What is the scientific designation assigned to the Woolly Mammoth?
Answer
*Mammuthus primigenius*
The precise scientific identification for the Woolly Mammoth is provided by its binomial nomenclature, *Mammuthus primigenius*. This formal Linnaean naming convention is essential for scientific communication because it offers absolute specificity, distinguishing the creature from its close evolutionary cousins. For instance, *M. columbi* is a separate species within the same genus, while *Loxodonta* represents the genus for modern African elephants and *Elephas* represents the genus for modern Asian elephants, highlighting why the full species name is necessary for identification.
Related Questions
What is the scientific designation assigned to the Woolly Mammoth?What specialized feature defines membership in the Order Proboscidea for the Woolly Mammoth?What set of key characteristics defines the Woolly Mammoth's placement within Class Mammalia?What feature, characteristic of Phylum Chordata, implies the Woolly Mammoth possessed a backbone?Which modern elephant species is recognized as being genetically closest to the Woolly Mammoth (*Mammuthus*) genus?What critical function does the NCBI taxonomy ID 37349 serve when discussing ancient remains like the Woolly Mammoth?What characteristic defines the Woolly Mammoth's placement in the Kingdom Animalia at the highest level of organization?Which group of extinct and extant proboscideans is encompassed by the Family Elephantidae?According to evolutionary lines, which mammoth species is the Woolly Mammoth (*M. primigenius*) considered a direct descendant of?What specific morphological trait concerning tusks historically separated the *Mammuthus* genus before genetic confirmation?