Irish Elk and Deer Fossils

Showing all 11 results

Irish Elk, Red Deer and Megaloceros antlers for sale

On this Irish Elk and deer fossil category page you will find fossils of both the Irish Elk as the Red Deer. You will also find fossils of other deer belonging to the Megaloceros genus. The remains are very rarely found, especially in pristine form. In addition to that, Giant Deer fossils are protected in Ireland and off-limits for export.This all makes preserved remains a rare and prized find.

We offer multiple sorts of fossils, ranging from (partial) antlers to jaws and metatarsus’. All fossils have the size and weight details in their description as well as information about their origin, i.e. where they were found and approximately how old they are. All of the fossils are also treated with a special conservation method so they will stay in excellent condition. The fossils have not been restored, therefore they remain authentic.

All you need to know about Irish Elks (Megaloceros giganteus) and Red Deer

The Irish Elk (Megaloceros Giganteus), which is also called the giant deer or Irish deer, is an extinct deer species in the genus Megaloceros. They went extinct about 8000 years ago, they likely went extinct due to the size of their antlers, according to National Geographic. It is one of the largest types of deer that ever lived and could be found all over the Eurasian continent; they lived from Ireland to the far corners of Siberia.

The Red Deer is one of the largest living deer species, the fourth to be exact. The Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) inhabited a lot of regions all over the world including parts of Europe, western Asia, and the Atlas mountains in Morocco and Tunisia. It has also been introduced to other parts of the world such as Canada, Peru, and the United States of America. 

The 7 extinct species of Megaloceros

As mentioned before, the Irish Elk belongs to the genus Megaloceros, it is the most well-known member. The genus consists of a total of 7 species, which are all extinct. Most of these members were extremely large animals that favored open woodlands or meadows. 

These 7 species are all part of the Megaloceros genus:

The exceptional size of their antlers

Some of these giant elk antlers measured 12 feet across (3,65 meters), weighing almost 90 pounds (About 41 kilograms). The antlers of the Irish Elk are the largest known antlers in the world, however likely the antlers also caused them to go extinct. You’ll read more about this in the next paragraph. 

Why is the Megaloceros Giganteus extinct?

The M. Giganteus went extinct about 8000 years ago, they likely went extinct due to the size of their antlers, which is quite ironic as one of the evolutionary elements at play here was that the male Elk with the largest antlers was more likely to reproduce. This leads to the unique paradox where evolution likely caused the extinction of the species. 

How big are these Antlers & Fossils?

A full set of antlers can be up to 12 feet (3,65 meters across) and weigh up to 41 kilograms. However when you buy a piece of the antlers or another related fossil the weight and size drop. For a full overview check the specific fossil. 

Keep an eye on our premium fossils as occasionally pristine antlers will show up. 

Frequently asked questions 

Where do they find Megaloceros giganteus Antlers nowadays They are mainly found across Northern Europe and Asia, even as far as China. The fossil description will always state where these fossils or antlers were sourced.

Do you also sell Antler & fossil Pieces? We offer multiple sorts of fossils, ranging from (partial) antlers to jaws to metatarsus’. All the fossils have a description containing the size and weight details as well as information about their origin. Occasionally full antlers can be found on our Premium fossil listings.

Are these antlers considered a fossil? Fossils are remnants, imprints, or traces of something that has lived before. This means that Megaloceros antlers are indeed considered a fossil.