MammalBase - Accepted taxon: Alces alces

Accepted taxon: Alces alces
Taxon:	Alces alces
Rank:	Species
Higher Classification:	ARTIODACTYLA \| Cervidae \| Capreolinae \| Alces
Reference:	Wilson, Don E., and DeeAnn M. Reeder, eds. Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed), JHU Press, 2005.

Fig.1 - Ternary plot of the proximate analysis for the Alces alces diet.
CF (Crude Fibre) 23, ASH (Ash contents) 7, NFE (Nitrogen-Free-Extract) 45, CP (Crude Protein) 8, EE (Ether Extract) 3. See details for the calculations in Lintulaakso, K., Tatti, N. and Žliobaitė, I., 2022. Quantifying mammalian diets. Mammalian Biology, pp.1-15. [DOI]

Table 1. List of Diet Items for Alces alces.
TSN Complete name	Part	Ratio ^a.	Reference(s)
Magnoliopsida	STEM	29.88	Damuth, J…
Magnoliopsida	LEAF	11.21	Grzimek,B…
Magnoliopsida	BARK	10.79	Damuth, J…
Magnoliopsida	SHOOT	8.89	Damuth, J…
Vaccinium	STEM	6.35	Smith,A. …
Salix	STEM	4.76	Grzimek,B…
Populus X berolinensis	BARK	4.08	Grzimek,B…
Magnoliopsida	ROOT	3.81	Nowak,R. …
Populus	LEAF	3.40	Grzimek,B…
Calluna	SHOOT	3.17	Smith,A. …
Sorbus	LEAF	2.72	Grzimek,B…
Fraxinus	LEAF	2.08	Smith,A. …
Vaccinium	FRUIT	2.04	Grzimek,B…
Eugenia monticola	FRUIT	1.36	Grzimek,B…
Betula X alpestris	LEAF	1.22	Smith,A. …
Salix bicolor	LEAF	0.85	Smith,A. …
Rhamnus	LEAF	0.68	Grzimek,B…
Poaceae	STEM	0.63	Grzimek,B…
Trifolium	SHOOT	0.61	Smith,A. …
Brassica napus var. napus	SHOOT	0.49	Smith,A. …
Plantae	SHOOT	0.48	Reid,F., …
Poaceae	SEED	0.37	Smith,A. …
Nymphaeaceae	ROOT	0.12	Smith,A. …

^a. Standardized values. See details for the calculations in Lintulaakso, K., Tatti, N. and Žliobaitė, I., 2022. Quantifying mammalian diets. Mammalian Biology, pp.1-15. [DOI]

Table 2. List of Standard Traits for Alces alces.
Trait	Selected Value	All Value(s)	Reference(s)
Dietary category: Eisenberg 1981	Herbivore-Browser	Herbivore-Browser	A. Myster…
Dietary category: Miljutin 2009	Herbivore	Herbivore	A. Myster…

Table 3. List of Standard Measurements for Alces alces.
Measurement	Location	Unit	n Total	n Unknown	n Female	n Male	Min	Mean	Max	SD	Reference(s)
Body Mass (BM)	nan	g	1	1	-	-	-	272,155	-	-	Engelman,…
Body Mass (BM)	nan	g	-	-	-	-	-	408,180	-	-	Wimberly,…
Body Mass (BM)	nan	g	-	-	-	-	190,000	-	825,000	-	Freudenth…
Head-Body Length (HBL)	nan	mm	-	-	-	-	-	2,629	-	-	Engelman,…
Occipital condyle width (OCW)	nan	mm	1	1	-	-	-	90.73	-	-	Engelman,…

