What is the Difference Between Elephant and Mammoth?

Elephants and mammoths are both large, herbivorous animals that belong to the same order, Elephantidae, within the Proboscidea group. Despite their close relation, they have several key differences:

1. Extinction: Mammoths are extinct, while elephants are still alive today. Mammoths went extinct around 4,000 years ago, primarily due to a rapidly changing climate and the shrinking of their ice-age habitat.
2. Size and Tusks: Mammoths were generally heavier and had much longer tusks than elephants. The longest mammoth tusks found were 16 feet long, while the longest elephant tusks were 11 feet and 7 inches.
3. Fur: Mammoths had a thick, wooly coat to protect them from the cold, while elephants do not have such a coat. The woolly mammoth, in particular, had two layers of fur and a distinct lump on its back, which may have stored fat for scarce food periods and helped maintain a healthy core body temperature.
4. Habitat: Mammoths had a broader geographical range, living across various continents, while elephants are currently found in Africa and Asia.
5. Subspecies: There are three distinct species of elephants: African savanna, African forest, and Asian. Mammoths, on the other hand, had several species, such as the Columbian mammoth and the woolly mammoth.

Despite these differences, elephants and mammoths share a common ancestor and are closely related. They are both gentle herbivores with a long history of human interaction.

Comparative Table: Elephant vs Mammoth

Here is a table comparing the differences between elephants and mammoths:

Please note that the information in the table is based on the search results provided and may not be exhaustive.