You are looking for information, articles, knowledge about the topic nail salons open on sunday near me how many stomachs does an elk have on Google, you do not find the information you need! Here are the best content compiled and compiled by the Chewathai27.com team, along with other related topics such as: how many stomachs does an elk have how many stomachs does a horse have, how many stomachs does a cow have, how many stomachs does a moose have, how many stomachs do goats have, how many stomachs does a deer have, do elk have split hooves, ruminant, are moose ruminants
Elk are ruminants and therefore have four-chambered stomachs.Why do cows have 7 stomachs? The four compartments of a cow’s stomach are the rumen reticulum omasum and abomasum. Grasses and other roughage that cows eat are hard to break down and digest which is why cows have specialized compartments.Elk are able to digest such rough materials, like that of bark and twigs, because they have a specialized ruminant stomach consisting of four unique chambers. Complete the maze below to learn about the four chambers of an elk’s stomach. The second stomach chamber is the reticulum.
Contents
What animal has 7 stomachs?
Why do cows have 7 stomachs? The four compartments of a cow’s stomach are the rumen reticulum omasum and abomasum. Grasses and other roughage that cows eat are hard to break down and digest which is why cows have specialized compartments.
Do elk have 3 stomachs?
Elk are able to digest such rough materials, like that of bark and twigs, because they have a specialized ruminant stomach consisting of four unique chambers. Complete the maze below to learn about the four chambers of an elk’s stomach. The second stomach chamber is the reticulum.
How many stomachs a deer have?
Deer have a four-chambered stomach. The first chamber, called the rumen, is for storage. The rumen allows for the deer to gather a lot of food at once and then digest it later. The deer bring the food back up into their mouth and Page 2 chew it again.
What animals have 2 stomachs?
Ruminants and camelids are a group of animals that have stomachs with multiple compartments.
What animal has 800 stomachs?
The elephant has the most stomachs of any species. They can break down their food more effectively since they have an average of 800 stomachs.
What animals have 9 stomachs?
…
9 Animals With Multiple Stomachs
- Cows. Scientific Name: Bos taurus. …
- Deer. Scientific Name: Cervidae. …
- Cachalot Whales. …
- Sheep. …
- Giraffes. …
- Pronghorns. …
- Goats. …
- Moose.
What animals have 4 stomachs?
ruminant, (suborder Ruminantia), any mammal of the suborder Ruminantia (order Artiodactyla), which includes the pronghorns, giraffes, okapis, deer, chevrotains, cattle, antelopes, sheep, and goats. Most ruminants have a four-chambered stomach and two-toed feet.
Do cows have 7 stomachs?
YES AND NO. Cows technically only have one stomach, but it has four distinct compartments made up of Rumen, Reticulum, Omasum and Abomasum. It is very different than a human stomach. That’s why people often say that cows have four stomachs.
Which animal has most stomachs?
Topping our list of animals with multiple stomachs is the Baird’s beaked whale, which can have more than 10 stomachs! How is this possible? The whale has two large stomach chambers, its main stomach and a pyloric stomach. Then beaked whales have a series of connecting chambers between stomachs.
Does an elephant have 800 stomachs?
Do elephants have more than one stomach? Elephants along with all other “non-ruminant” herbivores do not possess multiple stomach compartments or chew their cud. They do however utilize symbiotic bacteria to break down their food. …
Do cows have 4 stomachs?
Quick facts. Ruminant stomachs have four compartments: the rumen, the reticulum, the omasum and the abomasum. Rumen microbes ferment feed and produce volatile fatty acids, which is the cow’s main energy source.
How many stomachs does a giraffe have?
Giraffes are ruminants and have a stomach with four compartments that digests the leaves they eat.
What animal has 3 hearts?
An octopus’s three hearts have slightly different roles. One heart circulates blood around the body, while the other two pump it past the gills, to pick up oxygen.
What animal have 2 hearts?
The systemic heart pumps blood around an octopus’s body, while its two branchial hearts pump blood through its two gills. Since octopus blood is very copper-rich, it’s exceptionally viscous.
How many stomachs does a donkey have?
DONKEYS HAVE 14 STOMACHS!!!!
Your average donkey is able to consume 40 pounds of carrots in less than an hour thanks to all of these wondrous organs. A donkey can also generate additional stomachs throughout their lifetime. A donkey in Uzbekistan is the current worlds record holder with a reported 59 stomachs.
Does a cow have 7 stomachs?
YES AND NO. Cows technically only have one stomach, but it has four distinct compartments made up of Rumen, Reticulum, Omasum and Abomasum. It is very different than a human stomach. That’s why people often say that cows have four stomachs.
What animal has 8 hearts?
Such an enormous pressure would require a very large, strong and slow-beating heart. But, they postulate, instead of a single large heart, the Barosaurus probably had some eight hearts.
What animal has the most stomachs in the world?
Topping our list of animals with multiple stomachs is the Baird’s beaked whale, which can have more than 10 stomachs! How is this possible? The whale has two large stomach chambers, its main stomach and a pyloric stomach. Then beaked whales have a series of connecting chambers between stomachs.
How many stomachs do pigs have?
The pig has a digestive system which is classified as monogastric, or nonruminant. Humans also have this type of digestive system. They have one stomach (mono = one, gastric = stomach). The monogastric differs from that of a polygastric, or ruminant, digestive system found in cattle and sheep.
