Moose
Alces alces
Conservation Status
Least ConcernMammalia · Artiodactyla · Cervidae
About
The moose or elk is the world's tallest, largest and heaviest extant species of deer and the only extant species in the genus Alces. It is also the tallest, and the second-largest, land animal in North America, falling short only to the American bison in body mass. Most adult male moose have broad, palmate antlers; other members of the deer family have pointed antlers with a dendritic ("twig-like") configuration. Moose inhabit the circumpolar boreal forests or temperate broadleaf and mixed forests of the Northern Hemisphere, thriving in cooler, temperate areas as well as subarctic climates.
Fun Fact
Moose antlers can grow up to 2.5 cm per day — the fastest-growing bone tissue in the animal kingdom — and a full rack can weigh over 35 kg (77 lb).
Quick Facts
Habitat
Boreal and mixed forests
Diet
Herbivore
Lifespan
15-25 years
Threats
- Deforestation
- Habitat Fragmentation