About Extinct Mammals
Mammals are warm-blooded vertebrates characterized by their fur or hair and the ability to nurse their young with milk. Throughout Earth's history, numerous mammal species have gone extinct due to climate change, human activity, and other ecological factors.
Some of the most fascinating extinct mammals include massive Ice Age creatures like woolly mammoths, giant ground sloths, and saber-toothed cats. More recent extinctions include species like the Tasmanian tiger and the Caribbean monk seal.
These extinctions represent not just the loss of individual species, but the disappearance of unique evolutionary adaptations and ecological relationships. Below we highlight some of the most remarkable extinct mammals from different periods of Earth's history.
Woolly Mammoth
An Ice Age giant that roamed the tundras over 4,000 years ago. Known for their long, curved tusks and thick fur coats adapted to cold environments.
Irish Elk
A massive deer species with the largest antlers of any known cervid. Despite its name, it was neither exclusively Irish nor an elk.
Mexican Grizzly Bear
A large brown bear subspecies that once roamed Mexico's mountains. Officially declared extinct in 1964 after years of hunting and habitat loss.