St. Paul’s Island
St. Paul’s Island is a small island located in the Bering Sea, part of the Pribilof Islands group off the coast of Alaska. It is historically significant in paleontology as the site of the final known population of Woolly Mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius).
Key Facts
- Location: Bering Sea, Alaska, USA.
- Paleontological Significance: Hosted an isolated mammoth population that survived long after mainland populations went extinct.
Mammoth Population and Extinction
- Survival: While mainland woolly mammoths vanished approximately 10,000 years ago, a small population persisted on St. Paul’s Island until roughly 3,700–4,000 years ago.
- Extinction Context: The extinction event on the island is considered the endpoint for the species globally.
- Recent Research: St. Paul’s Island Woolly Mammoth Extinction: Chronology and Causes provides a detailed chronology and analysis of the causes, highlighting the role of climate change and habitat isolation in the final demise of this population.