Imperial Mammoth

The imperial mammoth is one of the largest known mammoth species in the fossil record,‭ ‬and‭ ‬possibly not only the largest mammoth but the largest terrestrial mammal currently known from North America.‭ ‬The imperial mammoth is still eclipsed in terms of size by some other mammoths‭; ‬however the exact species is not uncertain.‭ ‬Previously the record holder went to Mammuthus sungari,‭ ‬but new analysis of these remains in‭ ‬2010‭ ‬has since led to the idea that the largest remains of Mammuthus‭ ‬sungari should be moved over to Mammuthus‭ ‬trogontherii,‭ ‬better known as the steppe mammoth,‭ ‬making this the largest species. The imperial mammoth is usually associated with finds within the United States of America,‭ ‬but remains are also known from as far as Southern Mexico and Canada.‭ ‬As such the imperial mammoth covered a broad geographical range much like its counterpart the Columbian mammoth‭ (‬Mammuthus columbi)‬.‭ ‬These two species are often confused with one another due to their similar forms,‭ ‬but the imperial mammoth can be identified from its tusks,‭ ‬the tips of which cross over one another.‭ ‬The imperial mammoth does seem to have suffered the same fate as the Columbian mammoth however by succumbing to the combined effects of climate change and human hunting.