File:Bull moose standing in water - DPLA - 9e1a7709a6b62ebb2a401cfbe5530af8.jpg

35 mm slide; color. Scientific Classification: Kingdom: Animalia; Phylum: Chordata; Class: Mammalia; Order: Artiodactyla; Family: Cervidae; Genus: Alces; Genus species: Alces alces. Animal characteristics: Height: 168-230 cm; Weight: 400-800 kg; Identification: The moose has a black-brown coat and large, branched antlers. A flap of skin and hair hanging from the throat, known as a bell, is also a distinctive feature; Habitat: Forested areas with lakes, ponds and swamps; Diet: Herbivore: woody plants, water plants, conifers; Reproduction: Mating takes place between September and October. One, sometimes two, calves are born after a gestation period of eight months. Calves are weaned at five months and are completely independent by one year. Moose can live up to 27 years of age; Social Structure: Moose are usually solitary, with the exception of females and their young; Behavior: Moose are very good swimmers, spending a lot of their time in the water feeding; Status: No special status: wild populations are declining due to hunting and habitat loss; Interesting Facts: Moose are the largest members of the deer family. They can run up to 35 miles per hour.