TAXONOMIC POSITION OF ALCINAE JERDON, 1874 AND THE HISTORY OF THE GENUS ALCES GRAY 1821

• Main Author: Bubenik, Anthony B.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Lakehead University 1986
• Subjects: taiga; Tundra
• Online Access: http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/1323

Previous classifications of deer rely entirely on skeletal features. The present paper shows that classification of cervids should include anatomical, morphological and behavioural characteristics in order to provide a broad based phylogenetic hypothesis for the group. For this reason a revised classification is proposed here. All available characteristics indicate that Alcinae belongs in the family Odocoileidae. The evolutionary history of Alcinae is reviewed including the questionable relationships of Cervalces to Alcinae and Libralces as possible of Norwegian moose. The development of the 3-palmated antlers of the stag moose and reasons for cranial, external and behavioural peculiarities of tundra and taiga moose are discussed. A new view on moose invasions to North America is presented.