Well, wapiti _is_ a species of deer, but it is called that to distinguish it from European species of red deer (Cervus Elaphus - благородный олень) which is wha

Well, wapiti _is_ a species of deer, but it is called that to distinguish it from European species of red deer (Cervus Elaphus - благородный олень) which is what Russians usually mean by "deer".