elk vs Polar bear

Cervus elaphus compared with Ursus maritimus

Key Differences

• elk is herbivore while Polar bear is carnivore.
• Polar bear is 1.9x heavier than elk.
• Polar bear lives longer (25 years vs 20 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	elk	Polar bear
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (Mammals)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Artiodactyla (Even-toed Ungulates)	Carnivora (Carnivorans)
Family	Cervidae (Deer)	Ursidae (Bears)
Genus	Cervus (True Deer)	Ursus (Bears)
Species	Cervus elaphus	Ursus maritimus

Evolutionary Relationship

elk and Polar bear share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (Mammals)

Conservation Status

elk

VU — Vulnerable

Trend: Stable →

Polar bear

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~26.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	elk	Polar bear
Diet	Herbivore	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	20 years	25 years
Average Length	2.1 m	2.4 m
Average Weight	240.0 kg	450.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

elk

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, among 12 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (South Africa), Asia (Afghanistan, Indonesia), Europe (11 countries), North America (Mexico), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia, New Zealand), and South America (Argentina, Chile, Peru). Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Polar bear

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and boreal forests and taiga, among 4 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Norway. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

elk

Also known as the red deer, elk are among the largest members of the deer family, with antlered males reaching up to 240 kg. Found across temperate forests and grasslands of Europe, Asia, and North America, where populations were historically separated as distinct subspecies. Males shed and regrow their antlers annually, engaging in dramatic roaring contests during autumn rut. An important game and conservation species across its range.

Polar bear

The largest land carnivore on Earth, polar bears can exceed 700 kg and are found across Arctic sea ice from Canada to Russia. Highly specialized marine mammals that rely on sea ice to hunt ringed and bearded seals. Excellent swimmers capable of covering vast distances in open water. Listed as Vulnerable, with populations under severe pressure from rapid Arctic sea ice loss due to climate change.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway