Red deer
A species of Cervus, Also known as Western european red deer, European red deer Scientific name : Cervus elaphus Genus : Cervus
Red deer, A species of Cervus
Also known as:
Western european red deer, European red deer
Scientific name: Cervus elaphus
Genus: Cervus
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Carl Hewitt , used under CC-BY-SA-3.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
Description
This deer is light rufous in color with a large light-colored patch, including the tail. Its antlers usually have five tines with a terminal fork pointing forward. The fifth tine is usually larger than the fourth and is inclined inward.
General Info
Lifespan
10-15 years
Diet
Red deer primarily feed on vegetation, with a strong preference for leafy material and shoots. They also consume fruits, mushrooms, and lichens, modulating their diet according to seasonal availability of the food sources.
Appearance
Red deer is a large-sized animal with a sturdy body covered in fur. The primary coloration ranges from reddish-brown to grey-brown, with a lighter underside. A striking feature of adults is their antlers, which are large and branch-like. Males possess bigger and wider antlers than females. Juveniles have a spotted coat for camouflage, which they shed as they mature. The tail is short and usually concealed by the surrounding fur.
Behavior
Red deer displays a range of notable behaviors like grazing during dawn and dusk, often forming herds for protection. Males exhibit unique rutting behavior, including antler wrestling, to establish dominance in breeding season. More solitary outside mating periods, their infrasounds communication helps manage group dynamics. Their survival is hinged on adaptivity to varying environments, including seasonal migration.
Population
Increasing
Photo By Carl Hewitt , used under CC-BY-SA-3.0 /Cropped and compressed from original