There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
--- Peter Broekhuijsen ---

  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
The Irish elk (Megaloceros giganteus)

Venezuela epaiva Offline
Moderator
*****
Moderators
#1
( This post was last modified: 08-03-2017, 07:49 PM by epaiva )


*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author


Giant deer or Irish giant deer, is an extinct species of deer in the genus Megaloceros and is one of the largest deer that ever lived. Its range extended across Eurasia during the Pleistocene, from Ireland to Siberia to China. A related form is recorded in China during the Late Pleistocene.The most recent remains of the species have been carbon dated to about 7,700 years ago in Siberia. Although most skeletons have been found in bogs in Ireland, the animal was not exclusive to Ireland.
The Irish giant deer stood about 2.1 metres (6.9 ft) tall at the shoulders carrying the largest antlers of any known cervid (a maximum of 3.65 m (12.0 ft) from tip to tip and weighing up to 40 kg (88 lb)). In body size, the Irish Elk tied in size with the extant moose subspecies of Alaska (Alces alces gigas). The Irish elk is estimated to have attained a total mass of 540–600 kg (1,190–1,323 lb), with large specimens having weighed 700 kg (1,543 lb) or more, roughly similar to the Alaskan Moose. Credits American Museum of natural History.
7 users Like epaiva's post
Reply

Venezuela epaiva Offline
Moderator
*****
Moderators
#2
( This post was last modified: 09-06-2017, 03:45 AM by epaiva )

credits to Sulinna Ong and to @cansu.kanpalta


*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author
6 users Like epaiva's post
Reply

Venezuela epaiva Offline
Moderator
*****
Moderators
#3
( This post was last modified: 03-27-2018, 04:04 AM by epaiva )

Credit to Jay Villemarette

*This image is copyright of its original author
I
5 users Like epaiva's post
Reply

Spalea Offline
Wildanimal Lover
******
#4

@epaiva :

A Z. Burian's illustration of this prodigious animal:


*This image is copyright of its original author


Translation:

"Like a lot of groups of the Pleistocene animals, the deers manifested a tendancy to generate some gigantics species. The giant deer, Megaloceros antiqueus (we see here) appeared in the ancient world. It was an huge beast and the wingspan of its antiers could exceed 4 meters. As the webbed form of its antiers looked like to the the extant elks and fallow deer ones, they were considered a certain time, wrongfully, as a giant form of one of these species. They grazed the grass and the bushes of the open plains and, probably, avoided the forests where their antiers would have them considerably bothered".
5 users Like Spalea's post
Reply

Venezuela epaiva Offline
Moderator
*****
Moderators
#5
( This post was last modified: 11-26-2018, 06:49 PM by epaiva )

Credit to @dr.digginz

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author
3 users Like epaiva's post
Reply

Venezuela epaiva Offline
Moderator
*****
Moderators
#6

Credit to @dean_r_lomax

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author
5 users Like epaiva's post
Reply

Spalea Offline
Wildanimal Lover
******
#7

" The Irish Elk ?
The Irish elk (Megaloceros giganteus) also called the giant deer or Irish giant deer, is a species of deer in the genus Megaloceros and is one of the largest deer that ever lived. Its range extended across Eurasia during the Pleistocene, from Ireland to Siberia to China. A related form is recorded in China during the Late Pleistocene. The most recent remains of the species have been carbon dated to about 7,700 years ago in Siberia. Although most skeletons have been found in bogs in Ireland, the animal was not exclusive to Ireland and was not closely related to either of the living species currently called elk - Alces alces (the European elk, known in North America as the moose) or Cervus canadensis (the North American elk or wapiti). For this reason, the name "Giant deer" is used in some publications, instead of "Irish elk". A study has suggested that the Irish elk was closely related to the Red deer (Cervus elaphus). However, other phylogenetic analyses support a sister-group relationship with fallow deer (Dama dama). "



3 users Like Spalea's post
Reply

Venezuela epaiva Offline
Moderator
*****
Moderators
#8

Credit to Daniel Loke

*This image is copyright of its original author
2 users Like epaiva's post
Reply






Users browsing this thread:
1 Guest(s)

About Us
Go Social     Subscribe  

Welcome to WILDFACT forum, a website that focuses on sharing the joy that wildlife has on offer. We welcome all wildlife lovers to join us in sharing that joy. As a member you can share your research, knowledge and experience on animals with the community.
wildfact.com is intended to serve as an online resource for wildlife lovers of all skill levels from beginners to professionals and from all fields that belong to wildlife anyhow. Our focus area is wild animals from all over world. Content generated here will help showcase the work of wildlife experts and lovers to the world. We believe by the help of your informative article and content we will succeed to educate the world, how these beautiful animals are important to survival of all man kind.
Many thanks for visiting wildfact.com. We hope you will keep visiting wildfact regularly and will refer other members who have passion for wildlife.

Forum software by © MyBB