More generally, organisms that feed on autotrophs in...
, with a diet consisting of varied plant life ranging from grass
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
es to conifers. It is also theorized that the Columbian Mammoth ate the giant fruits of North America such as the Osage-orange
Osage-orange
Maclura pomifera, commonly called Osage-orange, hedge-apple, Horse-apple, Bois D'Arc, or Bodark, is a small deciduous tree or large shrub, typically growing to tall. It is dioeceous, with male and female flowers on different plants...
, Kentucky coffee
Kentucky coffeetree
The Kentucky Coffeetree, Gymnocladus dioicus, is a tree in the subfamily Caesalpinioideae of the pea family Fabaceae, native to the midwest of North America.-Introduction:...
and Honey locust
Honey locust
The Honey locust, Gleditsia triacanthos, is a deciduous tree native to central North America. It is mostly found in the moist soil of river valleys ranging from southeastern South Dakota to New Orleans and central Texas, and as far east as eastern Massachusetts.-Description:Honey locusts, Gleditsia...
as there was no other large herbivore in North America then that could ingest these fruits. Using studies of African elephants, it has been estimated that a large male would have eaten approximately 700 pounds (317.5 kg) of plant material daily. The average Columbian mammoth ate 300 pounds of vegetation a day.
Fossils
The remains of Columbian Mammoths were discovered in the La Brea Tar PitsLa Brea Tar Pits
The La Brea Tar Pits are a cluster of tar pits around which Hancock Park was formed, in the urban heart of Los Angeles. Asphaltum or tar has seeped up from the ground in this area for tens of thousands of years. The tar is often covered with water...
, located in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California, and the skeleton of one of them is on exhibit in that site's museum. The Waco Mammoth Site
Waco Mammoth Site
The Waco Mammoth Site is a tourist attraction in Waco, Texas, where the bones of 24 Columbian mammoth were buried approximately 68,000 years ago when rapidly rising waters from the Bosque River flooded the site.-Description:...
in Waco, TX
Waco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
holds the record for the largest known concentration of skeletons of mammoths believed to have died in the same event. This mammoth also lived in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, where its remains are very common. A large individual is the central exhibit in the Regional Museum of Guadalajara
Guadalajara, Jalisco
Guadalajara is the capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco, and the seat of the municipality of Guadalajara. The city is located in the central region of Jalisco in the western-pacific area of Mexico. With a population of 1,564,514 it is Mexico's second most populous municipality...
, in the Mexican state of Jalisco
Jalisco
Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...
.
In 1998, the Washington State Legislature approved the Columbian Mammoth as the State Fossil.
See also
- MammothMammothA mammoth is any species of the extinct genus Mammuthus. These proboscideans are members of Elephantidae, the family of elephants and mammoths, and close relatives of modern elephants. They were often equipped with long curved tusks and, in northern species, a covering of long hair...
- Waco Mammoth SiteWaco Mammoth SiteThe Waco Mammoth Site is a tourist attraction in Waco, Texas, where the bones of 24 Columbian mammoth were buried approximately 68,000 years ago when rapidly rising waters from the Bosque River flooded the site.-Description:...