Caucasian moose

Last updated

Caucasian moose
Elch.PNG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
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)

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, [2] Azerbaijan, Georgia, and eastern Turkey and north and west iran.

Contents

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 likely predators were the Anatolian or Persian leopard (also called the Caucasus leopard), Asiatic black bear, Eurasian brown bear, steppe wolves, the Asiatic lion (now restricted to India’s Gir Forest) and the now-extinct Caspian tiger; [2] The Eurasian lynx, golden eagles and the Asiatic cheetah—now restricted to Iran—all may have occasionally preyed on calves.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moose</span> Largest species of deer

The moose or elk is the world's tallest, largest and heaviest extant species of deer and the only species in the genus Alces. It is also the tallest, and the second-largest, land animal in North America, falling short only of 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caucasus</span> Transcontinental region between the Black and Caspian seas

The Caucasus, or Caucasia, is a transcontinental region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, mainly comprising Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and parts of Southern Russia. The Caucasus Mountains, including the Greater Caucasus range, have historically been considered as a natural barrier between Eastern Europe and West Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Caucasus</span> Geographical region on the border of Eastern Europe and West Asia

The South Caucasus, also known as Transcaucasia or the Transcaucasus, is a geographical region on the border of Eastern Europe and West Asia, straddling the southern Caucasus Mountains. The South Caucasus roughly corresponds to modern Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan, which are sometimes collectively known as the Caucasian States. The total area of these countries measures about 186,100 square kilometres. The South Caucasus and the North Caucasus together comprise the larger Caucasus geographical region that divides Eurasia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syrian brown bear</span> Subspecies of mammal

The Syrian brown bear is a medium and endangered subspecies of Eurasian brown bear native to the Middle East and West-Central Asia, particularly around the Caucasus Mountains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethnic groups in the Caucasus</span> Diverse group comprising more than 50 ethnic groups

The peoples of the Caucasus, or Caucasians, are a diverse group comprising more than 50 ethnic groups throughout the Caucasus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caucasian wisent</span> Extinct bison subspecies

The Caucasian wisent or dombay (домбай) was a subspecies of European bison that inhabited the Caucasus Mountains of Eastern Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fauna of Armenia</span> Native animals of Armenia

Fauna in Armenia is diverse given the country's relatively small geographic size, owing to the varied habitats created by the area's mountainous terrain. Armenia is an important area for migratory animals; about 350 different bird species were recorded in the country. Many of the world's domesticated animals originated in the area Armenia is located in, and the mouflon, the ancestor of domesticated sheep, is present there. Research suggests that about a quarter of the animal species in Armenia are internationally endangered. The mouflons are suffering a great population decline due to poaching and habitat loss, and the Sevan trout, which made up thirty percent of the fish in Lake Sevan, have virtually disappeared.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Göygöl National Park</span> Historic site in Goygol Rayon

Göygöl National Park — is a national park of Azerbaijan. It was established in an area in Goygol Rayon administrative district on April 1, 2008, on the basis of the former "Goy Gol State Reserve" that was established in 1925 and which it superseded, on a surface area of 12,755 hectares (127.55 km2). It was enlarged from 6,739 hectares (67.39 km2) of the former state reserve to its current surface area as a national park. The park is the most visited in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caucasus mixed forests</span> Ecoregion

The Caucasus mixed forests is a temperate broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion in the Caucasus Mountains, as well as the adjacent Lesser Caucasus range and the eastern end of the Pontic Mountains.

The wildlife of Iran include the fauna and flora of Iran.

<i>Panthera pardus tulliana</i> Leopard subspecies

Panthera pardus tulliana, also called Anatolian leopard, Persian leopard and Caucasian leopard in different parts of its range, is a leopard subspecies that was first described in 1856 based on a zoological specimen found in western Anatolia. It is native to the Iranian Plateau and the surrounding region from eastern Anatolia and the Caucasus to the Hindu Kush, where it inhabits foremost subalpine meadows, temperate broadleaf and mixed forests and rugged ravines at elevations of 600 to 3,800 m. It preys mostly on ungulates reliant on these habitats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildlife of Armenia</span> Flora and fauna of Armenia

The wildlife of Armenia includes, in addition to plants, wild boars, porcupines, various lizards, snakes and numerous species of birds. Endangered species living in Armenia are the Caucasian bear, Caucasian bearded goat, the Armenian mouflon (sheep) and the leopard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildlife of Azerbaijan</span> Flora and fauna of Azerbaijan

The wildlife of Azerbaijan consists of its flora and fauna and their natural habitats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caucasian squirrel</span> Species of rodent

The Caucasian squirrel or Persian squirrel, is a tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus found in temperate broadleaf and mixed forests in south-western Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alaska moose</span> Subspecies of deer

The Alaska moose, or Alaskan moose in Alaska, or giant moose and Yukon moose in Canada, is a subspecies of moose that ranges from Alaska to western Yukon. The Alaska moose is the largest subspecies of moose. Alaska moose inhabit boreal forests and mixed deciduous forests throughout most of Alaska and most of Western Yukon. Like all moose subspecies, the Alaska moose is usually solitary but sometimes will form small herds. Typically, they only come into contact with other moose for mating or competition for mates. Males and females select different home ranges during different seasons. This leads to spatial segregation throughout much of the year. While males and females are spatially separate the habitat that they occupy is not significantly different. During mating season, in autumn and winter, male Alaska moose become very aggressive and prone to attacking when startled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caucasian lynx</span> Subspecies of carnivore

The Caucasian lynx, also known as the Caucasus lynx or the eastern lynx, is a subspecies of Eurasian lynx native in the Caucasus, Iran, Turkey, and European Russia.

References

  1. Wrobel, Murray (2006-11-18). Elsevier's Dictionary of Mammals. Elsevier. ISBN   9780080488820.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Manaseryan, Nina; Gyonjyan2, Andranik. "THE CHANGE OF THE ANTHROPOGENE FAUNA OF ARMENIA". Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology, Institute of Zoology, NAS of Republic of Armenia.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)