TAXONOMIC POSITION OF ALCES LATIFRONS POSTREMUS AND RELATIONSHIPS OF THE GENERA CERVALCES AND ALCES (ALCINAE, ARTIODACTYLA, MAMMALIA)

Abstract

The taxonomic position of the late form of the broad-fronted moose from the Middle Pleistocene of Eastern Siberia, Alces latifrons postremus Vangengeim et Flerov, 1965, is discussed. New finds of antler beams and a skull fragment of the form postremus allow this moose to be assigned to the genus Cervalces Scott, 1885 as a separate species C. postremus. The taxonomic relationship between the genera Cervalces and Alces Gray, 1821 are discussed. The evolutionary lineage of Alces is not related to C. postremus. Most likely, Alces and the broad-fronted moose Cervalces coexisted from the end of the Pliocene to the beginning of the Pleistocene.