Body sizes of the woolly mammoth Mammuthus primigenius (Blumenbach) of the second half of the Late Pleistocene in the north of Eastern Siberia
https://doi.org/10.31242/2618-9712-2021-26-1-4
Abstract
The data on the body sizes of the woolly mammoth Mammuthus primigenius (Blumenbach) of the second half of Late Pleistocene in the north of Eastern Siberia (Yakutia, Taimyr Peninsula, western Chukotka) are analyzed. The data presented in the article are based on the original data of the author who took part in the study of the morphological features of frozen remains of mummies and skeletons of mammoths found on the territory of Yakutia over the past 30 years: Churapchinsky, Maksunuokhsky, Yukagirsky mammoths; part of the skeleton of a mammoth from the Zimovye River (Bolshoy Lyakhovsky Island). The skeleton of the Tirekhtyakh mammoth was measured separately. In addition, the literature data on the body size of the woolly mammoth of the second half of Late Pleistocene in Eastern Siberia and other regions were analyzed. Previous researchers noted that the height at the withers of adult males of M. primigenius from the territory of Yakutia and the Taimyr Peninsula is close to that of the male Asian (Indian) elephant Elephas maximus L. It was concluded from this fact that the overall body size of the woolly mammoth was similar to that of the Asian elephant. It is demonstrated in this article on the basis of more representative material that, although the woolly mammoth was indeed very similar in height at the withers to modern E. maximus, at the same time, its body was on average longer, the head was larger, i.e. body proportions of these species were different. Apparently, the peculiarities of the proportions of the body of the woolly mammoth contributed to its better survival under the conditions of the Ice Age.
Supporting agencies: The work was carried out within the framework of Project No. 0381-2019-0002 under the State Assignment to the Diamond and Precious Metals Geology Institute SB RAS.
About the Author
G. G. Boeskorov
Diamond and Precious Metals Geology Institute, SB RAS
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
BOESKOROV Gennady Gavrilovich, Dr. Sci. (Biology), chief researcher
39 Lenina pr., Yakutsk 677890, Russia,
Author ID (RSCI): 177055. Scopus ID: 6602163346
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Review
For citations:
Boeskorov G.G. Body sizes of the woolly mammoth Mammuthus primigenius (Blumenbach) of the second half of the Late Pleistocene in the north of Eastern Siberia. Arctic and Subarctic Natural Resources. 2021;26(1):38-48. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.31242/2618-9712-2021-26-1-4
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