Megaloceros

The full size range of Megaloceros is hard to establish with certainty as different palaeontologists have differing interpretations of the validity of species.‭ ‬Many of the synonyms and species noted above,‭ ‬though widely accepted,‭ ‬are sometimes still listed as being valid or in positions where they are sub groups to the genus.‭ ‬These interpretations come about from the overall similarity of giant deer remains that have been recovered from across Eurasia that‭ ‬although different,‭ ‬still closely match one another in form and proportion.‭ ‬Today the smallest species of Megaloceros is credited as being M.‭ ‬cazioti that was‭ ‬less than one meter tall at the shoulder.‭ ‬However another Pleistocene deer from the island of Crete called Candiacervus rhopalophorus grew to sixty-five centimetres high at the shoulder and is thought by many to actually be a sub genus to Megaloceros.‭ ‬Regardless of size however,‭ ‬studies have shown that the antlers of Megaloceros,‭ ‬while different in form between species,‭ ‬would always be in roughly the same proportion to the body no matter how big the animal.