Cervalces scotti
extinct species of deer (Cervidae)
Cervalces scotti, also known as stag-moose or Scott's moose, is an extinct species of large deer that lived in North America during the Late Pleistocene epoch. It is the only known North American member of the genus Cervalces. Its closest living relative is the modern moose (Alces alces).
It had palmate antlers that were more complex than those of a moose and a muzzle more closely resembling that of a typical deer.
Description
It was as large as the modern moose, with an elk-like head, long legs, and palmate antlers that were more complex and heavily branching than the moose. Cervalces scotti reached 2.5 m (8.2 ft) in length and a weight of 708.5 kg (1,562 lb). The stag-moose resided in North America during an era with other megafauna such as the woolly mammoth, ground sloth, long horn bison, and smilodon. The species became extinct approximately 11,500 years ago, toward the end of the most recent ice age, as part of a mass extinction of large North American mammals.
The first evidence of Cervalces scotti found in modern times was discovered at Big Bone Lick, Kentucky by William Clark, circa 1805. A more complete skeleton was found in 1885 by William Barryman Scott in New Jersey.
The public source identifies “Cervalces scotti” as extinct species of deer (Cervidae). This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Cervalces, scotti and extinct.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Cervalces scotti”, the useful work is to connect “extinct species of deer (Cervidae)” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
Stable identifiers, scientific names and standards terminology offer the best bridge between this overview and specialist evidence. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jul 31, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q16882783. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1805 and 1885.
Current terminology should not be projected backward without checking the classification used when the underlying evidence was created. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Cervalces scotti”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Cervalces scotti primary sources, Cervalces scotti archive and Cervalces research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Cervalces scotti”?
- Has classification or technical consensus changed since the cited source?
- Which observation, specimen, dataset or publication supports the account?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Cervalces scotti” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.