Merriam's elk
The Merriam's elk (Cervus canadensis merriami) is an extinct subspecies of elk once found in the arid lands of the southwestern United States, predominantly Arizona. Uncontrolled hunting and cattle grazing since the arrival of Europeans had driven the subspecies into extinction around the beginning of the 20th century, with the exact presumed date being 1906.
| Merriam's elk | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | Cervidae |
| Subfamily: | Cervinae |
| Genus: | Cervus |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | †C. c. merriami |
| Trinomial name | |
| Cervus canadensis merriami | |
Another subspecies of elk, the eastern elk (Cervus canadensis canadensis) also became extinct at roughly the same time. Not much else is known about this subspecies as it became extinct before studies were done. Elk from Yellowstone National Park were introduced to this area in 1913, and are reasonably common in the area today.
See also
General:
- List of extinct animals of North America
References
- Erxleben, J.C.P. (1777) Anfangsgründe der Naturlehre and Systema regni animalis.
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