The Short and Violent Life of Male Woolly Mammoths

The woolly mammoth, a close relative of the modern elephant, is one of the most iconic creatures of the Ice Age. These massive herbivores roamed the cold tundras of the Northern Hemisphere, from Europe to North America, for thousands of years before going extinct around 4,000 years ago. Despite their impressive size and strength, male woolly mammoths had a short and violent life, leaving behind more corpses than their female counterparts.

Living Fast and Dying Young

Male woolly mammoths, like many other male mammals, lived fast and died young. They reached sexual maturity around the age of 12 and had a life expectancy of only about 30 years. In comparison, female woolly mammoths could live up to 60 years, twice as long as their male counterparts. This gender disparity is not unique to woolly mammoths; it is a common pattern among mammals, known as sexual dimorphism.

Fierce Battles for Mating Rights

One of the main reasons why male woolly mammoths had a shorter lifespan was their competitive nature. During the breeding season, which usually occurred in the fall, male mammoths would engage in fierce battles to win the right to mate with females. These battles could be deadly, as males used their long, curved tusks to gore each other. Some of the…