Elk – Wikipedia
- Article author: en.wikipedia.org
- Reviews from users: 11169
Ratings - Top rated: 4.2
- Lowest rated: 1
- Summary of article content: Articles about Elk – Wikipedia Updating …
- Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for Elk – Wikipedia Updating
- Table of Contents:
Contents
Naming and etymology[edit]
Taxonomy[edit]
Characteristics[edit]
Behavior and ecology[edit]
Distribution and status[edit]
Cultural references[edit]
Commercial uses[edit]
References[edit]
External links[edit]
Navigation menu
how many stomachs does an elk have
- Article author: elkcountryvisitorcenter.com
- Reviews from users: 23541 Ratings
- Top rated: 4.2
- Lowest rated: 1
- Summary of article content: Articles about how many stomachs does an elk have Updating …
- Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for how many stomachs does an elk have Updating
- Table of Contents:
how many stomachs does an elk have
- Article author: www.sas.upenn.edu
- Reviews from users: 31060 Ratings
- Top rated: 3.5
- Lowest rated: 1
- Summary of article content: Articles about how many stomachs does an elk have Updating …
- Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for how many stomachs does an elk have Updating
- Table of Contents:
Ruminants & Camelids Digestive Overview, Feeding Instruction
- Article author: www.standleeforage.com
- Reviews from users: 20057 Ratings
- Top rated: 3.8
- Lowest rated: 1
- Summary of article content: Articles about Ruminants & Camelids Digestive Overview, Feeding Instruction Updating …
- Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for Ruminants & Camelids Digestive Overview, Feeding Instruction Updating Learn about the digestive systems of ruminants & camelids. Also find forage feeding instructions for different species of ruminants and camelids.
- Table of Contents:
Digestion in the Ruminant
Download the Nutritional Paper PDF
Digestion in the Camelid
SUMMARY
Feeding Instructions for Forage Products
Subscribe to Standlee Premium Products Emails
BE SURE TO USE OUR ONLINE TOOLS
how many stomachs does an elk have
- Article author: elkcountryvisitorcenter.com
- Reviews from users: 42561 Ratings
- Top rated: 4.4
- Lowest rated: 1
- Summary of article content: Articles about how many stomachs does an elk have Elk are able to digest such rough materials, like that of bark and twigs, because they have a specialized ruminant stomach consisting of four unique chambers. …
- Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for how many stomachs does an elk have Elk are able to digest such rough materials, like that of bark and twigs, because they have a specialized ruminant stomach consisting of four unique chambers.
- Table of Contents:
Error 403 (Forbidden)
- Article author: www.quora.com
- Reviews from users: 41115 Ratings
- Top rated: 3.4
- Lowest rated: 1
- Summary of article content: Articles about Error 403 (Forbidden) Colloquially-speaking, cattle and other ruminants (sheep, goats, buffalo, bison, deer, moose, elk, etc.) have four stomachs. …
- Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for Error 403 (Forbidden) Colloquially-speaking, cattle and other ruminants (sheep, goats, buffalo, bison, deer, moose, elk, etc.) have four stomachs.
- Table of Contents:
Do elk have rumen?
- Article author: amazing-animals-planet.com
- Reviews from users: 2030 Ratings
- Top rated: 3.7
- Lowest rated: 1
- Summary of article content: Articles about Do elk have rumen? How many stomachs do elk have? Elk are ruminants and therefore have four-chambered stomachs. Is deer a ruminant? …
- Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for Do elk have rumen? How many stomachs do elk have? Elk are ruminants and therefore have four-chambered stomachs. Is deer a ruminant? Elk are ruminants and therefore have four-chambered stomachs.
- Table of Contents:
Feel free to explore and read
How many stomachs do elk have
Is deer a ruminant
Are elk bovine
Where do elk sleep at night
Can female elk have antlers
What is the heaviest elk ever killed
What does elk taste like
How tall is a female elk
Are humans ruminants
What animal has the most stomachs
Do elk eat meat
Why do elk pee on themselves
Where do elk like to bed
How long does an elk sleep
Why do elk prefer north facing slopes
What kind of animal is a ruminant animal
What makes an elk different from a red deer
What kind of animal would eat an elk
What kind of digestive system does an elk have
Top 10 Elk Facts | Grand View Outdoors
- Article author: www.grandviewoutdoors.com
- Reviews from users: 30836 Ratings
- Top rated: 4.1
- Lowest rated: 1
- Summary of article content: Articles about Top 10 Elk Facts | Grand View Outdoors An elk’s stomach has four chambers; the first stores food, and the other three digest it. 6) Elk Velvet Is a Coolant. The blood that pumps … …
- Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for Top 10 Elk Facts | Grand View Outdoors An elk’s stomach has four chambers; the first stores food, and the other three digest it. 6) Elk Velvet Is a Coolant. The blood that pumps … Top 10 TuesdayHow’s your knowledge of elk facts? Do you know how many chambers an elk’s stomach has? And what purpose does the “old cow” serve? Answers inside!
- Table of Contents:
1) Subspecies
2)Family Cervidae
3) Springtime Newborns
4) Typical Elk Weight
5) An Elk Stomach Has Chambers
6) Elk Velvet Is a Coolant
7) Antler Facts and Weight
8) Teeth
9) The Old Cow
10) Elk Population
9 Animals With Multiple Stomachs (Pictures) – Wildlife Informer
- Article author: wildlifeinformer.com
- Reviews from users: 18916 Ratings
- Top rated: 3.4
- Lowest rated: 1
- Summary of article content: Articles about 9 Animals With Multiple Stomachs (Pictures) – Wildlife Informer Just like cows, deer also have four stomach compartments. A deer’s stomach works similar to how a cow’s does and has four “parts” that comprise their entire … …
- Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for 9 Animals With Multiple Stomachs (Pictures) – Wildlife Informer Just like cows, deer also have four stomach compartments. A deer’s stomach works similar to how a cow’s does and has four “parts” that comprise their entire … There are many animals that are born with multiple organs. In this article we discuss 9 types of animals with multiple stomachs.
