The deer family is made up of different animals, and one of them is the moose. Moose are one of the most representative of the group, on the one hand, due to the sizes they can reach and, on the other, thanks to the presence of the large, webbed-shaped antlers developed by the males, which are extensions of their brain.
The classification of these cervids has been controversial in terms of the number of species that exist. If you want to know about this aspect and other interesting facts about the characteristics of moose, continue reading this article on our site.
Moose classification
As we mentioned, the classification of moose has been controversial, specifically in relation to the number of species that exist. Let us know below the two ways in which these animals have been classified.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) [1]:
- Animalia Kingdom
- Filo: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Cetartiodactyla
- Family: Cervidae
- Genre: Moose
- Species: Moose alces
- Subspecies: Alces alces alces; American elk moose; moose alces andersoni; Alces alces buturlini; Moose alces cameloids; Moose alces gigas; Moose alces pfizenmayeri; and Moose alces shirasi.
According to Wilson, D. and Reeder, D. editors of Mammal Species of the World [2]:
- Animalia Kingdom
- Filo: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Artiodactyla
- Family: Cervidae
- Genre: Moose
- Species: Moose alces
- Subspecies: Alces alces alces and Alces alces caucasicus.
- Species: Alces americanus
- Subspecies: Alces americanus americanus and Alces americanus cameloides.
Moose Characteristics
Let's get to know the main characteristics of moose:
- The deer are the largest members of the group, so they have weight ranges between 270 and 770 kg. As for the dimensions, they range from 2.3 to 3.1 meters in length.
- They have a characteristic massive body, which is supported by long, but thin legs.
- The neck is short and thick at the same time.
- The head is large, with a broad and prominent snout, which is also undoubtedly peculiar to the species.
- The eyes are small in relation to the head, the upper lip protrudes above the lower one and there is an area devoid of fur on the nose.
- Under the neck is the bell, a flap of skin that is sometimes also present in females.
- Another characteristic of moose is that they are sexually dimorphic, so males are heavier than females and have flared antlersthat weigh up to 35 kg. In some subspecies, these skull extensions have different shapes.
- They have a thick coat that protects them from the cold, usually dark, brown, black or greyish, which eventually lightens towards the extremities.
Moose Types
The scientific debate regarding the types of moose that exist has not yet been resolved. As we have commented in previous lines, two recognized sources on animals pose different positions based on the studies that have been done.
The IUCN states that to establish the differentiation between the species of Alces alces and Alces americanus, some scientists were based on certain differences in chromosomes, body dimensions, color and shape of the antlers, among others; however, the position of other specialists is that the chromosome number is not a good reference to designate species in mammals. On the other hand, it was recommended that they be differentiated into subspecies based on the distinctions in some characteristics.
Following the classification established by the IUCN, there are then 8 types of moose:
- Alces alces alces: corresponds to the European moose, distributed in Scandinavia, Finland, the B altic states and Poland up to the Yenisei River.
- Moose alces americana: This is the eastern moose, found throughout eastern Canada.
- Alces alces andersoni: This is the western moose, found from British Columbia to Minnesota and Ontario.
- Alces alces buturlini: it is the Siberian moose, which inhabits the northeast of this country and Kamchatka.
- Alces alces cameloides: This is the Asian known as the Manchurian elk, which ranges from northern Mongolia to Ussuriland and the North Manchuria.
- Alces alces gigas: This is the Alaskan moose, which lives in this region and in the Yukon.
- Alces alces pfizenmayeri: This subspecies is found in Siberia and the Stanovoy and Cherskiy mountains.
- Moose alces shirasi: Called Shiras or Yellowstone moose, it ranges from southern Alberta to Wyoming and Utah.
Where do moose live?
Moose are distributed throughout a significant diversity of habitats, mainly of the woody type, whether coniferous or leafy and abundant vegetation. In this sense, they are present from the tundra ecosystem to the taiga, including boreal and temperate zones, so they have good tolerance to low temperatures.
They have preference for secondary boreal forests, with the presence of open spaces, swamps, wetlands and lakes. They are tolerant of secondary growth forests that were previously used for logging. As long as there are nearby forests, they can have a presence in lowlands and farmlands.
Although the habitat of moose is very varied, it is a species that avoids summer temperatures and takes refuge in dense areas with the presence of bodies of water.
What do moose eat?
Moose are herbivorous animals, which consume large amounts of vegetation daily. They feed mainly on the leaves and branches of various species, depending on availability at each time. Some of the plants they prefer in spring and summer are birch, ash and willow, while in autumn and winter they prefer fir, alpine and juniper. They can also include blueberries, heather, grasses, and even aquatic plants.
In summer, moose in Alaska and Canada consume mineral sheets through which they meet sodium needs. These animals come to make migratory movements to look for food In areas with some crops, they can cause some damage by consuming them massively.
How do moose reproduce?
Two reproductive forms have been identified in moose. Those that live towards the tundra tend to form groups where males and females attract each other through sounds and urine marks. Once grouped, a dominant male will be able to compete with other individuals of similar size for reproductive privilege, while the young move away. On the other hand, those that are distributed towards ecosystems such as the taiga, can form transitory couples, so a male will seek to have exclusivity with a female until he mates with her.
These deer breed between September and October of each year, females having an estrous cycle of 24 to 25 days and a heat only 15-26 hours. The average gestation time is around 231 days and, although they usually have one calf, the birth of twins does occur with some frequency.
Moose Conservation Status
The IUCN has classified moose in the Least Concern category, with an increasing population trend. The main threat to moose is habitat modification, which is primarily transformed by forestry and agricultural practices. However, certain deer diseases can also affect these animals.
There is a distinction in conservation status in Canada and Nova Scotia, places where the moose has been declared endangered, since the species is affected by illegal hunting, he alth problems, habitat fragmentation and changes that are possibly associated with climate variations.
