View source for Federal mammoths

{{Taxobox | name = Mosh’shalash | status = NT | status_system = IUCN3.1 | extinct = | image = Mosh’shalash.png | image_width = 250px | image_caption = The three Mosh’shalash species, the greater, sand, and blue | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Chordata | classis = 	Reptilia | ordo = Squamata | familia = Mosh’shalashide | binomial_authority = [[Hylfred Görenssen]], 1785 | range_map=SHALOSHHABITAT.png | range_map_caption= Habitat }} 
There are three distinct groups of Mammoths in the federation, Eastern, Southern, and Scanderan. These groups can further be divided into separate races. What however cannot be doubted is that all these share a common ancestor and mixing between the populations are common, especially in modern times where mammoths are often supplanted from one region to the next to the degree that it is generally assumed that in the modern day and age that most are hybrids of some degree. This is especially the case in regions with some overlap as in the volcanic islands between Scandera and Astermark, and in the Gielish realms that have given birth to hybrid Giel Mammoths, however these are generally not considered a separate wild species but instead just a domesticate breed. 

What is generally agreed upon however is that these large beasts are keystone species, carving up large forest trails in the dense jungles and pine forests that other animals use as migration routes but also serves as prey animals for some of the massive federal megafauna, or keeping the large plains of the north open in both Scandera and Astermark. 


=History= 
Alongside geese, hounds, shagrats, and oxen and cows are mammoths some of the most important domesticated species in Scandera and domestication in Astermark and vatnafalten is similarly important culturally and historically for the societies there. Domesticated races and breeds exist for all kinds of purposes all over the federation and mammoths have historically been raised for work, long range transportation, and most remembered in federal cultures are their roles as war beasts. So called Mammoths-o´war are generally obsolete in modern combat but several nobles still raise these massive beasts for prestige and the royal household is known to keep several pure breed war mammoths as part of their household stables. 

While machinery has encroached on their other traditional roles however they are far from replaced and work mammoths still serve next to human workcrews in numerous industries and transport mammoths still patrol the traditional routes both in the massive sprawling cities but also out in the countryside. 

Their winding paths in the forests have at times been co-opted as roads in Scandera and it is suspected that a lot of ancient roads in Scandera itself were originally created by mammoths and just extended or connected by humans. 

= Reproduction = 
These animals are known for their higher caloric needs than regular elephants due to quicker growth in childhood as well as a more K selective breeding strategy compared to other elephants, twins and even triplets are common and they have shorter pregnancies than other elephants that results in birth given to smaller calves than an elephant would as an adaptation to predation. Herds tend to be larger for the plain mammoths especially as these are often targeted even in their adulthood by bears, dragons, and entelodonts in the north, while the southern populations are known to fall prey to dragons but also large reptiles, like lizards and crocodiles on land but also serpent whales and sea lizards in aquatic environments. 

= Diet = 
Like most other Loxodonts are the mammoths in the federation Herbivores and two different methods of feeding exist, there are the browse feeding forest mammoths and the graze feeding mammoths that includes the plains mammoths, the Scanderan pygmy Mammoths on the islands, and the Southern mammoth that lives on aquatic plants. This makes them effective seed spreaders and their cleared roads through the dense Scanderan forests and southern jungles are very important for most wildlife. 

= Behaviour = 
All federal mammoths like other Laxodonts are very social animals and females often live in large herds for protection ruled by an old matriarch. Just like other species, the Scanderan mammoths form bachelor groups when their males reach maturity. The large difference however is that these groups do not disperse entirely as they reach adulthood, and while lone wandering mammoths exist, is it more common for males to wander as small groups, often in pairs of three to five mammoths at a time. These groups are often called “courts” and the leading mammoth male is called a jarl and the other males are called knights in most of the federation. 

= Life expectancy = 
A mammoth in the wild can survive to an age of around 70 years but this is rare due to predation.
=Breeds=
==Scanderan Mammoths==
Scanderan Mammoths are as the name implies the mammoths native to Scandera and the islands between Scandera and Astermark, this is the most varied group of mammoths in the federation and consist of the largest mammoth race, The scanderan plains mammoth but also the smallest mammoth, the Scanderan pygmy mammoth (imerian; Kortmammut, lit; Short mammoth”) . 

