What biome characterized the preferred habitat of the woolly mammoth, *Mammuthus primigenius*?
Answer
The mammoth steppe (cold, dry, grassy plains)
Contrary to common popular depictions suggesting the woolly mammoth lived exclusively in frozen, icy tundra or dense forests, their preferred habitat was the mammoth steppe. This biome is specifically characterized as being cold, dry, and dominated by grasses. The grazing strategy employed by the woolly mammoths, which involved consuming vast quantities of coarse grasses, was highly efficient and suited precisely to the conditions of this steppe environment across Eurasia and North America.
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Evolution of the woolly mammoth - BBC science - YouTube
Related Questions
Which living relative is genetically closest to *Mammuthus primigenius* according to genetic studies?What biome characterized the preferred habitat of the woolly mammoth, *Mammuthus primigenius*?What approximate time separated the divergence of the woolly mammoth lineage from the Columbian mammoth lineage?Which species is cited as the earliest known member of the *Mammuthus* genus, dating back about 5 million years?What key evolutionary features evolved significantly later in the timeline of *M. primigenius* based on ancient DNA sequencing?What specific genetic markers did studies identify as conferring cold tolerance in mammoths?What process explains the woolly mammoth's evolutionary story driven by global climate shifts?Which geographical area is suggested as the likely origin point for the *Mammuthus* species expansion?What characterized the defining difference between the evolutionary focus of early *Mammuthus* and later *M. primigenius* features?Until approximately when did the relict population of woolly mammoths survive exclusively on Wrangel Island?What factors are considered probable contributors to the extinction of the mainland woolly mammoth populations?