Birth defects plagued last woolly mammoths

Researchers have discovered that some of the last known woolly mammoths had extra bones in their necks -- a genetic defect that could have contributed to the dying off of the species. The conclusions have been drawn from examining fossils from about 12,000 years ago near the North Sea.

Background:

Birth Defects In Last Woolly Mammoths Suggest Inbreeding May Have Led To Species’ Extinction [IBT]

Last Woolly Mammoths May Have Suffered Birth Defects [LiveScience]

Strange Neck Bone Could Be Reason For Mammoths Disappearance [The Almagest]