{{Short description|North American subspecies of elk}} {{Subspeciesbox | fossil_range = [[Late Pleistocene]]—[[Holocene]] | status = | extinct = | status_system = | status_ref = | name = Shiras moose | image = Moose at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge (49318075258).jpg | image_caption = A bull moose at the [[Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge]] | genus = Alces | species = alces | species_link = Moose | subspecies = shirasi | authority = (Nelson, 1914) | range_map = | range_map_caption = | synonyms = ''Alces americanus shirasi'' }} The '''Shiras moose''' ('''''Alces alces shirasi'''''), '''Wyoming moose''' or '''Yellowstone moose''' is the southernmost subspecies of [[moose]] in North America.
== Taxonomy == [[Edward William Nelson]] proposed the scientific name ''Alces americanus shirasi'' for a moose from [[Snake River]], Wyoming, in 1914. He named this subspecies after [[George Shiras III]], who is credited for the discovery of this moose subspecies.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Nelson |first=Edward William |author-link=Edward William Nelson |title=Description of a new subspecies of moose from Wyoming |journal=Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington |publisher=[[Biological Society of Washington]] |volume=27 |issue=1 |pages=73–75}}</ref>
Moose are sometimes divided into two species: the American moose and the European elk. In this taxonomy, Shiras moose are classified into the former species, much like Nelson's classification.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Rostal |first1=Melinda K. |last2=Evans |first2=Alina L. |last3=Solberg |first3=Erling J. |last4=Arnemo |first4=Jon M. |date=July 2012 |title=Hematology and Serum Chemistry Reference Ranges of Free-ranging Moose (Alces alces) in Norway |url=https://meridian.allenpress.com/jwd/article/48/3/548/121858/HEMATOLOGY-AND-SERUM-CHEMISTRY-REFERENCE-RANGES-OF |journal=Journal of Wildlife Diseases |language=en |volume=48 |issue=3 |pages=548–559 |doi=10.7589/0090-3558-48.3.548 |pmid=22740520 |issn=0090-3558|url-access=subscription |hdl=11250/134494 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>
=== Evolution === Deer are divided into two subfamilies: the [[Cervinae]] and the [[Capreolinae]], whose lineages split at least 13.8 million years ago.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Mennecart |first1=Bastien |last2=DeMiguel |first2=Daniel |last3=Bibi |first3=Faysal |last4=Rössner |first4=Gertrud E. |last5=Métais |first5=Grégoire |last6=Neenan |first6=James M. |last7=Wang |first7=Shiqi |last8=Schulz |first8=Georg |last9=Müller |first9=Bert |last10=Costeur |first10=Loïc |date=2017-10-13 |title=Bony labyrinth morphology clarifies the origin and evolution of deer |journal=Scientific Reports |language=en |volume=7 |issue=1 |page=13176 |bibcode=2017NatSR...713176M |doi=10.1038/s41598-017-12848-9 |issn=2045-2322 |pmc=5640792 |pmid=29030580}}</ref> Moose fall into the latter group, which includes reindeer and roe deer as well.
Moose are the only extant members of the [[Alceini]]. This group includes the extinct ''Cervalces latifrons'', the ancestor of modern moose.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Meiri |first1=Meirav |last2=Lister |first2=Adrian |last3=Kosintsev |first3=Pavel |last4=Zazula |first4=Grant |last5=Barnes |first5=Ian |date=October 2020 |title=Population dynamics and range shifts of moose ( Alces alces ) during the Late Quaternary |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jbi.13935 |journal=Journal of Biogeography |language=en |volume=47 |issue=10 |pages=2223–2234 |doi=10.1111/jbi.13935 |bibcode=2020JBiog..47.2223M |issn=0305-0270}}</ref> Moose, an Old World-derived species, crossed the [[Beringia|Bering land bridge]] approximately 14,000 years ago.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Groves |first1=P. |last2=Mann |first2=D.H. |last3=Kunz |first3=M.L. |date=November 2022 |title=Prehistoric perspectives can help interpret the present: 14 000 years of moose (Alces alces) in the Western Arctic |journal=Canadian Journal of Zoology |volume=100 |issue=11 |pages=732–746 |doi=10.1139/cjz-2022-0079 |issn=0008-4301|doi-access=free |bibcode=2022CaJZ..100..732G }}</ref>
== Description == This subspecies is the smallest moose subspecies in North America. In Alberta, Adult males (bulls) typically range from 393–488 kg (868–1,076 lb) and stand about 185–199 cm at the shoulder. Adult females (cows) typically range from 348–441 kg (768–973 lb) and stand about 184–195 cm at the shoulder.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Weights and Measurements of Moose, Alces Alces Shirasi |url=https://www.alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/download/905/981 |access-date=2026-05-21 |website=www.alcesjournal.org}}</ref> This is in accordance with [[Bergmann's rule]], which predicts larger organisms are found throughout more colder regions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lattuga |first=Danielle |date=2020-05-24 |title=How Do Montana's Moose Measure Up? 'Field Notes' Investigates |url=https://www.mtpr.org/arts-culture/2020-05-24/how-do-montanas-moose-measure-up-field-notes-investigates |access-date=2025-12-24 |website=Montana Public Radio |language=en}}</ref> The fur colour of Shiras moose is usually deep brown whilst their lower legs are light grey.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Spomer |first=Ron |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NPlEz_tLFfkC&pg=PA89 |title=Big Game Hunter's Guide to Montana |date=August 2005 |publisher=Wilderness Adventures Press |isbn=978-1-932098-32-7 |language=en}}</ref>
== Distribution and habitat == Shiras moose are the most southerly distributed of the North American moose. This subspecies is found across the northern [[Rocky Mountains]].
Several records of moose have existed in Colorado: Milton Estes documented shooting a moose amongst a wapiti herd in 1863 at [[Estes Park, Colorado|Estes Park]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Michael |date=2025-08-11 |title=Invasive moose in Colorado? Not so fast, expert says |url=https://www.uc.edu/content/uc/news/articles/2025/08/uc-expert-weighs-in-on-colorado-moose-question.html |access-date=2025-12-24 |website=UC News |language=en-us}}</ref> Moose fossils have been found in [[Jurgens Site]] and [[Mesa Verde National Park]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Moose are on the loose {{!}} Colorado Arts and Sciences Magazine {{!}} University of Colorado Boulder |url=https://www.colorado.edu/asmagazine/2025/08/13/moose-are-loose |access-date=2025-12-24 |website=www.colorado.edu |language=en}}</ref> Whilst moose have roamed Colorado, they never established a breeding population in that state. In 1978, 24 moose from Utah and Wyoming were reintroduced to Colorado.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Phillips |first=Kate |date=2024-10-23 |title=Colorado's moose boom leaves an impact |url=https://soprissun.com/colorados-moose-boom-leaves-an-impact/ |access-date=2025-12-24 |website=The Sopris Sun |language=en-US}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q12010961}}
[[Category:Fauna of the Rocky Mountains]] [[Category:Mammals described in 1914]] [[Category:Mammals of the United States]] [[Category:Moose]]