Table 4. List of other Measurements ^b. for Alces alces.
Measurement	Location	Unit	n Total	n Unknown	n Female	n Male	Min	Mean	Max	SD	Reference(s)
Length of the Masseteric Fossa		cm	8	8	-	-	-	22	-	-	Quibod, M…
Muzzle Width		cm	8	8	-	-	-	6	-	-	Quibod, M…
Total Length of the Skull		cm	8	8	-	-	-	49	-	-	Quibod, M…
brainmass	nan	g	-	-	-	-	-	436	-	-	Engelman,…
skull_length	nan	mm	-	-	-	-	-	588	-	-	Engelman,…
A1-MLL (maximum lateral length of the astragalus)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	75	82	87	5	Wimberly,…
A2-MML (maximum medial length of the astragalus)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	72	76	80	3	Wimberly,…
A3-MIN (minimal length of the astragalus)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	59	64	68	3	Wimberly,…
A4-WAT (width at tarsus of the astragalus)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	47	51	53	2	Wimberly,…
A5-WAF (width at trochlea of the astragalus)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	44	47	50	2	Wimberly,…
C1-UL (greatest length of the calcaneus)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	145	159	170	10	Wimberly,…
C2-TL (length of body of the calcaneus)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	93	104	111	7	Wimberly,…
C3-MBH (midbody height of the calcaneus)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	39	44	48	3	Wimberly,…
C4-MBTV (midbody transverse width of the calcaneus)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	18	21	26	3	Wimberly,…
C5-FFL (fibular facet length of the calcaneus)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	31	34	35	2	Wimberly,…
C6-CNFL (cubonavicular facet length of the calcaneus)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	35	40	43	3	Wimberly,…
C7-HSF (height of sustentacular facet of the calcaneus)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	30	32	33	1	Wimberly,…
C8-HST (height of sustentaculum tali of the calcaneus)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	48	50	53	2	Wimberly,…
F1-UL (full length of the femur)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	408	446	476	25	Wimberly,…
F2-FL (functional length of the femur)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	384	423	451	24	Wimberly,…
F3-MCF (midshaft circumference of the femur)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	128	143	156	9	Wimberly,…
F4-PW (proximal width of the femur)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	109	123	133	8	Wimberly,…
F5-MLHW (mediolateral femoral head of the femur)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	57	61	68	4	Wimberly,…
F6-APHW (anteroposterior femoral head of the femur)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	48	51	55	3	Wimberly,…
F7-DW (distal width of the femur)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	91	106	119	10	Wimberly,…
F8-MPL (medial condyle and patellar lip of the femur)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	118	128	136	7	Wimberly,…
F9-LPL (lateral condyle and patellar lip of the femur)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	104	111	118	5	Wimberly,…
H1-UL (full length of the humerus)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	357	396	425	24	Wimberly,…
H2-FL (functional length of the humerus)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	332	367	394	21	Wimberly,…
H3-MCF (midshaft circumference of the humerus)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	140	154	173	11	Wimberly,…
H4-MTH (largest medial height of trochlea of the humerus)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	55	61	66	4	Wimberly,…
H5-MidTH (smallest height of trochlea of the humerus)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	42	46	52	4	Wimberly,…
H6-LTH (largest lateral height of trochlea of the humerus)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	46	52	58	4	Wimberly,…
H7-PW (proximal width of the humerus)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	93	107	118	8	Wimberly,…
H8-MLH (mediolateral humeral head width of the humerus)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	74	84	89	5	Wimberly,…
H9-DW (distal width of the humerus)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	77	86	93	6	Wimberly,…
MC1-UL (length of the metacarpus)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	303	325	350	17	Wimberly,…
MC2-MAP (anteroposterior midshaft of the metacarpus)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	28	31	34	2	Wimberly,…
MC3-MML (mediolateral midshaft of the metacarpus)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	34	37	41	3	Wimberly,…
MC4-DW (distal width of the metacarpus)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	57	64	69	4	Wimberly,…
MC5-PW (proximal width of the metacarpus)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	55	61	67	5	Wimberly,…
MT1-UL (length of the metatarsus)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	355	380	403	19	Wimberly,…
MT2-MAP (anteroposterior midshaft of the metatarsus)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	33	37	40	2	Wimberly,…
MT3-MML (mediolateral midshaft of the metatarsus)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	31	34	37	2	Wimberly,…
MT4-DW (distal width of the metatarsus)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	62	66	71	4	Wimberly,…
MT5-PW (proximal width of the metatarsus)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	50	56	63	5	Wimberly,…
R1-UL (length of the radius)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	370	401	423	21	Wimberly,…
R2-PW (full proximal width of the radius)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	73	80	87	5	Wimberly,…
R3-NPW (width of humeral articular surface of the radius)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	69	76	81	5	Wimberly,…
R4-DW (distal width of the radius)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	71	78	86	6	Wimberly,…
S1-L (full length of the scapula)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	388	430	461	28	Wimberly,…
S2-GW (greatest cranio-caudal length of the scapula)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	252	275	304	20	Wimberly,…
S3-SW (shortest length of scapular neck of the scapula)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	55	62	76	8	Wimberly,…
S4-GH (anteroposterior glenoid fossa of the scapula)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	56	65	73	6	Wimberly,…
S5-GW (mediolateral glenoid fossa of the scapula)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	54	58	62	3	Wimberly,…
T1-L (full length of the tibia)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	442	472	491	23	Wimberly,…
T2-MCF (midshaft circumference of the tibia)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	127	138	150	9	Wimberly,…
T3-PW (proximal width of the tibia)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	97	107	114	7	Wimberly,…
T4-DW (distal width of the tibia)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	64	71	73	4	Wimberly,…
U1-UL (length of the ulna)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	463	504	536	29	Wimberly,…
U2-OPL (olecranon process length of the ulna)	nan	mm	6	6	-	-	80	95	107	10	Wimberly,…
average ungulate dietary grass fraction (proportional)	nan	unitless	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-	Abraham, …
femur circumference	nan	mm	-	-	-	-	-	124	-	-	Nelson, A…
femur diameter	nan	mm	-	-	-	-	-	40	-	-	Nelson, A…
humerus circumference	nan	mm	-	-	-	-	-	127	-	-	Nelson, A…
humerus diameter	nan	mm	-	-	-	-	-	44	-	-	Nelson, A…
neck length	nan	mm	-	-	-	-	-	426	-	-	Nelson, A…

^b. other Measurements. Source Measurements which are not listed on or mapped with the Standard Traits..

