How Big Was the Woolly Mammoth?

The woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) was a massive creature, standing about 3 to 3.7 meters (about 10 to 12 feet) tall. Its towering stature was complemented by its hefty weight, which ranged between 5,500 and 7,300 kg (approximately 6 to 8 tons). Such dimensions make the woolly mammoth comparable in size to modern-day elephants.

Apart from its size, the woolly mammoth also had several distinctive features. It was well-adapted to the cold climates of the Pleistocene ice ages. It had a yellowish-brown undercoat about 2.5 cm (about 1 inch) thick, covered by a coarser layer of dark brown hair that could grow more than 70 cm (27.5 inches) long. Beneath its thick skin, a layer of fat up to 8 cm (3 inches) thick provided additional insulation, helping the mammoth survive in frigid environments. The mammoth’s ears were relatively small, an adaptation that minimized heat loss in cold climates. The hump of fat on its back functioned as a reservoir of energy and water. It had a high and domelike skull, with large, downward-curving tusks that could be used for foraging and defense.