Overview
This database has pages on 15 extant subspecies and 2 extinct subspecies of elk. The North American elk are the Rocky Mountain elk, Tule elk, Roosevelt elk, and Manitoban elk. The 2 extinct subspecies were also from North America and those are the Eastern elk and Merriam's elk. The Asian elk include the Altai Wapiti, Baikal Wapiti, Shingielt Red Deer, Tian Shan Wapiti, Manchurian Wapiti, Northern Manchurian Wapiti, Southeast Siberian Wapiti, Alashan Wapiti, Tibetan Red Deer, Sichuan Deer, and Kansu Red Deer. Until recently, elk/wapiti and red deer were considered to be one species, Cervus elaphus. However, mitochondrial DNA studies, conducted on hundreds of samples in 2004 from red deer and elk subspecies as well as other species of the Cervus deer family, strongly indicate that elk, or wapiti, should be a distinct species, namely Cervus canadensis. The previous classification had over a dozen subspecies under the C. elaphus species designation; DNA evidence concludes that elk are more closely related to Thorold's deer and even sika deer than they are to the red deer. Though elk and red deer can produce fertile offspring in captivity, geographic isolation between the species in the wild and differences in mating behaviors indicate that reproduction between them outside a controlled environment would be unlikely. However, the two species have freely inter-bred in New Zealand's Fiordland National Park, where the cross-bred animals have all but removed the pure elk blood from the area.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Cervidae
- Genus
- Cervus
- Species
- Cervus canadensis
Habitat
Gansu red deer primarily inhabit mountainous forests and alpine meadows in the Gansu and Qinghai provinces of western China. They prefer elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 meters, where they can find dense vegetation and access to water sources. These areas include coniferous forests and grasslands that provide cover and forage.
Diet
Gansu red deer mainly consume grasses, leaves, and bark from trees and shrubs. They are both grazers and browsers, feeding intensively during dawn and dusk to avoid predators. In winter, they rely more on lichens and twigs when fresh vegetation is scarce.
Behavior
Gansu red deer form herds of up to 20 individuals, often led by a dominant male during the rutting season. They are primarily crepuscular, active at dawn and dusk, and exhibit territorial behavior where males defend mating areas. In winter, they may migrate to lower elevations in search of food and exhibit less social interaction.
Conservation Status
The IUCN status of the Gansu red deer is Endangered, with populations declining due to habitat fragmentation and poaching. Major threats include human encroachment and climate change impacting their alpine habitats.