The truly massive plains mammoths traverse the northern plains in massive herds that are known to tear up shrubland and trample most vegetation, this is what keeps the large plains open and prevents forests from reaching further north, and is also responsible for the relatively open plains on the western shores. This lifestyle require a lot of calories so they are known to feed a lot on grasses as a result as they traverse the plains. The Second largest mammoth is the Scanderan forest mammoth that feeds a lot on the pine trees and oak forests south and are known to aid the growth of new trees by eating pine seeds and other kinds of nuts and seeds that are then pooped out.

The smallest of the mammoths are the pygmy mammoths, who inhabit the islands east of Scandera, they have dispersed quite a distance and can be found from the south of Scandera north up to the arctic and east out to the volcanic islands, some of them have even migrated as far east as the islands north of Astermark. This very diverse range has made them into one of the most diverse races of them. Morphs in the south are more hairless with clean faces and trunks while northern ones are entirely covered in fur. While size is generally smaller, this also varies a lot compared to island to island and larger islands can house morphs just smaller than forest mammoths. It is generally accepted in most academic circles that this was most likely the earliest domesticated race of mammoths. However modern breeds are accepted to be hybrids of all species. 

==Eastern Mammoths==
Eastern mammoths are offshoots from Scanderan mammoths and as a result share greater kinship with the Scanderan mammoths than both races do with their southern kin. Just like Scanderan mammoths, they are divided into forest and plains breeds and fill similar niches as their western kin. They are however a bit more hairless than their Scanderan cousins and often lack fur covering on their trunks and faces most of the year but in winter when their winter coats set in will even this region be covered with thick fur. 

==Southern Mammoths==
Southern mammoths are some of the most derived of all the mammoth species in the federation, adapted to warmer climates and more aquatic climates, it is theorised that their split from the northern populations was the earliest and they are more distantly related to the northern populations than any of the northern groups are with one another. Their tusks are wider and flatter compared to mainline mammoths but are also straighter and they have lost their fur. They are divided into two species, the southern forest mammoth and the regular southern mammoth, often called “The sea mammoth”. The sea mammoth is often a lot more adapted to aquatic life and is often seen either migrating between the islands or eating seagrass. Similarly to other forest mammoths, the southern one adapted to life in the thick forests and can often be found further inland and in highland environments where they often live on foliage and bark, as well as fruits. 

==Domesticates==
Domesticated mammoths are common in the federation and different breeds exist for all kinds of roles from large strong working mammoths, small mammoths traditionally used in household duties and as companions and even as singers, however this role have been replaced with terror bird choirs as a tradition imported from Vinland but some Scanderan nobles still keep mammoth singers. The most noteworthy and largest breed is the war mammoths that were kept by Scanderan and Astermarker lords. These huge beasts served as beasts of war and only the last two centuries saw their use decline as tracklayers and artillery took their roles. 

==White mammoths==
The most priced morphs however are the white or silver mammoths, this is a rare but not unheard of colour morph that marks them as noble mammoths and akin to noble humans, and indeed just like humans does these beasts bleed blue blood to show their elevated status. However in contrast to human nobility is the nobility of mammoths not inherited and children of these beasts are not sure to share their noble status with their fathers and mothers. In the wild these beasts grow quickly and become taller than their common kin and often take leadership of herds as matriarchs or become stoic wanderers if they are male.Indeed it is not unheard of for these giants wandering males to join young bachelor herds to protect and teach the youth of tomorrow. 

Domesticated versions of these animals are well respected and almost universally in the federation have these been seen as the property of the monarch of the lands they were born on. These traditions have remained in place even after federal takeover and today by federal law any white mammoth born in captivity belongs to the high king. 

As a show of great favour can these white mammoths be handed out to especially favoured servants. Generally are these beasts considered to be entitled to a certain living standard and often would fiefs be granted with the elephant to pay for their upkeep, so called “mammutlan” (literally mammoth fief) which would revert to the crown upon the death of the mammoth in question. However a practice to deal with nobles that displeased the king was to grant such a mammoth or even quite a few without the accompanying fiefs forcing the noble to pay for their upkeep out of pocket. Something that could lead to financial ruin. 
{{Imeriata Box}} [[Category: Imeriata]] [[Category: Scanderan wildlife]]