What insulating resource worked in concert with the dense fur to help woolly mammoths maintain core temperature?
Answer
A substantial layer of subcutaneous fat, essentially blubber
Maintaining a massive, warm-blooded body in perpetually frigid conditions demanded significant energy retention strategies beyond just thick external hair. Woolly mammoths had developed a considerable layer of fat beneath their skin, which is functionally described as a form of blubber. This layer served as an additional, robust barrier against the extreme cold. This subcutaneous insulation worked synergistically with the dense wool and guard hairs to ensure that the animal could sustain the high metabolic demands required to stay warm throughout the long, dark winters of the Ice Age.
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