The largest species of prehistoric fallow deer was the aptly named giant deer Megaloceros giganteus, also known as the Irish elk on account of many fossil specimens having been found in Ireland. Based upon fossil evidence and some excellent cave paintings, this impressive species is believed to have stood up to 2 m at the shoulder, and bore enormous antlers in the male that could span up to 4.3 m and weigh up to 45 kg. In spite of its commonly used alternative name of Irish elk, the giant deer was not closely related to the elks. Genetic studies have confirmed that its closest relative was the modern-day fallow deer.Until recently, this huge species was believed to have died out by the end of the Pleistocene epoch, 11,700 years ago, but very early Holocene fossils have lately been revealed on the Isle of Man and in central Europe, confirming that it survived the last Ice Age. Irish folklore appertaining to huge black deer have led some researchers to speculate whether the giant deer may actually have survived in Ireland until as recently as a mere thousand years or so ago, but there is no physical evidence to support this possibility.