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Glite Dictionary
Megaloceros

Megaloceros

1 9.9
An extinct giant deer with huge antlers that lived in Europe and Asia during the Ice Age
  • proper noun
  • Specialized
: Megaloceros
  • Fossils of Megaloceros suggest that this giant deer thrived in cold, open landscapes rich in vegetation.

Examples

  • The remains of Megaloceros have been found in many sites across Europe, indicating its wide distribution during the Ice Age.

  • The large antlers of Megaloceros could span over 3 meters, making it one of the largest deer to ever roam Eurasia.

  • Moreover, the rapid numerical response of large herbivores such as Irish elk (Megaloceros giganteus) during this period may be driven by changes in the nutrient status of plants.

    Academic text (2003)

Surface Forms

Megaloceros main

Etymology

The word Megaloceros comes from Greek parts mega- 'large' and -ceros 'horn', like in rhinoceros. It literally means 'big horn', which helps explain why this extinct giant deer had such huge antlers.