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Elk vs. Caribou

Deer are the ruminant mammals that belong to the family Cervidae. Elk and Caribou, which are known as the Deer-look alike also belong to the family Cervidae. Elk and Caribou can easily be differentiated in terms of their size difference, though beside this they actually have many actual differences. Elk hailing from specie Cervus Canadensis is regarded as one of the largest species within the cerividae family, on the other hand Caribou also known as reindeer hails from specie Rangifer tarandus. Elk are said to be native to East Asia and North America, whereas Caribou is the native to Arctic, and boreal and mountainous regions of Siberia, North America as they like cold and high altitudes. Antlers which are the unique physical part of this deer group are mainly found in the males, similarly they are missing in female Elk, but female Caribou have antler which develop during the later stage of their life.

Key Differences

Male Elks have height about 1.5m and females have height about 1.3m at shoulders, they have average weight in between 220 to 350 kgs, whereas Caribous have height average in between 33 inches to 60 inches a shoulder, and have average weight of around 100 to 180 kgs.
Elk hailing from specie Cervus Canadensis is regarded as one of the largest species within the cerividae family, on the other hand Caribou also known as reindeer hails from specie Rangifer tarandus. Elk are said to be native to East Asia and North America, whereas Caribou is the native to Arctic, and boreal and mountainous regions of Siberia, North America.
Antlers which are the unique physical part of this deer group are mainly found in the males, similarly they are missing in female Elk, but female Caribou have antler which develop during the later stage of their life.

Comparison Chart

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Cervus Canadensis
Rangifer tarandus

Antlers

Females Elk lack antlers.
Caribou females have antler which develop during the later stage of their life

Height & Weight

Male Elks have height about 1.5m and females have height about 1.3m at shoulders, they have average weight in between 220 to 350 kgs.
Caribous have height average in between 33 inches to 60 inches a shoulder, and have average weight of around 100 to 180 kgs.
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Elk and Caribou Definitions

Elk

A large reddish-brown or grayish deer (Cervus canadensis) of western North America, having long, branching antlers in the male. The elk is sometimes considered a subspecies of the closely related red deer. Also called wapiti.

Caribou

A large deer (Rangifer tarandus) of the Arctic tundra and northern boreal forests, having large hooves and long branched antlers. Subspecies native to Eurasia are usually called reindeer.

Elk

Chiefly British The moose.

Caribou

Any of several North American subspecies of the reindeer, Rangifer tarandus.

Elk

A light, pliant leather of horsehide or calfskin, tanned and finished to resemble elk hide.

Caribou

The American reindeer, especially the common or woodland species (Rangifer Caribou).
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Elk

Any of various large species of deer such as the red deer, moose or wapiti (see usage notes).

Caribou

Arctic deer with large antlers in both sexes; called reindeer in Eurasia and caribou in North America

Elk

Any of the subspecies of the moose (Alces alces, alternatively named Eurasian elk to avoid confusion with the wapiti), that occurs only in Europe and Asia.

Elk

Any moose (Alces alces), the largest member of the deer family.

Elk

(North America) common wapiti (Cervus canadensis), the second largest member of the deer family, once thought to be a subspecies of red deer.

Elk

(British India) Sambar (Cervus unicolor).
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Elk

A large deer, of several species. The European elk Alces alces (formerly Alces machlis or Cervus alces) is closely allied to the American moose. The American elk, or wapiti (Cervus Canadensis) the largest member of the deer family, has large, spreading antlers and is closely related to the European stag. See Moose, and Wapiti.

Elk

The European wild or whistling swan (Cygnus ferus).

Elk

A member of the fraternal organization named Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, supporting various services to their communities.

Elk

Large northern deer with enormous flattened antlers in the male; called elk in Europe and moose in North America

What is Elk?

Elk is the one of the largest species of the cervidae family, and is also regarded as one of the largest mammals in Eastern Asia and North America, which are the areas Elks are native to. Due to their massive size they are often confused with the Mooses, which are even of the bigger size as compare to them, though they are the extant species due to subartic climate and hunting. Elk is mainly differentiated with Moose by seeing their antlers as Moose have broader and falter antlers. They have greater adaptability and even have survived at places like New Zealand, Argentina, and Australia, where they were being introduced. They range in forest and forest-edge habitat and often prefer staying marshes or bushlands. Male Elks have height about 1.5m and females have height about 1.3m at shoulders, they have average weight in between 220 to 350 kgs.

What is Caribou?

Caribou are also known as reindeer they are native to Arctic, and boreal and mountainous regions of Siberia, North America as they like cold and high altitudes. Caribou are also known as reindeer they are native to Arctic, and boreal and mountainous regions of Siberia, North America as they like cold and high altitudes. Unlike many other species of this group, the female caribou also have antlers, which develop during the later stage of their life. Moreover, they have the second largest antlers among cervids. The antlers on male are usually of larger size. They are well popular among masses as Santa Claus in Christmas folklore as he arrives on them. Caribous have height average in between 33 inches to 60 inches a shoulder, and have average weight of around 100 to 180 kgs.

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