Irish elk

A reference overview

The Irish elk (Megaloceros giganteus), also called the giant deer or Irish deer, is an extinct species of deer in the genus Megaloceros and is one of the largest deer that ever lived. Its range extended across northern Eurasia during the Pleistocene, from Ireland (where it is known from abundant remains found in bogs) to Lake Baikal in Siberia. The most recent remains of the species have been radiocarbon dated to about 7,700 years ago in western Russia, although some evidence may suggest further survival into the Holocene.

Overview excerpt from Wikipedia contributors · Irish elk, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Excerpt may be shortened. Overview retrieved 2026-10-09.