According to evolutionary lines, which mammoth species is the Woolly Mammoth (*M. primigenius*) considered a direct descendant of?
Answer
The Steppe Mammoth (*M. trogontherii*)
The hierarchical classification system permits scientists to map out specific evolutionary paths among extinct relatives. The text confirms that researchers draw a direct line of descent indicating that the Woolly Mammoth (*M. primigenius*) evolved from the Steppe Mammoth (*M. trogontherii*). This evolutionary transition involved the development of specific morphological traits that allowed *M. primigenius* to thrive, specifically adaptations suited for the much colder glacial environments it later occupied.
Related Questions
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