WAPITI 



Females. — Less strongly marked than males. 



Immature. — Yellowish spotted with white. 



Winter pelage longer and colors a trifle lighter than in 

 summer. 



Measurements. — Males much larger than females. Males, 

 total length, about 115 inches; tail vertebree, 6-8 inches; hind 

 foot, 26 inches; height at shoulder, 60 inches; weight 700-1000 

 pounds maximum. Females, total length, about 88 inches; 

 tail vertebrae, 4.5 inches; hind foot, 25 inches; height at shoul- 

 der, 56 inches; weight about 500-600 pounds. 



Antlers of male in prime carry from five to seven, rarely 

 more, points and measure up to 66 inches along the beam, 

 following curves, and a spread of 60 inches, for a record head. 



Geographical Distribution. — ^Western North America, chiefly 

 in the Rocky Mountain district and far western states; form- 

 erly over most of the United States and part of southern 

 Canada. 



Food. — Grasses, twigs, leaves, green plants, etc. 



Enemies. — Cougar, Bear, Wolf, and Coyote. 



Species and Subspecies of the Genus Cervus 



American Wapiti. — Cervus canadensis canadensis (Erxleben). 

 As described. Found in the Rocky Mountain region from 

 northern New Mexico and Colorado north into Alberta. 



Manitoba Wapiti. — Cervus canadensis manitobe?isis Millais. 

 Darker in color than typical canadensis and with smaller 

 antlers. Found in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. 



Western Wapiti; Roosevelt Wapiti; Olympic Wapiti. — Cervus 

 canadensis occidentalis (Hamilton Smith). 

 Large in size and very dark in color. Found on Vancouver 

 Island, in the Olympic Mountains of Washington, and parts 

 of western Oregon and California. 



Arizona Wapiti. — Cervus merriami Nelson. 



Darker on nose and with more reddish on head and legs 

 than canadensis, but paler than occidentalis; antlers with 

 straighter tip than canadensis. Formerly found in the 

 White Mountains of Arizona and the Mogollon Mountains 

 of western New Mexico, but now probably extinct. 



California Wapiti; Dwarf Elk. — Cervus nannodes Merriam. 

 Much smaller than other American Wapiti, shorter-legged 

 paler in color and with more white on ears. "Size small 

 legs short; coloration pale; fur of ears soft, almost woolly 

 white rump patch small and narrow; front of legs and feet 

 bright golden fulvous; back and flanks varying from buffy 



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