Elk, Moose, and Canadian Deer

Elk

The word “elk” is European in origin, probably Germanic. It refers to the largest type of deer in
Europe. The Latin / scientific name for the deer is Alces alces (where the “c” is pronounced like and
English “k” so “alces” sounds similar to the English “elk”). The animal is called “elch” in German,
which is pronounced like the English “elk”, “älg” in Swedish, “elg” in Norwegian, and álkē in
Greek. In old English the word was “elch”, “elh” or “eloh”. All theses words derive form the Proto-
Germanic word “*elho-” or “*elhon-” and refer to the same deer.

Figure 1: European Elk

Moose

The word “moose” is a Native America word, more specifically Algonquian, and is similar to words
in other Native America languages such as “moos” in Narragansett or “mos” in Easter Abenaki. It
refers to the largest type of deer in America, which is similar in appearance to the European elk.
However, the American deer is larger and is often classified as a sub species of the elk, Alces
americanus, but might be considered a separate species, Alces alces cameloides. Thus, the
American animal is often called “moose” to distinguish it from the European elk although it can
also be considered an American elk. For example, in Swedish it is referred to as “Amerikansk älg”.

Figure 2: Moose

Types of Elk and Moose

Elk and moose can be divided into a number of sub-spices:

Elk:
• European Elk (Alces alces alces)
• Mid-Siberian Elk (Alces alces pfizenmayeri)
• East-Siberian Elk (Alces alces buturlini)
• Ussuri Elk (Alces alces cameloides)
Moose:
• Easter Moose (Alces alces americana)
 • Western Moose (Alces alces andersoni)
• Alaskan Moose (Alces alces gigas)
• Shiras Moose (Alces alces shirasi)
There are then some extinct species :
• Caucasian Elk (Alces alces caucasicus)
• Irish Elk ( Megaloceros giganteus)
Although Irish elk is not actually related to the elk or moose.

Canadian Deer

Figure 3: Canadian Deer (Wapiti)

Canadian deer (Cervus canadensis) is found largely in America (USA and Canada) and East Asia.
This animal is often referred to as “elk”, especially by Americans. However, that is an error as “elk”
is a word that is of European origin and refers to a deer found in Europe not to deer that doesn’t
exists naturally in Europe. The error occurs because of early English explorers in the America did
not knowing what an elk actually was. Another name for the Canadian deer is “wapiti”, which is the
Native American name for the animal. The animal is called “wapiti” in German and “vapiti” in
Swedish.