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Natural
History:
This
Giant Irish Deer is believed to have roamed the
lowlands of central and eastern Ireland, weighing
up to 800-1000 lbs. and stood at 2 metres at the
shoulder, with antler width of up to 4 metres,
(weighing up to 35kg) are the largest antlers
know to have existed on any deer. They were palm
like antlers, similar to those of a Fallow
deer. It is understood they were a victim
of the Ice Age finally disappearing from Ireland
around 10,500 years ago. They had very few enemies
due to their size, with the wolf posing very little
threat.
Even
though they are known as the Irish Elk, fossils
have been found in such countries as France, Germany,
Austria, Hungary, Britain, Italy and Central Asia.
However the best collection of fossil's can be
found at the National
Museum of Ireland where there are 10 complete
deer skeletons and over 250 partial remains, which
includes 6 females.
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There have been many fossil finds throughout Ireland,
with the most famous been Ballybetagh Bog, Glencullen,
Co. Wicklow where over 100 deer skeletons were found.
Other sites are Howth, Co. Dublin and Lough Gur,
Co. Limerick. These fossils have been mainly found
in peat bogs and in old lakes, with some older fossils
even being found in caves. |
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Learn
more about the Irish Elk: |
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Giant elk survived the freeze
The
giant elk would dwarf modern man, By BBC News Online's
Dr Damian Carrington: The giant Irish Elk survived
the last ice age - but probably only just. The enormous
deer, which sported antlers 3.6m wide (10 feet),
was thought to have perished along with woolly mammoths
in the frozen wastes. But new fossil dating evidence
shows that...
The Case of the Irish Elk
The Irish Elk, Megaloceros, is misnamed, for it
is neither exclusively Irish nor is it an elk. It
is a giant extinct deer, the largest deer species
ever, that stood up to seven feet at the shoulder
(2.1 meters), with antlers spanning up to 12 feet
(3.65 meters). The Irish elk evolved during the
glacial periods of the last...
Megaloceras
fossils
Megaloceras: 1/20 scale, one piece cast with the
exception of the antlers. Included is a simulated
terrain base with clearly marked footprints for
easy positioning as well as a contoured pine base
for display. The model comes unpainted easy to assemble
with a minimum amount of...
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