- Table of Contents:
Follow Us!
9 Animals With Multiple Stomachs
Recent Posts
Disclaimer
Discover
See more articles in the same category here: Top 975 tips update new.
Wikipedia
Large antlered species of deer from North America and East Asia
Alces alces), see This article is about the species called “elk” in North America. For the species called “elk” in Eurasia (), see Moose
The elk (Cervus canadensis), also known as the wapiti, is one of the largest species within the deer family, Cervidae, and one of the largest terrestrial mammals in its native range of North America, as well as Central and East Asia. The common name elk, used in North America, creates confusion because the larger Alces alces, which is called moose in North America, is also called elk in British English, and related names in other European languages (German Elch, Swedish älg, and French élan). The name “wapiti” is sometimes used in North America for Cervus canadensis. It originates from the Shawnee and Cree word waapiti, meaning ‘white rump’.
Elk range in forest and forest-edge habitat, feeding on grasses, plants, leaves, and bark. Male elk have large antlers which they shed each year. Males also engage in ritualized mating behaviors during the rut, including posturing, antler wrestling (sparring), and bugling, a loud series of vocalizations that establishes dominance over other males and attracts females. Although it is currently native to North America and central/eastern Asia, it had a much wider distribution in the past. Populations were present across Eurasia into Western Europe during the Late Pleistocene and survived into the early Holocene in southern Sweden and the Alps; the extinct Merriam’s elk subspecies ranged into Mexico. The elk has adapted well to countries where it has been introduced, including Argentina and New Zealand. Its adaptability may in fact threaten endemic species and the ecosystems into which it has been introduced.
Elk are susceptible to a number of infectious diseases, some of which can be transmitted to livestock. Efforts to eliminate infectious diseases from elk populations, largely by vaccination, have had mixed success. Some cultures revere the elk as having spiritual significance. In parts of Asia, antlers and their velvet are used in traditional medicines. Elk are hunted as a game species. Their meat is leaner and higher in protein than beef or chicken. Elk were long believed to belong to a subspecies of the European red deer (Cervus elaphus), but evidence from many mitochondrial DNA genetic studies beginning in 1998 shows that the two are distinct species. Key morphological differences that distinguish C. canadensis from C. elaphus are the former’s wider rump patch and paler-hued antlers.
Naming and etymology [ edit ]
By the 17th century, Alces alces (called “elk” in Europe) had long been extirpated from the British Isles, and the meaning of the word “elk” to English-speakers became rather vague, acquiring a meaning similar to “large deer”.[3] The name wapiti is from the Shawnee and Cree word waapiti (in Cree syllabics: ᐙᐱᑎ or ᐚᐱᑎ), meaning “white rump”.[4] There is a subspecies of wapiti in Mongolia called the Altai wapiti (Cervus canadensis sibiricus), also known as the Altai maral.[5]
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the etymology of the word “elk” is “of obscure history”. In Classical Antiquity, the European Alces alces was known as Ancient Greek: ἄλκη, romanized: álkē and Latin: alces, words probably borrowed from a Germanic language or another language of northern Europe. By the 8th century, during the Early Middle Ages, the moose was known as Old English: elch, elh, eolh, derived from the Proto-Germanic: *elho-, *elhon- and possibly connected with the Old Norse: elgr.[6] Later, the species became known in Middle English as elk, elcke, or elke, appearing in the Latinized form alke, with the spelling alce borrowed directly from Latin: alces.[6][7] Noting that elk “is not the normal phonetic representative” of the Old English elch, the Oxford English Dictionary derives elk from Middle High German: elch, itself from Old High German: elaho.[6][3]
The American Cervus canadensis was recognized as a relative of the red deer (Cervus elaphus), of Europe, and so Cervus canadensis was referred to as “red deer” Richard Hakluyt, in his 1584 Discourse Concerning Western Planting, mentioned the continent’s plentiful red deer (Early Modern English: greate store of … redd dere). Similarly, John Smith’s 1616 A Description of New England referred to red deer. Sir William Talbot’s 1672 English translation of John Lederer’s Latin Discoveries likewise called the species “Red Deer”, but noted in parentheses that they were “for their unusual largeness improperly termed Elks by ignorant people”. Both Thomas Jefferson’s 1785 Notes on the State of Virginia and David Bailie Warden’s 1816 Statistical, Political, and Historical Account of the United States used “red deer” to refer to Cervus canadensis..[8]
Taxonomy [ edit ]
Members of the genus Cervus (and hence early relatives or possible ancestors of the elk) first appear in the fossil record 25 million years ago, during the Oligocene in Eurasia, but do not appear in the North American fossil record until the early Miocene.[9] The extinct Irish elk (Megaloceros) was not a member of the genus Cervus but rather the largest member of the wider deer family (Cervidae) known from the fossil record.[10]
Until recently, red deer and elk were considered to be one species, Cervus elaphus,[5][11] with over a dozen subspecies. But mitochondrial DNA studies conducted in 2004 on hundreds of samples from red deer and elk subspecies and other species of the Cervus deer family, strongly indicate that elk, or wapiti, should be a distinct species, namely Cervus canadensis.[12] DNA evidence validates that elk are more closely related to Thorold’s deer and even sika deer than they are to the red deer.[12]
