Averceros is a term used to refer to prehistoric species of roe deer and elks that lived in North America during the Pleistocene epoch, which lasted from about 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago. These animals were similar in appearance to modern-day deer and elk, but they were larger and had different antler structures.
One of the most well-known species of Averceros is the Irish Elk (Megaloceros giganteus), which was actually not a true elk but a species of deer. It was one of the largest deer species to have ever existed, with males standing up to 7 feet tall at the shoulders and sporting massive antlers that could span up to 12 feet from tip to tip.
Other species of Averceros included the Stag Moose (Cervalces scotti), which had a broad, flattened antler structure that resembled a palm, and the American Elk (Cervus elaphus), which was similar to modern-day elk but had a more robust body and a larger antler span.
The extinction of Averceros and other Pleistocene megafauna is still a subject of debate among scientists, but it is believed that climate change, human hunting, or a combination of both factors contributed to their demise.