Which modern elephant species is recognized as being genetically closest to the Woolly Mammoth (*Mammuthus*) genus?
Answer
Modern Asian elephant species (*Elephas maximus*)
While the Woolly Mammoth belongs to the Family Elephantidae along with all true elephants, genetic analysis has established a clearer delineation at the genus level regarding living relatives. The genus *Mammuthus* shares a more recent common ancestor with the modern Asian elephant species, *Elephas maximus*, compared to the lineage leading to the African elephants (*Loxodonta*). This realization clarifies why certain skeletal or genetic markers might show stronger alignments with Asian elephants than with their African counterparts, despite both being extant elephant relatives.
Related Questions
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