Elk and red deer produce fertile offspring in captivity, and the two species have freely inter-bred in New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park. The cross-bred animals have resulted in the disappearance of virtually all pure elk blood from the area.[13] Key morphological differences that distinguish C. canadensis from C. elaphus are the former’s wider rump patch and paler-hued antlers.[14]
Subspecies [ edit ]
There are numerous subspecies of elk described, with six from North America and four from Asia, although some taxonomists consider them different ecotypes or races of the same species (adapted to local environments through minor changes in appearance and behavior). Populations vary in antler shape and size, body size, coloration and mating behavior. DNA investigations of the Eurasian subspecies revealed that phenotypic variation in antlers, mane and rump patch development are based on “climatic-related lifestyle factors”.[14] Of the six subspecies of elk known to have inhabited North America in historical times, four remain, including the Roosevelt’s (C. canadensis roosevelti), tule (C. canadensis nannodes), Manitoban (C. canadensis manitobensis) and Rocky Mountain elk (C. canadensis nelsoni).[15] The eastern elk (C. canadensis canadensis) and Merriam’s elk (C. canadensis merriami) subspecies have been extinct for at least a century.[16][17]
Four subspecies described in Asia include the Altai wapiti (C. canadensis sibiricus) and the Tianshan wapiti (C. canadensis songaricus). Two distinct subspecies found in China, Mongolia, the Korean Peninsula[18] and Siberia are the Manchurian wapiti (C. canadensis xanthopygus) and the Alashan wapitis (C. canadensis alashanicus). The Manchurian wapiti is darker and more reddish in coloration than the other populations. The Alashan wapiti of north central China is the smallest of all subspecies, has the lightest coloration and is the least studied.[13]
Recent DNA studies suggest that there are no more than three or four subspecies of elk. All American forms, aside from possibly the tule and Roosevelt’s elk, seem to belong to one subspecies (Cervus canadensis canadensis). Even the Siberian elk (Cervus canadensis sibiricus) are more or less identical to the American forms and therefore may belong to this subspecies, too. However, the Manchurian wapiti (Cervus canadensis xanthopygus) is clearly distinct from the Siberian forms, but not distinguishable from the Alashan wapiti. The Chinese forms (the Sichuan deer, Kansu red deer, and Tibetan red deer) also belong to the wapiti, and were not distinguishable from each other by mitochondrial DNA studies.[12] These Chinese subspecies are sometimes treated as a distinct species, namely the Central Asian red deer (Cervus hanglu), which also includes the Kashmir stag.[19]
Illustration of eastern elk
Illustration of Altai wapiti
Illustration of Manchurian wapiti
Illustration of Kashmir stag
Characteristics [ edit ]
A herd of Roosevelt’s elk
Elk have thick bodies with slender legs and short tails. They have a shoulder height of 0.75–1.5 m (2 ft 6 in – 4 ft 11 in) with a nose-to-tail length of 1.6–2.7 m (5 ft 3 in – 8 ft 10 in). Males are larger and weigh 178–497 kg (392–1,096 lb) while females weigh 171–292 kg (377–644 lb).[20] The largest of the subspecies is the Roosevelt elk (C. c. roosevelti), found west of the Cascade Range in the U.S. states of California, Oregon and Washington, and in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Roosevelt elk have been introduced into Alaska, where the largest males are estimated to weigh up to 600 kg (1,300 lb).[21] More typically, male Roosevelt elk weigh around 318 to 499 kg (701 to 1,100 lb), while females weigh 261 to 283 kg (575 to 624 lb).[22] Male tule elk weigh 204–318 kg (450–701 lb) while females weigh 170–191 kg (375–421 lb).[23] The whole weights of adult male Manitoban elk range from 288 to 478 kilograms (635 to 1,054 lb). Females have a mean weight of 275 kilograms (606 lb).[24] The elk is the second largest extant species of deer, after the moose.[25]
Antlers are made of bone, which can grow at a rate of 2.5 centimeters (0.98 in) per day. While actively growing, a soft layer of highly vascularized skin known as velvet covers and protects them. This is shed in the summer when the antlers have fully developed.[26] Bull elk typically have around six tines on each antler. The Siberian and North American elk carry the largest antlers while the Altai wapiti has the smallest.[13] Roosevelt bull antlers can weigh 18 kg (40 lb).[26] The formation and retention of antlers are testosterone-driven.[27] In late winter and early spring, the testosterone level drops, which causes the antlers to shed.[28]
Rocky Mountain elk
During the fall, elk grow a thicker coat of hair, which helps to insulate them during the winter.[29] Both male and female North American elk grow thin neck manes; females of other subspecies may not.[30]: 37 By early summer, the heavy winter coat has been shed. Elk are known to rub against trees and other objects to help remove hair from their bodies. All elk have small and clearly defined rump patches with short tails. They have different coloration based on the seasons and types of habitats, with gray or lighter coloration prevalent in the winter and a more reddish, darker coat in the summer. Subspecies living in arid climates tend to have lighter colored coats than do those living in forests.[29] Most have lighter yellow-brown to orange-brown coats in contrast to dark brown hair on the head, neck, and legs during the summer. Forest-adapted Manchurian and Alashan wapitis have red or reddish-brown coats with less contrast between the body coat and the rest of the body during the summer months. Calves are born spotted, as is common with many deer species, and lose them by the end of summer. Adult Manchurian wapiti may retain a few orange spots on the back of their summer coats until they are older. This characteristic has also been observed in the forest-adapted European red deer.[13]
Behavior and ecology [ edit ]
Elk bulls sparring
