Caucasian moose
The Caucasian moose, also known as the Caucasian elk[1][2] (Alces alces caucasicus) is an extinct subspecies of moose found in the Caucasus Mountains of Eastern Europe and Asia Minor, in modern-day European Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and eastern Turkey.[2]
| Caucasian moose | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | Cervidae |
| Subfamily: | Capreolinae |
| Genus: | Alces |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | A. a. caucasicus |
| Trinomial name | |
| Alces alces caucasicus (Weretschagin, 1955) | |
Extinction
The subspecies was quite common until the mid-19th century, when populations began to decrease due to overhunting. It became extinct sometime in the beginning of the 20th century.[2]
Predators
Among its predators were Asiatic lions, Persian leopards, Asiatic cheetahs, brown bears, steppe wolves and the Caspian tiger.[2] Eurasian lynxes may have preyed on calves.
References
- Wrobel, Murray (2006-11-18). Elsevier's Dictionary of Mammals. Elsevier. ISBN 9780080488820.
- Manaseryan, Nina; Gyonjyan2, Andranik. "THE CHANGE OF THE ANTHROPOGENE FAUNA OF ARMENIA" (PDF). Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology, Institute of Zoology, NAS of Republic of Armenia.
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