Eurasian Mammoth

Kingdom:
 * †*Proboscodon gigas* (Anthony, 1944)
* †*Pachyankylus gigas* (Lambo, 1971)
* †*Stegodon mindanaoensis* (Gloratha, 2013)

The **Eurasian Mammoth** (***Mammuthus gigas***) is an extinct species of giant mammoth hailing from Early Pleistocene-Early Holocene deposits in Europe and Asia. The main difference between *M. gigas* and other mammoths is that *M. gigas* has an unusual tooth structure, with the molars placed in rows of two. Another difference is that *M. gigas* had very deep nasal passages, suggesting a longer trunk than those of other proboscideans. Furthermore, *M. gigas*, as it's name suggests, was the largest mammoth known, reaching heights of 16 feet and weighing 19 tons. Due to an abundance of known fossil material, *M. gigas* is one of the most studied of all proboscideans.

The first fossils of *M. gigas* appear during the Pleistocene, approximately 2 mya. Several locations have yielded fossils of the Eurasian Mammoth, including almost 10 sites in Siberia, 2 in Finland, 3 in Sweden, 6 in Norway, and 1 in Kazakhstan. Dr. David Troy of the Royal Tyrell Museum stated that *M. gigas* would have been one of the commonest herbivores in most ecosystems it lived in.

## History

The Holotype material of *M. gigas* was found in 1943 near the Bernask Formation in Russia (then known as the USSR), by palaeontologists working for the University of Minsk. The specimen, consisting of 3 leg bones, a partial maxilla, the skullcap, 7 ribs, 2 tusk fragments, and 10 teeth, was originally described as being a species of *Proboscodon*, specifically the new species *P. gigas*. Due to the fragmentary nature of the specimen, *P. gigas* remained a poorly known animal for many years. In 1971, David Lambo moved *P. gigas* to its own genus, *Pachyankylus*. However, more material was found in 1998, which made the animal less obscure. That same year, Clifford Brant noted similarities between the skeleton of *P. gigas* and the genus *Mammuthus*. In 2002, he and Jonas Rael formally placed *P. gigas* in the genus *Mammuthus* as the new species *M. gigas*. Just 7 months after the naming of the new proboscidean species *Stegodon mindanaoensis* in February 2013, a study led by Jing-Yun Zhong found that it was a junior synonym of *M. gigas*, and as such was transferred to that species. More fossils were found in 2020, which supported the move from *P. gigas* to *M. gigas*.

## Description

The Eurasian Mammoth was the largest mammoth yet discovered, and also the largest proboscidean of all time, even larger than *Palaeoloxodon*. In 2005, palaeontologist Fernanda Devi estimated that adult males could reach a height of 16 ft. (4.8 m), a length of 25 ft. (10.6 m), and could weigh up to 19 metric tons (20.9 short tons). A smaller estimate in 2014 by palaeontologist Kenneth Mattens stated that the Eurasian Mammoth could attain a peak height of 14 ft. (4.2 m) and could weigh up to 15 metric tons (16.5 short tons). In 2019, Zhong estimated the size of *M. gigas* to have been 14.7 ft. (4.4 m) at the shoulders and the weight to have been 17.2 metric tons (18.9 short tons).

Like all other proboscideans, the Eurasian Mammoth was a herbivore, using it's trunk to grab leaves to eat. After analyzing the animal's nasal passages, scientists have hypothesized that it may have had a somewhat longer trunk than other Mammoths, so it could reach farther than most other proboscideans. However, some scientists thing *M. gigas* may have actually had a fairly diminutive trunk, similar to that of *Deinotherium*. Their basis is that the nasal passages of *M. gigas* were the wrong size for supporting a large trunk. In 2016, Rael disputed this logic, stating that the shape of the nasal passages does not significantly affect the size of the trunk.

The tusks of *M. gigas* are large and quite curved, and may have been used for combat between species. In 2019, scientists at the Saint Petersburg State University did an analysis on the tusks of the Eurasian Mammoth and found that they were quite robust, probably able to withstand impacts with other objects, such as the tusks of rival Mammoths. The reason why the tusks are so strong, states palaeontologist Peter Mikhail, is because of a substance called Ischyrin, which reinforces the tusks by binding the molecules in the tusk together very tightly. One study showed that 2 inches of Ischyrin was stronger than 2 inches of solid metal.

The bones of the Eurasian Mammoth are generally very strong, especially the limb bones. These need to be strong enough to support the weight of the Mammoth. The bones were not hollow, and, as such, the animal would have been extremely heavy. Some scientists say that this could have been a disadvantage for if it fell over, or lay down to rest. However, a study in 2021 found that the Mammoth would have had very powerful leg muscles, which apparently would have allowed the animal to get up from a resting position quite easily.

## Diet

Similar to all other Mammoths, the Eurasian Mammoth was a herbivore. Based on the immense length of it's trunk and the animals height, scientists have determined that the Eurasian Mammoth likely ate leaves from the tops of trees. A study on the teeth of *M. gigas* revealed extensive wearing, indicating that the animal was eating tough or gritty food, such as roots or bark.

Fossilized leaves have been found in the stomach cavity of some specimens. Scientists have determined that the leaves came from oak and beech trees, thus the Eurasian Mammoth likely ate mainly deciduous leaves. Wear on the molars of several specimens supports this theory, according to scientists at the University of Montreal.

There is also some evidence that Eurasian Mammoths were eating coniferous tree needles, especially those of pine trees. One exceptional complete Eurasian Mammoth fossil found in Finland in 2005 had fossilized pine needles stuck between two molars, as well as in the stomach cavity. Scientists at the University of Helsinki found that the area that the fossil was found in would have been a conifer forest approximately 1.4 mya.

## DNA

Fossilized samples of DNA have been found in a couple specimens, which scientists say could possibly help with cloning Mammoths. However, other scientists claim that more DNA has been found in other species than with the Eurasian Mammoth and say that it's unlikely that the DNA found in the Eurasian Mammoth specimens could be used in cloning.

## Coexistence with humans

The Eurasian Mammoth co-existed with *Homo sapiens* for over a thousand years. Going extinct only 2,000 years ago, the Eurasian Mammoth was likely hunted by Neanderthals and, later, humans. One sub-fossil rib from Finland was found with a spearhead imbedded in it, which is direct evidence that this mammoth was hunted by hominids. What type of hominid was responsible for the injury is unknown, as several different species lived in the area. Based on the complexity of the spearhead, some scientists think that it might have been *Homo dynamosternus*.

## Extinction

The Eurasian Mammoth went extinct around 2,000 years ago, seemingly due to hunting by humans. Scientists at the University of Alberta have stated that the Mammoth had been in decline for over 5,000 years, potentially due to a cooling environment. However, a recent study has shown that the environment that *M. gigas* lived in had actually been warming for the last 10,000 years leading to the animal's extinction.