What is the Difference Between Elephant and Mammoth?

While sharing a common ancestor, mammoths and elephants adapted distinctly for their environments. Mammoths, with thick fur and long, curved tusks, thrived in cold Ice Age regions, using their tusks for digging snow. Elephants, the largest land animals today, have sparser skin, larger ears, and live in warmer climates, showcasing nature's incredible ability to adapt species over time

Jun 10, 2025, 15:56 IST
What is the Difference Between Elephants and Mammoths?
What is the Difference Between Elephants and Mammoths?

Did you know what the difference is between an elephant and those big, hairy beasts known as mammoths that you see in ice age films? They both have trunks and tusks, but did you know that they are different? Read below to find out what makes these incredible creatures different.

Mammoth vs Elephant: Spotting the Differences

While mammoths and elephants share a common ancestor, they have distinct differences that helped them survive in their respective environments. Here's a quick look:

Feature

Mammoth

Elephant

Habitat

Cold, icy regions

Warmer climates (Africa, Asia)

Fur

Thick, shaggy coat

Sparse, smooth skin

Tusks

Long, curved, sometimes spiraled

Moderately curved

Body Size

Similar to elephants, some were larger

Varies, generally smaller than some mammoth species

Ears

Smaller to reduce heat loss

Larger to radiate heat

Molars

Ridges are more numerous and closely spaced

Fewer ridges that are widely spaced

Elephants

Elephants are the biggest land animals in the world today. They live in Africa and Asia. They're incredibly intelligent, have fabulous memories, and use their trunks to drink water, give each other hugs, and more! Elephants have smooth skin, large ears, and long, curved tusks. They use that for digging and for protection. They live in herds, sort of like big family units, and eat plants.

Mammoths

Mammoths existed very, very long ago, primarily during the age of the Ice Age. They were able to live in very cold places. They also had very long and curved tusks, at times much larger than an elephant's tusks. The tusks actually assisted them in digging holes in the snow in order to attempt to find food. They grazed like an elephant but their bodies grew adapted to cold environments.

Mammoths and elephants are like the same animals with different species in the animal kingdom. Mammoths were the furry creatures of the Ice Age, while elephants are the amazing giants we share the planet with today. Both are incredible in their own way, showing how animals can adapt and thrive in different environments!

Kirti Sharma
Kirti Sharma

Content Writer

Kirti Sharma is a content writing professional with 3 years of experience in the EdTech Industry and Digital Content. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and worked with companies like ThoughtPartners Global, Infinite Group, and MIM-Essay. She writes for the General Knowledge and Current Affairs section of JagranJosh.com.

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