Bull Elk (Cervus Elaphus Nelsoni) standing in forest after mud bath, Canadian Rockies, Canada - Bildbanksfoto

The elk, or wapiti (Cervus canadensis), is one of the largest species within the deer family, Cervidae, in the world, and one of the largest land mammals in North America and Eastern Asia. This animal should not be confused with the still larger moose (Alces alces) to which the name elk applies in British English and in reference to populations in Eurasia.