Megaloceros

The giant stag

Megaloceros belonged to the genus of giant deer that lived in Eurasia and northern Africa during the last Ice Age. Megaloceros possessed the largest antlers of all known ungulates. It could reach a wingspan of up to 3.60 metres.

The best-known species, Megaloceros giganteus, had a shoulder height of about 2 metres, almost the size of a modern-day moose, but was much lighter in build and had longer legs. Despite its imposing antlers, which were shed annually and reformed during the mating season, Megalocerus was not the largest deer of all time. In some cases, today's elk surpasses it in size and weight considerably.

The huge headdress was both Megalocerus' trademark and downfall. Since the females preferred to choose the partner with the largest antlers for mating, the antlers grew larger from generation to generation until the males could no longer carry the gigantic load and starved to death. Megalocerus became extinct.