When it comes to moose and elk, things can get confusing fast. One deer species uses the names interchangeably. But there’s another, entirely different species also known as elk – or wapiti – which is often left out of the conversation altogether.
To untangle the confusion, it helps to look at the Latin names – and at the very real differences between these two impressive species.
Moose vs elk: are they the same or different species?
Moose and elk are the top two largest members of the deer family – whose names are often used interchangeably for one species.
Confusingly, there are two species that are referred to as elk, so instead of distinguishing between moose and elk, the names of which can be used interchangeably, we’re going to use their Latin names instead.
Alces alces is the world’s tallest and largest species of deer. In North America, these are called moose – whereas in Europe, some people refer to these as elk. For the sake of clarity, we’ll refer to them here as moose – to avoid confusion with the other species of elk. Usually, when you hear people referring to moose/elk, they're referring to this species.
Only the male Alces alces have antlers, which they shed every winter and regrow in spring (find out why deer have antlers here). They are dark brown with long, pale legs.
Cervus canadensis is a different species entirely, but is generally referred to as elk – or wapiti in North America and New Zealand. These are the second largest species within the deer family, second only to the aforementioned Alces alces.
Moose vs elk: what's the difference?
The main difference between Alces alces and Cervus canadensis is that Alces alces (moose) are larger and heavier, with broader, palmate (flattened) antlers. Cervus canadensis (elk) have thinner, tree branch-like antlers, and have a longer face than the Alces alces, which has a more bulbous muzzle.
They are found in slightly different areas too, with the moose (Alces alces) predominantly located in the forests of North America, Europe and Asia, while the elk (Cervus canadensis) is usually found in North America and Eastern Asia, in a wider variety of habitats.
Both are commonly found in the Rocky Mountains in Canada. If you see a large deer in Europe – particularly Sweden – they're likely to be moose (Alces alces), even though they'll likely be referred to as elk. We included elk in our round-up of animals that enjoy getting high, because an elk was reported feeding on fermenting apples in Sweden.
Confused by more deer species? Find out what the difference is between a reindeer and a deer here.
Top image: Alces alces (credit: Getty Images)