Moose are typical animals of the subarctic coniferous forests. Along with mammoths and woolly rhinoceroses, they were animals of the Ice Age and are the largest surviving deer species. Male moose are larger than females, with a shoulder height of up to 2 meters and a typical weight of 200-300 kilograms, with the heaviest individuals reaching 700 kilograms. Their well-developed neck and shoulder muscles make their backs hump-like, hence their name "moose". The male's massive pair of antlers is particularly striking, weighing up to 30 kilograms and featuring multiple forks. The two sides of the antlers can spread out over 2 meters.
Antlers are a common feature of deer species, typically replaced annually. Initially, they are a soft cartilage protrusion with fur, blood vessels, and nerves, known as "velvet antlers", which can be used in traditional medicine but require anesthesia during harvesting. After maturity, the antlers harden into bone and lose their sensory function. Antler growth is the fastest among mammals, but the underlying mechanism remains to be further studied.
Except for reindeer, which have antlers in both sexes, most deer species only have antlers in males. Antlers serve as weapons for territorial and mating competition among males, and a pair of massive antlers is also a key attraction for females. Additionally, reindeer use their antlers as shovels to dig for food from the snow. Unlike the branch-like antlers of other deer species, moose antlers resemble a palm. Research has found that moose have far superior hearing to other deer. It turns out that these massive "palm-shaped" antlers also serve as sound-amplifying devices.