Elk
Cervus canadensis
- Class
- Mammal
- Rarity
- Common
- Observations
- 37,405
- Most observed in
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Conservation
- Least Concern
Description
The elk or wapiti is the second largest species within the deer family, Cervidae, and one of the largest terrestrial mammals in its native range of North America and Central and East Asia. The word "elk" originally referred to the European variety of the moose, Alces alces, but was transferred to Cervus canadensis by North American colonists.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “Elk”.