Southern mammoth

Mammuthus meridionalis, the southern mammoth, is an extinct species of mammoth that lived in Eurasia during the Early Pleistocene. It first appeared around 2.5 million years ago, probably descending from Mammuthus rumanus, and survived latest in Europe until about 800,000 years ago, when the steppe mammoth and the straight-tusked elephant replaced it. It was larger than modern elephants: a mature male skeleton from Italy stood about 4 metres at the shoulder and was estimated at roughly 11 tonnes, while females were smaller. Unlike later Eurasian mammoths it lived mainly in temperate climates and probably lacked a thick coat of fur. Some populations inhabited woodland and others partly open grassy country, and it was a variable mixed feeder that ate both grass and browse. It is the likely ancestor of the dwarf Cretan mammoth, Mammuthus creticus. It was named by Filippo Nesti in 1825 from remains found in the Upper Valdarno of Tuscany.