Moose
The smallest and southernmost moose of North America, named for its discoverer.
The Shiras moose (Alces alces shirasi), also known as the Wyoming moose or Yellowstone moose, is the southernmost subspecies of moose in North America. It is the smallest moose subspecies on the continent. Named after George Shiras III, who is credited with its discovery, this subspecies was scientifically described by Edward William Nelson in 1914 from a specimen collected in Snake River, Wyoming. Its fur color is usually deep brown, with lower legs a light grey. Found across the northern Rocky Mountains, it is the most southerly distributed of the North American moose.
Quick Facts
- Genus
- Alces
- Subspecies
- shirasi
Lore & Background
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. 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. Deer are divided into two subfamilies: the Cervinae and the Capreolinae, whose lineages split at least 13.8 million years ago. 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. Moose, an Old World-derived species, crossed the Bering land bridge approximately 14,000 years ago.
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