In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, it was becoming increasinglyapparent that many fossils represented organisms that were not known to survive anywhere on Earth. Megaloceros may have possibly survived in continental Europe intohistoric times.īeyond its arresting size and singular appearance, the giant deeris of great significance to paleontologists because of the way in which theanimal has become involved in evolutionary debates down throughthe years. Unable to adapt to the subartic conditionsof the last glaciation or the marked transition that occured after thefinal retreat of the ice sheet, the largest deer that ever lived becameextinct, the last one in Ireland dying around 11,000 years ago. On the other hand, the complete skeleton picturedat the top of the page, on display at the PaleontologicalInstitute in Moscow, was found at the other end of Europe, near theRussian town of Sapozhka. Such skulls, withtheir enormous racks of antlers, adorn the walls of castles and huntinglodges throughout Ireland. Theskull on display at the old UC Museum of Paleontologycame from such a locality, 18 miles north of Dublin. ![]() The name "Irish" has stuck becauseexcellent, well-preserved fossils of the giant deerare especially common in lake sediments and peat bogs in Ireland. ![]() It ranged throughout Europe, northern Asia and northern Africa, and arelated form is known from China. The Irish elk evolved during the glacialperiods of the last million years, during the PleistoceneEpoch. It is a giant extinct deer, the largest deer species ever, that stood up to seven feet at the shoulder (2.1 meters), with antlersspanning up to 12 feet (3.65 meters). The Irish Elk, Megaloceros, is misnamed, for it is neither exclusivelyIrish nor is it an elk. Elk live 10 to 20 years.The Case of the Irish Elk The Case of the Irish Elk The gestation period is the same for all subspecies. The offspring will remain with their mothers for almost a year, leaving about the time that the next season's offspring are produced. Elk calves are as large as an adult white-tailed deer by the time they are six months old. After two weeks, calves are able to join the herd, and are fully weaned at two months of age. Manchurian wapiti may retain a few orange spots on the back of their summer coats until they are older. Calves are born spotted, as is common with many deer species, and they lose their spots by the end of summer. When the females are near to giving birth, they tend to isolate themselves from the main herd, and will remain isolated until the calf is large enough to escape predators. Gestation period is 240 to 262 days and the offspring weigh between 33 and 35 lb. By the autumn of their second year, females can produce one and, very rarely, two offspring. Bulls that enter the rut in poor condition are less likely to make it through to the peak conception period or have the strength to survive the rigors of the oncoming winter.įemale elk have a short estrus cycle of only a day or two, and matings usually involve a dozen or more attempts. A bull with a harem rarely feeds and he may lose up to 20 percent of his body weight. Bulls between two to four years and over 11 years of age rarely have harems, and spend most of the rut on the periphery of larger harems. Only mature bulls have large harems and breeding success peaks at about eight years of age. A bull will defend his harem of 20 cows or more from competing bulls and predators. Dominant bulls follow groups of cows during the rut, from August into early winter. The urine soaks into their hair and gives them a distinct smell which attracts cows. Bulls also dig holes in the ground, in which they urinate and roll their body. If neither bull backs down, they engage in antler wrestling, and bulls sometimes sustain serious injuries. This allows potential combatants to assess the other's antlers, body size and fighting prowess. Rival bulls challenge opponents by bellowing and by paralleling each other, walking back and forth. During the mating period, known as the rut, mature bulls compete for the attentions of the cows and will try to defend females in their harem. Adult elk usually stay in single-sex groups for most of the year.
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