Shiras moose
| Shiras moose Temporal range: Late Pleistocene—Holocene | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| A bull moose at the Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | Cervidae |
| Subfamily: | Capreolinae |
| Genus: | Alces |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | A. a. shirasi |
| Trinomial name | |
| Alces alces shirasi (Nelson, 1914) | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Alces americanus shirasi | |
The Shiras moose (Alces alces shirasi), Wyoming moose or Yellowstone moose is the southernmost subspecies of moose in North America.
Taxonomy
[edit]Edward William Nelson proposed the scientific name Alces americanus shirasi for a moose from Snake River, Wyoming, in 1914. He named this subspecies after George Shiras III, who is credited for the discovery of this moose subspecies.[1]
Moose are sometimes divided into two species: the American moose and the European elk. In this taxonomy, Shiras moose are classified into the former species, much like Nelson's classification.[2]
Evolution
[edit]Deer are divided into two subfamilies: the Cervinae and the Capreolinae, whose lineages split at least 13.8 million years ago.[3] Moose fall into the latter group, which includes reindeer and roe deer as well.
Moose are the only extant members of the Alceini. This group includes the extinct Cervalces latifrons, the ancestor of modern moose.[4] Moose, an Old World-derived species, crossed the Bering land bridge approximately 14,000 years ago.[5]
Description
[edit]This subspecies is the smallest moose subspecies in North America. In Alberta, Adult males (bulls) typically range from 393–488 kg (868–1,076 lb) and stand about 185–199 cm at the shoulder. Adult females (cows) typically range from 348–441 kg (768–973 lb) and stand about 184–195 cm at the shoulder.[6] This is in accordance with Bergmann's rule, which predicts larger organisms are found throughout more colder regions.[7] The fur colour of Shiras moose is usually deep brown whilst their lower legs are light grey.[8]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]Shiras moose are the most southerly distributed of the North American moose. This subspecies is found across the northern Rocky Mountains.
Several records of moose have existed in Colorado: Milton Estes documented shooting a moose amongst a wapiti herd in 1863 at Estes Park.[9] Moose fossils have been found in Jurgens Site and Mesa Verde National Park.[10] A recent study has indicated that Moose are native to Colorado and have historically bred in the state.[11] Despite this new research, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the National Park Service maintain that even though transient moose have roamed Colorado, they have never established a breeding population.[12] In 1978, 24 moose from Utah and Wyoming were reintroduced to Colorado.[13]
References
[edit]- ↑ Nelson, Edward William. "Description of a new subspecies of moose from Wyoming". Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 27 (1). Biological Society of Washington: 73–75.
- ↑ Rostal, Melinda K.; Evans, Alina L.; Solberg, Erling J.; Arnemo, Jon M. (July 2012). "Hematology and Serum Chemistry Reference Ranges of Free-ranging Moose (Alces alces) in Norway". Journal of Wildlife Diseases. 48 (3): 548–559. doi:10.7589/0090-3558-48.3.548. hdl:11250/134494. ISSN 0090-3558. PMID 22740520.
- ↑ Mennecart, Bastien; DeMiguel, Daniel; Bibi, Faysal; Rössner, Gertrud E.; Métais, Grégoire; Neenan, James M.; Wang, Shiqi; Schulz, Georg; Müller, Bert; Costeur, Loïc (October 13, 2017). "Bony labyrinth morphology clarifies the origin and evolution of deer". Scientific Reports. 7 (1): 13176. Bibcode:2017NatSR...713176M. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-12848-9. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 5640792. PMID 29030580.
- ↑ Meiri, Meirav; Lister, Adrian; Kosintsev, Pavel; Zazula, Grant; Barnes, Ian (October 2020). "Population dynamics and range shifts of moose ( Alces alces ) during the Late Quaternary". Journal of Biogeography. 47 (10): 2223–2234. Bibcode:2020JBiog..47.2223M. doi:10.1111/jbi.13935. ISSN 0305-0270.
- ↑ Groves, P.; Mann, D.H.; Kunz, M.L. (November 2022). "Prehistoric perspectives can help interpret the present: 14 000 years of moose (Alces alces) in the Western Arctic". Canadian Journal of Zoology. 100 (11): 732–746. Bibcode:2022CaJZ..100..732G. doi:10.1139/cjz-2022-0079. ISSN 0008-4301.
- ↑ Lynch, Gerry M. (1995). "Weights and Measurements of Moose, Alces Alces Shirasi". Alces Journal. 31: 199–207. Archived from the original on October 25, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
- ↑ Lattuga, Danielle (May 24, 2020). "How Do Montana's Moose Measure Up? 'Field Notes' Investigates". Montana Public Radio. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
- ↑ Spomer, Ron (August 2005). Big Game Hunter's Guide to Montana. Wilderness Adventures Press. ISBN 978-1-932098-32-7.
- ↑ Miller, Michael (August 11, 2025). "Invasive moose in Colorado? Not so fast, expert says". UC News. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
- ↑ "Moose are on the loose". Colorado Arts and Sciences Magazine. University of Colorado Boulder. August 13, 2025. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
- ↑ Taylor, W. T. T., J. A. F. Wendt, J. Dombrosky, et al. 2026. “ Understanding Ancient Moose Populations in the Southern Rocky Mountains.” Journal of Biogeography 53, no. 6: e70279. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.70279.
- ↑ Kuta, Sarah (July 9, 2026). "Are Moose Colorado Natives or Introduced Outsiders? New Research Suggests That the Animals Have Lived in the State for Centuries". Smithsonian Magazine.
- ↑ Phillips, Kate (October 23, 2024). "Colorado's moose boom leaves an impact". The Sopris Sun. Retrieved December 24, 2025.