Cervus canadensis

Erxleben, 1777

Wapiti

Taxonomy

Subclass : Theria
Infraclass : Placentalia
Magnorder : Boreoeutheria
Superorder : Laurasiatheria
Order : Artiodactyla
Suborder : Ruminantia
Infraorder : Pecora
Family : Cervidae
Subfamily : Cervinae
Tribe : Cervini
Genus : Cervus

Species status

Living
Found in the wild

Authority citation

Erxleben, J.C.P. 1777. Systema regni animalis per classes, ordines, genera, species, varietates cum synonymia et historia animalium. Classis I. Mammalia. Impensis Weygandianis, Leipzig, 636 pp.

Original name as described

Cervus Elaphus Canadensis

Other common names

Elk · Alashan Wapiti (Elk) · Izubra · Manchurian Wapiti (Elk) · Merriam's Wapiti (Elk) · Tule Elk · Sichuan Shou · Macneill's Red Deer · Tibetan Shou · Rocky Mountain Wapiti (Elk) · Roosevelt's Wapiti (Elk) · Altai Wapiti (Elk)

Type locality

E Canada.

Biogeographic realm

Palearctic · Nearctic

Country distribution

Kazakhstan · Kyrgyzstan · Russia · Mongolia · China · Bhutan · Canada · United States

Subregion distribution

USA(WA,OR,ID,MT,WY,ND,SD,MN,MI,NE,KS,OK,TX,NM,CO,UT,AZ,NV,CA)

Taxonomy notes

split from C. elaphus, includes alashanicus, macneilli, wallichii, xanthopygus, which were considered distinct by Groves & Grubb 2011; for additional information regarding the MDD's decision to not follow the Groves & Grubb 2011 Ungulate Taxonomy, see 'Subjective decisions' on the 'About' tab

Taxonomy notes citation

Groves, C. P. & Grubb, P. 2011. Ungulate taxonomy. The John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland. · Lorenzini, R., & Garofalo, L. (2015). Insights into the evolutionary history of Cervus (Cervidae, tribe Cervini) based on Bayesian analysis of mitochondrial marker sequences, with first indications for a new species. Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research, 53(4), 340-349. · Meiri, M., Kosintsev, P., Conroy, K., Meiri, S., Barnes, I., & Lister, A. (2018). Subspecies dynamics in space and time: a study of the red deer complex using ancient and modern DNA and morphology. Journal of Biogeography, 45(2), 367-380.

IUCN Red List status

Least Concern

Country distribution map

The map below provides a general overview. Most species inhabit only specific regions within countries. Hover over the highlighted regions to see the country name.

Names and synonyms

Present and past (if available) associated names to the species. Click on a name to view its details. If the list is long, scroll down to see more.

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