Table 5. List of Data Sources for Alces alces.
Taxon	Reference	Match	Status
Alces alces	Mysterud,Atle, 2000, The Relationship between Ecological Segregation and Sexual Body Size Dimorphism in Large Herbivores, Oecologia	1: Exact Taxon match	Verified - Accepted
Alces alces	Clauss,M., 2002, Faecal particle size distribution in captive wild ruminants: an approach to the browser/grazer dichotomy from the other end, Oecologia	1: Exact Taxon match	Verified - Accepted
Alces alces	Clauss,M., 2010, Convergence in the macroscopic anatomy of the reticulum in wild ruminant species of different feeding types and a new resulting hypothesis on reticular function, Journal of zoology	1: Exact Taxon match	Verified - Accepted
Alces alces	Gordon,IJ, 1988, Incisor arcade structure and diet selection in ruminants, Functional Ecology	1: Exact Taxon match	Verified - Accepted
Alces alces	Loison,A., 1999, What factors shape sexual size dimorphism in ungulates?, Evolutionary Ecology Research	1: Exact Taxon match	Verified - Accepted
Alces alces	Mendoza,M., 2008, Hypsodonty in ungulates: an adaptation for grass consumption or for foraging in open habitat?, Journal of zoology	1: Exact Taxon match	Verified - Accepted
Alces alces	Damuth, J. 2010. ABSOLUT 6 a mammalian database compiled by the national center for ecological analysis and synthesis (NCEAS ) workshop on mammalian communities.	1: Exact Taxon match	Verified - Accepted
Alces alces	Reid,F., 2006, Peterson field guide to mammals of North America,	1: Exact Taxon match	Verified - Accepted
Alces alces	Nowak,R. M., 1991, Walker's mammals of the world,	1: Exact Taxon match	Verified - Accepted
Alces alces	Grzimek,B., 2003, Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia: Mammals I-V,	1: Exact Taxon match	Verified - Accepted
Alces alces	Smith,A. T., 2010, A guide to the mammals of China,	1: Exact Taxon match	Verified - Accepted
Alces alces	Nowak,R. M., 1991, Walker's mammals of the world,	1: Exact Taxon match	Verified - Accepted
Alces alces	Quibod, M.N.R.M., Gélin, U., van Langevelde, F. and Tomlinson, K.W., 2023. Diet-specific responses of skull traits to aridity gradients in bovids and cervids. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, p.zlad068.	1: Exact Taxon match	Verified - Accepted
Alces alces	Engelman, R.K., 2022. Occipital condyle width (OCW) is a highly accurate predictor of body mass in therian mammals. BMC biology, 20(1), p.37.	1: Exact Taxon match	Verified - Accepted
Alces alces	Wimberly, A.N., 2023. Predicting body mass in Ruminantia using postcranial measurements. Journal of Morphology, 284(10), p.e21636.	1: Exact Taxon match	Verified - Accepted
Alces alces	Abraham, J.O., Upham, N.S., Damian-Serrano, A. and Jesmer, B.R., 2022. Evolutionary causes and consequences of ungulate migration. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 6(7), pp.998-1006.	1: Exact Taxon match	Verified - Accepted
Alces alces	Lundgren, E.J., Schowanek, S.D., Rowan, J., Middleton, O., Pedersen, R.Ø., Wallach, A.D., Ramp, D., Davis, M., Sandom, C.J. and Svenning, J.C., 2021. Functional traits of the world’s late Quaternary large-bodied avian and mammalian herbivores. Scientific data, 8(1), p.17.	1: Exact Taxon match	Verified - Accepted
Alces alces	Nelson, A., Engelman, R.K. and Croft, D.A., 2023. How to weigh a fossil mammal? South American notoungulates as a case study for estimating body mass in extinct clades. Journal of Mammalian Evolution, 30(3), pp.773-809.	1: Exact Taxon match	Verified - Accepted
Alces alces	Freudenthal, M. and Martín-Suárez, E., 2013. Estimating body mass of fossil rodents. Scripta Geologica, 145, pp.1-513.	1: Exact Taxon match	Verified - Accepted

Citation for this page: [The MammalBase community 2025. / CC BY 4.0. http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7462864 Alces alces , Accessed 16th May 2025 at https://mammalbase.net/me/15559]