Deer Fossil Collection

The Pleistocene epoch, often referred to as the Ice Age, saw a diverse array of deer species roaming North America. Some of these species have survived to the present day, while others have gone extinct. Understanding these deer requires examining both the Old World and New World deer lineages and their evolutionary history.

One of the most notable extinct deer species is the stag-moose (Cervalces scotti). This deer, also known as the elk-moose, was a large species that lived in North America during the Late Pleistocene. It was similar in size to the modern moose, with complex, palmate antlers and an elk-like head. The stag-moose inhabited areas ranging from southern Canada to Arkansas and from Iowa to New Jersey. The stag-moose is thought to have evolved from a population of Cervalces latifrons that migrated into North America during the Middle Pleistocene. The stag-moose became extinct approximately 11,500 years ago, towards the end of the most recent ice age, as part of a mass extinction of large North American mammals. The extinction of the stag-moose may have been linked to the emergence of the "true moose" (Alces alces) and climate change.