Elk are among the most gregarious deer species.[30]: 52 During the summer group size can reach 400 individuals.[20] For most of the year, adult males and females are segregated into different herds. Female herds are larger while bulls form small groups and may even travel alone. Young bulls may associate with older bulls or female groups. Male and female herds come together during the mating season, which may begin in late August.[30]: 75, 82 Males try to intimidate rivals by vocalizing and displaying with their antlers.[30]: 109 If neither bull backs down, they engage in antler wrestling, sometimes sustaining serious injuries.[31]
Bulls have a loud, high-pitched, whistle-like vocalization known as bugling, which advertise the male’s fitness over great distances. Unusual for a vocalization produced by a large animal, buglings can reach a frequency of 4000 Hz. This is achieved by blowing air from the glottis through the nasal cavities. Elk can produce deeper pitched (150 Hz) sounds using the larynx.[32] Cows produce an alarm bark to alert other members of the herd to danger, while calves will produce a high-pitched scream when attacked.[33]
Reproduction and lifecycle [ edit ]
Female elk have a short estrus cycle of only a day or two, and matings usually involve a dozen or more attempts. By the autumn of their second year, females can produce one and, very rarely, two offspring. Reproduction is most common when cows weigh at least 200 kilograms (440 lb).[34] Dominant bulls follow groups of cows during the rut from August into early winter. A bull will defend his harem of 20 cows or more from competing bulls and predators.[35][30]: 92 Bulls also dig holes in the ground called wallows, in which they urinate and roll their bodies.[36][31] A male elk’s urethra points upward so that urine is sprayed almost at a right angle to the penis.[37] The urine soaks into their hair and gives them a distinct smell which attracts cows.[31]
Elk bull inspecting a female
A bull interacts with cows in his harem in two ways: herding and courtship. When a female wanders too far away from the harem’s range, the male will rush ahead of her, block her path and aggressively rush her back to the harem. Herding behavior is accompanied by a stretched out and lowered neck and the antlers laid back. A bull may get violent and hit the cow with his antlers. During courtship, the bull is more peaceful and approaches her with his head and antlers raised. The male signals his intention to test the female for sexual receptivity by flicking his tongue. If not ready, a cow will lower her head and weave from side to side while opening and closing her mouth. The bull will stop in response in order not to scare her.[30]: 100–101 Otherwise, the bull will copiously lick the female and then mount her.[30]: 115
Younger, less dominant bulls, known as “spike bulls” because their antlers have not yet forked, will harass unguarded cows. These bulls are impatient and will not perform any courtship rituals and will continue to pursue a female even when she signals him to stop. As such, they are less reproductively successful, and a cow may stay close to the big bull to avoid harassment. Dominant bulls are intolerant of spike bulls and will chase them away from their harems.[30]: 100–105
A female nursing her calf
The gestation period is eight to nine months and the offspring weigh around 16 kilograms (35 lb). When the females are near to giving birth, they tend to isolate themselves from the main herd, and will remain isolated until the calf is large enough to escape predators.[31] Calves are born spotted, as is common with many deer species, and they lose their spots by the end of summer. After two weeks, calves are able to join the herd, and are fully weaned at two months of age.[20] Elk calves are as large as an adult white-tailed deer by the time they are six months old.[38] Elk will leave their natal (birth) ranges before they are three years old. Males disperse more often than females, as adult cows are more tolerant of female offspring from previous years.[39] Elk live 20 years or more in captivity but average 10 to 13 years in the wild. In some subspecies that suffer less predation, they may live an average of 15 years in the wild.[40]
Migration [ edit ]
Elk wintering in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, after migrating there during the fall
As is true for many species of deer, especially those in mountainous regions, elk migrate into areas of higher altitude in the spring, following the retreating snows, and the opposite direction in the fall. Hunting pressure impacts migration and movement.[41] During the winter, they favor wooded areas for the greater availability of food to eat. Elk do not appear to benefit from thermal cover.[42] The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem elk herds comprise as many as 40,000 individuals.[43] During the spring and fall, they take part in the longest elk migration in the continental U.S., traveling as much as 168 mi (270 km) between summer and winter ranges. The Teton herd consists of between 9,000 and 13,000 elk and they spend winters on the National Elk Refuge, having migrated south from the southern portions of Yellowstone National Park and west from the Shoshone and Bridger–Teton National Forests.[44]
Diet [ edit ]
Elk pellet group
Elk are ruminants and therefore have four-chambered stomachs. Unlike white-tailed deer and moose, which are chiefly browsers, elk are similar to cattle in that they are primarily grazers. But like other deer, they also browse.[45][46] Elk have a tendency to do most of their feeding in the mornings and evenings, seeking sheltered areas in between feedings to digest. Their diets vary somewhat depending on the season, with native grasses being a year-round supplement, tree bark being consumed in winter, and forbs and tree sprouts during the summer. Elk consume an average of 9.1 kilograms (20 lb) of vegetation daily.[47] Particularly fond of aspen sprouts which rise in the spring, elk have had some impact on aspen groves which have been declining in some regions where elk exist.[48] Range and wildlife managers conduct surveys of elk pellet groups to monitor populations and resource use.[49][50]
Predators and defensive tactics [ edit ]
Single bull elk in winter are vulnerable to predation by wolves.
