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elephants and mammoths are closely related animals, belonging to the same order. Of the three families in this order, only the elephant family is still alive. So, what’s the difference between elephants and mammoths?
Both animals are gentle herbivores, although mammoths have sometimes fought with their long tusks. In this article, we will discuss all the differences between elephants and mammoths, including why elephants survived while mammoths became extinct.
Compare Elephant vs Mammoth
Elephants and mammoths are very similar, and they even descended from the same ancestor a long time ago!
However, they have distinct differences, mainly because of the way mammoths adapted to cooler environments. Before we dive in, let’s talk about the elephant species alive today.
African elephant: African elephants have large ears, two extensions of their trunks used for grasping, and dipped backs. There are two types of African elephants, the African forest elephant which is larger and lives on savannas and the African forest elephant which is smaller and lives in dense forest environments.
Asian elephant: It is still debated which elephant species is most closely related to mammoths, but many believe it to be the Asian elephant. These elephants have small ears, rounded backs and only one extension of the trunk. Female Asian elephants don’t have tusks. Asian elephants are a endangered species.
There were many species of mammoths, including the woolly mammoth, pygmy mammoth, and steppe mammoth. All of these species are now extinct.
| Elephant | Mammoth | |
| Status | threatened | Extinct |
| Habitat | Africa, Asia | North America, Asia, Europe |
| Body | Rounded or recessed back | Hunchbacked back |
| tusks | Shorter tusks with 1-2 extensions; only male Asian elephants have tusks | Long tusks with two extensions; both sexes had tusks |
| ears | Ears of Asian elephants are smaller, while Ears of African elephants are bigger | Small ears |
| Coat | small fur | Thick coat, sometimes with double coat |
The 5 main differences between mammoths and elephants
1. Mammoths Are Extinct
The big difference between these species is that only one lives. Mammoths became extinct about 4,000 years ago thanks to a rapidly changing climate and prey on humans that spread all over the world.
Elephants are still alive, although all elephant species are endangered. Asian elephants are on the endangered species list while African forest elephants are endangered and African forest elephants are now critically endangered.
It is so important to keep alive the elephants left behind today, otherwise this entire order of animals will disappear from our earth for good.
2. Mammoths had bigger tusks
mammoths were heavier than elephants, with much longer tusks. They were more contorted than elephant tusks and could grow as long as 16 feet.
In comparison: the tallest elephant ever tusks were 11 feet and 7 inches long.
Another important variation only exists in Asian elephants: the females have no tusks. Both mammoths and African elephants have tusks.
And last but not least, when it comes to their trunks, both African elephants and mammoths have two extensions of the tips of their trunks that are (or were) used for grappling. Asian elephants have only one.
3. Mammoths had thick coats
If you’ve ever seen an elephant, you know that they have very thin layers of hair – it can even look like they have no fur at all.
You can’t say that about a mammoth. They had thick fur to adapt to cold environments. Some of them even had double jackets to keep them warm during harsh winters.
4. Their Habitats were different
Mammoths and elephants are the descendants of the same animal. At some point in history, however, mammoths evolved to survive outside the warm climates of Africa, Asia, and Asia Europe.
While elephants stayed in these environments, mammoths traveled as far as North America!
Over time, they adapted to colder climates and thus were able to survive these further journeys.
5. They Have Different Body Shapes
Mammoths had humps on their backs near their shoulders, but elephants don’t. Asian elephants have more rounded backs, while the backs of African elephants slope down towards the center.
Mammoths and Asian elephants also have more prominent foreheads, while African elephants’ foreheads slope straight down into the trunk. There is a much less visible separation structure between the head and torso.
Mammoths had larger foreheads than either elephant species, and it was rather round
in shape.
Finally, African elephants have longer ears than the Asian elephant or mammoth.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why are mammoths extinct?
Mammoths became extinct about 4,000 years ago. Their numbers declined due to human hunters, but they eventually became extinct due to climate change. The Earth was warming so quickly and drastically that mammoths were unable to adapt to the loss of habitat and food resources.
Of course, during this period, elephants did not have to adapt to changing arctic conditions, as they remained in their homelands on the African and Asian continents.
Where can I see elephants?
The best (and easiest!) place to see elephants these days is at a local zoo with a focus on preserving the species.
Never fund the use of elephants for human entertainment, as elephants are often abused in these situations.
For example, sometimes elephant rides are advertised. Elephants aren’t like horses, though — they’re not built to carry a human, and it hurts them to do so. They often suffer from spinal cord injuries, blisters and infections.
Although animal performances are on the brink of extinction, it’s important never to go to a show where an animal performs “tricks” to entertain a crowd. These animals get nothing out of these performances and are often mistreated behind the scenes.
How can we stop the extinction of elephants?
To prevent elephants from becoming extinct, we must support conservation efforts, take a stand against poaching and combat climate change.
Habitat loss and poaching are the biggest threats to elephants right now.
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