簡介:"真猛獁象是一般大眾所熟知的典型猛獁象,或是俗稱的長毛象。與其他種的猛獁象相比,真猛獁象身上披附著厚的皮毛,皮下有著豐富的油脂,以適應寒冷的氣候生活,而且體型大的很多,與現代的非洲象相似。頭骨前額部位向上隆起、下顎骨縮短、臼齒齒板數多且密集、臼齒琺瑯質纖細。真猛獁象的另一個特色是具有一對特有彎曲的長牙,一般認為用來掃除凍原上的積雪或冰塊,以便找尋凍原上的食物。 真猛獁象已經有多次在西伯利亞及阿拉斯加地區發現的紀錄,而且大多是被埋藏在凍原裡,所以保存狀況十分的良好。而在法國及西班牙的洞穴內,也發現了許多早期人們有關它的繪畫及雕塑。古生物學家推測可能是因為冰河時期結束的氣候改變,以及早期人類大量的狩獵,因而加速了真猛獁的滅絕。化石脊椎長鼻目真猛獁象Mammuthus primigenius is known as the typical Mammuthus or often called woolly mammoth. Comparing with other Mammuthus , Mammuthus primigenius was furred with dense hair and equipped with body fat to be adapt to cold weather and was larger in size. Being similar with African elephants, Mammuthus primigenius had bulged forehead and short lower jaw. Mammuthus primigenius had dense and enamel plates and the fine texture of enamel. Another characteristic of Mammuthus primigenius was the unique curving long tusks used for sweeping the frozen snow or ice and looking for food. Fossils of Mammuthus primigenius had been discovered in the areas of Siberia and Alaska . Because mostly of them were buried under the frozen land, the discoveries were found in good conditions of preservation. In the caves of France and Spain , drawing and sculpture of Mammuthus primigenius were seen. Paleontologists believed that due to the climate change and hunting in large quantities, the Mammuthus primigenius quickly became extinct."