Predators of elk include wolves, coyotes, brown and black bears, cougars, and Siberian tigers.[51][52] Coyote packs mostly prey on elk calves, though they can sometimes take a winter- or disease-weakened adult.[53] In the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, which includes Yellowstone National Park, bears are the most significant predators of calves[54] while healthy bulls have never been recorded to be killed by bears and such encounters can be fatal for bears.[55] The killing of cows in their prime is more likely to affect population growth than the killing of bulls or calves.[56]
Elk may avoid predation by switching from grazing to browsing. Grazing puts an elk in the compromising situation of being in an open area with its head down, leaving it unable to see what is going on in the surrounding area.[57] Living in groups also lessens the risk of an individual falling to predation. Large bull elk are less vulnerable and can afford to wander alone, while cows stay in larger groups for protection for their calves.[30]: 75 Bulls are more vulnerable to predation by wolves in late winter, after they have been weakened by months of chasing females and fighting.[56] Males that have recently lost their antlers are more likely to be preyed upon.[58]
Parasites and disease [ edit ]
At least 53 species of protist and animal parasites have been identified in elk.[59] Most of these parasites seldom lead to significant mortality among wild or captive elk. Parelaphostrongylus tenuis (brainworm or meningeal worm) is a parasitic nematode known to affect the spinal cord and brain tissue of elk and other species, leading to death.[60] The definitive host is the white-tailed deer, in which it normally has no ill effects. Snails and slugs, the intermediate hosts, can be inadvertently consumed by elk during grazing.[61] The liver fluke Fascioloides magna and the nematode Dictyocaulus viviparus are also commonly found parasites that can be fatal to elk.[62] Since infection by either of these parasites can be lethal to some commercial livestock species, their presence in elk herds is of some concern.[citation needed]
A bull elk in spring, shedding its winter coat and with its antlers covered in velvet
Chronic wasting disease, transmitted by a misfolded protein known as a prion, affects the brain tissue in elk, and has been detected throughout their range in North America. First documented in the late 1960s in mule deer, the disease has affected elk on game farms and in the wild in a number of regions. Elk that have contracted the disease begin to show weight loss, changes in behavior, increased watering needs, excessive salivation and urinating and difficulty swallowing, and at an advanced stage, the disease leads to death. No risks to humans have been documented, nor has the disease been demonstrated to pose a threat to domesticated cattle.[63] In 2002, South Korea banned the importation of elk antler velvet due to concerns about chronic wasting disease.[64]
The Gram-negative bacterial disease brucellosis occasionally affects elk in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the only place in the U.S. where the disease is still known to exist. In domesticated cattle, brucellosis causes infertility, abortions, and reduced milk production. It is transmitted to humans as undulant fever, producing influenza-like symptoms that may last for years. Though bison are more likely to transmit the disease to other animals, elk inadvertently transmitted brucellosis to horses in Wyoming and cattle in Idaho. Researchers are attempting to eradicate the disease through vaccinations and herd-management measures, which are expected to be successful.[65] Nevertheless, research has been ongoing since 2002, and a successful vaccine has yet to be developed as of 2016 .[66]
A recent necropsy study of captive elk in Pennsylvania attributed the cause of death in 33 of 65 cases to either gastrointestinal parasites (21 cases, primarily Eimeria sp. and Ostertagia sp.) or bacterial infections (12 cases, mostly pneumonia).[67]
Elk hoof disease was first noticed in the state of Washington in the late 1990s in the Cowlitz River basin, with sporadic reports of deformed hooves. Since then, the disease has spread rapidly with increased sightings throughout southwest Washington and into Oregon. The disease is characterised by deformed, broken, or missing hooves and leads to severe lameness in elk. The primary cause is not known, but it is associated with treponeme bacteria, which are known to cause digital dermatitis in commercial livestock. The mode of transmission is also not known, but it appears to be highly contagious among elk. Studies are being undertaken by government departments to determine how to halt or eliminate the disease.[68][69][70]
Distribution and status [ edit ]
bugling during the rut Bull elkduring the rut
The elk ranges from central Asia though to Siberia and east Asia and in North America. They can be found in open deciduous woodlands, boreal forests, upland moors, mountainous areas and grasslands. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) list the species as least-concern species.[1] The habitat of Siberian elk in Asia is similar to that of the Rocky Mountain subspecies in North America. During the Late Pleistocene their range was much more extensive, being distributed across Eurasia, with remains being found as far west as France. These populations are most closely related to modern Asian populations of the elk. Their range collapsed at the start of the Holocene, possibly because they were specialized to cold periglacial tundra-steppe habitat. When this environment was replaced largely by closed forest the red deer might have outcompeted the elk. Relictual populations survived into the early Holocene (until around 3000 years ago) in southern Sweden and the Alps, where the environment remained favorable.[71]
Introductions and reintroductions [ edit ]
Bull elk on a captive range in Nebraska . These elk, originally from Rocky Mountain herds, exhibit modified behavior due to having been held in captivity, under less selective pressure
