However, there are different populations of elk that exhibit some distinct physical and genetic characteristics, leading to some regional names like:
* Rocky Mountain elk: The most common and widespread subspecies, found in the western United States and Canada.
* Manitoba elk: A population in Manitoba, Canada, with slightly smaller antlers than Rocky Mountain elk.
* Tule elk: A smaller subspecies found in California. They are considered endangered.
* Eastern elk: Historically found in the eastern United States, they were hunted to extinction but have been reintroduced to some areas.
While these populations are sometimes called subspecies, they are not officially recognized by scientific classification. This is because they are not geographically isolated enough to have evolved into distinct species.
It's important to remember that there is continuous genetic flow between these populations, meaning they are still considered a single species with variations within it.