Alces alces, commonly known as the moose or elk, is an iconic mammal of the northern hemisphere, featuring in folklore, hunting traditions and nature documentaries. While "moose" is the most widespread term used in North America, other English synonyms for Alces alces include "elk" in Europe and Asia, where "moose" refers instead to a different species (Alces americanus) found in North America. Another synonym is "eurasian elk", which distinguishes this subspecies from the smaller Alces alces gigas of Siberia. In indigenous languages, the moose has many different names, reflecting its cultural significance, such as "animoosh" in Ojibwe or "tārā" in Mongolian.