The Rocky Mountain elk subspecies was reintroduced by hunter-conservation organizations in the Appalachian region of the eastern U.S., where the now extinct eastern elk once lived.[72] Since the late 1990s, elk were reintroduced and recolonized in the states of Wisconsin,[73] Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia and West Virginia.[74] In the state of Kentucky, the elk population in 2022 had increased to over 15,000 animals.[75] In 2016, a male elk, likely from the Smoky Mountains population, was sighted in South Carolina for the first time in nearly 300 years.[76] Since 2015, elk have also been reintroduced in a number of other states, including Pennsylvania,[77][78] Missouri,[79] and introduced to the islands of Etolin and Afognak in Alaska.[80] Elk were reintroduced in Michigan in 1918 after going extinct in 1875.[81] Reintroduction of the elk into Ontario began in the early 20th century and is ongoing with limited success.[82] As of 2014, population figures for all North American subspecies are around one million. Prior to the European colonization of North America, there were an estimated 10 million elk on the continent.[83]
Elk and red deer were introduced to Argentina in the early 20th century.[84] There they are now considered an invasive species, encroaching on Argentinian ecosystems where they compete for food with the indigenous Chilean huemul and other herbivores.[85] This negative impact on native animal species has led the IUCN to identify the elk as one of the world’s 100 worst invaders.[86]
The introduction of deer to New Zealand began in the middle of the 19th century, and current populations are primarily European red deer, with only 15 percent being elk.[87] There is significant hybridization of elk with red deer.[88] These deer have had an adverse impact on forest regeneration of some plant species, as they consume more palatable species, which are replaced with those that are less favored by the elk. The long-term impact will be an alteration of the types of plants and trees found, and in other animal and plant species dependent upon them.[89] As in Chile and Argentina, the IUCN has declared that red deer and elk populations in New Zealand are an invasive species.[86]
Estimated number of elk per U.S. state [ edit ]
Cultural references [ edit ]
Kiowa couple. The woman on the right is wearing an elk tooth dress.
Elk have played an important role in the cultural history of a number of peoples. Neolithic petroglyphs from Asia depict antler-less female elk, which have been interpreted as symbolizing life and sustenance. They were also frequently overlaid with boats and associated with rivers, suggesting they also represented paths to the underworld.[111] Petroglyphs of elk were carved into cliffs by the Ancestral Puebloans of the southwestern U.S. hundreds of years ago.[112] The elk was of particular importance to the Lakota and played a spiritual role in their society. The male elk was admired for its ability to attract mates, and Lakota men will play a courting flute imitating a bugling elk to attract women. Men used elks’ antlers as love charms and wore clothes decorated with elk images.[113]
The Rocky Mountain elk is the official state animal for Utah.[114] An image of an elk and a moose appear on the state seal and flag of Michigan.[115] The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (B.P.O.E.) chose the elk as its namesake because a number of its attributes seemed appropriate for cultivation by members of the fraternity. [116] A prized possession of many members of the B.P.O.E. are jewel encrusted, gold mounted elk teeth. [117]
Commercial uses [ edit ]
Approximately 0.45 kg (1 lb) of ground elk meat formed into patties; they have relatively low fat content
Although breakdown figures for each game species are not available in the 2006 National Survey from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, hunting of wild elk is most likely the primary economic impact.[118]
While elk are not generally harvested for meat production on a large scale, some restaurants offer the meat as a specialty item and it is also available in some grocery stores. The meat has a taste somewhere between beef and venison and is higher in protein and lower in fat and cholesterol than beef, pork, and chicken.[119] Elk meat is a good source of iron, phosphorus and zinc.[120]
A male elk can produce 10 to 11 kilograms (22 to 24 lb) of antler velvet annually and on ranches in the United States, Canada and New Zealand, it is collected and sold to markets in East Asia, where it is used in medicine. Some cultures consider velvet to be an aphrodisiac.[64] However, consuming velvet from elk in North America may be risky since velvet from animals infected with chronic wasting disease may contain prions that could result in a human getting variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease.[121]
Antlers are also used in artwork, furniture and other novelty items. All Asian subspecies, along with other deer, have been raised for their antlers in central and eastern Asia by Han Chinese, Turkic peoples, Tungusic peoples, Mongolians, and Koreans. Elk farms are relatively common in North America and New Zealand.[87] Native Americans have used elk hides for tepee covering, clothing and footwear.[122][123]
Since 1967, the Boy Scouts of America have assisted employees at the National Elk Refuge in Wyoming by collecting the antlers which are shed each winter. They are then auctioned, with 80% of the proceeds returned to the refuge. In 2010, 2,520 kilograms (5,560 lb) of antlers were auctioned, bringing in over $46,000.[124]
Ruminants & Camelids Digestive Overview, Feeding Instruction
RUMINANTS AND CAMELIDS DIGESTIVE OVERVIEW AND FORAGE FEEDING INSTRUCTIONS
Dr. Stephen Duren, Performance Horse Nutrition and Standlee Premium Products Nutritional Consultant
Ruminants and camelids are a group of animals that have stomachs with multiple compartments. Ruminants have four compartments to their stomachs while the camelids have three compartments. Examples of ruminant animals include cattle, sheep, goats, buffalo and deer. Camelids include llamas, alpacas and camels.
This multi-compartment stomach approach to digestion allows these animals to digest and utilize plant fiber. Actually, it is the extensive microbial population (bacteria, protozoa and fungi) found in the stomach compartments of these animals that ferment plant fiber into useful end-products the animal can then absorb and utilize. The digestive process is further enhanced with the ability of these animals to regurgitate partially fermented food, often referred to as their cud, and re-chew it for further fermentation. By contrast, horses have a simple, one compartment stomach and a complex hindgut dedicated to fiber digestion.
