| Caucasian Moose | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | Cervidae |
| Genus: | Alces |
| Species: | A. alces |
| Subspecies: | A. a. caucasicus |
| Trinomial name | |
| Alces alces caucasicus (Weretschagin, 1955) |
|
The Caucasian Moose (Alces alces caucasicus) was a subspecies of moose found in the Caucasus Mountains of Eastern Europe and Asia Minor. It is widely believed to be extinct.
It has often been confused with the European Elk, leading to debate regarding the possibility that some members of the species have survived; however, the European Elk lives in Scandinavia and the Baltic States, whereas the Caucasian Moose lived in Eastern Europe and Western Siberia.
The species was quite common until the mid-19th century, when populations began to decrease.
Among its predators were the Asiatic lion (until 10th century), bears, wolves, leopards and the Caspian tiger. The other moose species, the Alaska moose is also known as the Giant moose.