Cervus canadensis combrayicus

Cervus canadensis combrayicus; Temporal range: Late Pleistocene PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Family:	Cervidae
Genus:	Cervus
Species:	C. canadensis
Subspecies:	†C. c. combrayicus
Trinomial name
	†Cervus canadensis combrayicus; Croitor, 2020
Synonyms
	Cervus elaphus acoronatusBeninde, 1937

Last updated January 17, 2026

Cervus canadensis combrayicus is an extinct subspecies of wapiti (Cervus canadensis) that lived in the Late Pleistocene of France. It confirms the presence of wapiti in Pleistocene Europe and has unique adaptations to its environment.^[2]

Taxonomy

The subspecies was named Cervus canadensis combrayicus by Roman Croitor in 2020.

Discovery

Cervus canadensis combrayicus was discovered in the Puy de Dôme region in France. It is only known from a well-preserved antlered braincase, and is currently housed in the Natural History Museum Henri-Lecoq in Clermont-Ferrand, France. It proves the presence of wapiti in Pleistocene Europe.

Range

While only known from France, it is possible that the subspecies or similar populations ranged further into eastern Europe.^[3]

Adaptations

The antlers of the wapiti show distinct adaptations to open landscapes of periglacial steppes and tundras.

References

↑ Beninde, Joachim (1937). "Über die Edelhirschformen von Mosbach, Mauer und Steinheim a. D. Murr". Paläontologische Zeitschrift. 19 (1–2): 79–116. doi:10.1007/BF03043628.
↑ Croitor, Roman (2020). "A new form of wapiti Cervus canadensis Erxleben, 1777 (Cervidae, Mammalia) from the Late Pleistocene of France". Palaeoworld. 29 (4): 789–806. doi:10.1016/j.palwor.2019.12.001.
↑ Croitor, Roman; Obada, Theodor (2018). "On the presence of Late Pleistocene wapiti, Cervus canadensis Erxleben, 1777 (Cervidae, Mammalia) in the Palaeolithic site Climăuți II (Moldova)". Contributions to Zoology. 87: 1–10. doi: 10.1163/18759866-08701001 .

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[1] Beninde, Joachim (1937). "Über die Edelhirschformen von Mosbach, Mauer und Steinheim a. D. Murr". Paläontologische Zeitschrift. 19 (1–2): 79–116. doi:10.1007/BF03043628.

[2] Croitor, Roman (2020). "A new form of wapiti Cervus canadensis Erxleben, 1777 (Cervidae, Mammalia) from the Late Pleistocene of France". Palaeoworld. 29 (4): 789–806. doi:10.1016/j.palwor.2019.12.001.

[3] Croitor, Roman; Obada, Theodor (2018). "On the presence of Late Pleistocene wapiti, Cervus canadensis Erxleben, 1777 (Cervidae, Mammalia) in the Palaeolithic site Climăuți II (Moldova)". Contributions to Zoology. 87: 1–10. doi: 10.1163/18759866-08701001 .

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