Digestion in the Ruminant
A ruminant animal has four compartments to the stomach. These compartments include the rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum. The rumen is the largest of four compartments and is divided into several sacs. It can hold 25 gallons or more of material, depending on the size of the animal. Because of its size, the rumen acts as storage or a holding vat for feedstuffs. It is also the primary fermentation vat. Simple and complex carbohydrates (fiber) are digested by rumen microbes and converted into volatile fatty acids. The volatile fatty acids (VFA), which consist mainly of acetic, propionic, and butyric acids, are the primary energy source for ruminants. Changing the ratio of forage to grain being fed will change the ratio of VFA produced in the rumen. Approximately 30 to 50 percent of the cellulose and hemicellulose is digested in the rumen by the microbial population. Sixty percent or more of the starch is degraded, depending on the amount fed and how fast ingested materials move through the rumen. Most sugars are 100 percent digested within the rumen. The VFA are absorbed from the rumen into the blood stream and transported to body tissues. The cow derives 50 to 70 percent of its energy from the VFA produced in the rumen. This underscores how important fiber is for a ruminant animal.
Forages that are fed to ruminant animals provide an important source of protein. Protein in forages undergoes fermentation in the rumen. It is converted to ammonia, organic acids, amino acids, and other products. Approximately 40 to 75 percent of the natural protein in feedstuffs is broken down. Proteins that escape breakdown in the rumen, along with microbial protein produced in the rumen, pass to the abomasum and small intestine for digestion and absorption.
The next compartment is a pouch-like structure called the reticulum. The tissues of the reticulum are arranged in a network resembling a honeycomb. Heavy or dense feed and metal objects are caught in the reticulum. A small fold of tissue lies between the reticulum and the rumen, giving it the distinction of being a separate compartment. The third compartment is the omasum. This globe-shaped structure contains leaves of tissue (like pages in a book). The omasum absorbs water and other substances from digestive contents. Feed material between the leaves will be drier than that found in the other compartments. The fourth and final compartment of the ruminant stomach is the abomasum (also called the true stomach). This is the only compartment with a glandular lining. Hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes, needed for the breakdown of feeds, are secreted into the abomasum. The abomasum is comparable to the stomach of the non-ruminant.
Top 10 Elk Facts
If you don’t want to bring your iPad into the bathroom, we can send you a magazine subscription for free!
Join other outdoor enthusiasts who already get great content delivered right to their inbox.
When I began elk hunting in earnest back in the 1970s, I wanted to know everything there was to know about elk. The purpose was two-fold. I wanted to be able to use any and all knowledge to help me plan and execute hunting strategies. But also, I just wanted to know more about the elk themselves, and why they fascinated people so much.
I began my quest by joining the then upstart Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation — my membership number is 438 — a place where you can learn a whole heckuva lot about elk, and elk hunting.
Here are 10 elk facts and some just might surprise you.
1) Subspecies
There are 6 recognized subspecies of elk in North America: Rocky Mountain (Rocky Mountain West); Roosevelt’s (Pacific Coast); Tule (Central California); Manitoban (northern Great Plains); Merriam’s (Southwest and Mexico, now extinct); and Eastern (east of the Mississippi, now extinct).
2)Family Cervidae
Scientifically speaking, elk belong to the Mammalian Order, in the family Cervidae. Other members of Cervidae include moose and the various deer species.
3) Springtime Newborns
A newborn calf weighs approximately 35 pounds. Calves are usually born late May through early June, are born spotted and scentless, and spend their first few weeks hiding motionless while their mothers feed.
4) Typical Elk Weight
When fully grown, a Rocky Mountain elk cow will weigh about 500 pounds and stand 4 ½ feet at the shoulder. A mature bull will weigh about 700 pounds and stand 5 feet tall at the shoulder. Tule and Roosevelt elk bulls and cows weigh an average of 400 lbs. and 900 lbs., and 300 lbs. and 600 lbs., respectively.
5) An Elk Stomach Has Chambers
An elk’s stomach has four chambers; the first stores food, and the other three digest it.
6) Elk Velvet Is a Coolant
The blood that pumps through the veins in the velvet on a bull’s developing antlers cools before it returns to the heart to help cool the animal.
7) Antler Facts and Weight
Elk antlers harden by late summer and the velvet peels away by September, when the antlers are solid bone. A set of antlers on a mature bull can weigh up to 40 pounds.
8) Teeth
An elk’s top two canine teeth are called “ivories”. Scientists believe ivories are remnants of saber-like tusks that ancestral species of elk used in combat. Along with the antlers, successful hunters often save ivories part of their trophy.
9) The “Old Cow”
All elk herds are controlled not by a mature bull, but by an old, experienced cow that tells them where to move, eat and bed down for the day. These “lead” or “herd” cows can make sneaking within shooting distance extremely difficult!
10) Elk Population
Prior to European settlement, more than 10 million elk roamed nearly all of the United States and parts of Canada. Today, a little more than one million elk live in the western United States, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina, and from Ontario west in Canada.
Featured photo: iStock
So you have finished reading the how many stomachs does an elk have topic article, if you find this article useful, please share it. Thank you very much. See more: how many stomachs does a horse have, how many stomachs does a cow have, how many stomachs does a moose have, how many stomachs do goats have, how many stomachs does a deer have, do elk have split hooves, ruminant, are moose ruminants
