Deer
Deer are specialised herbivores wild animals, as is reflected in their large and anatomically complex digestive organs, their mobile lips, and the size and complexity of their teeth.
Spotted Deer
Spotted deer (Axis axis) are also called as chital. Seen through out India except in arid plains of Punjab, Sind and in a large area of Rajputana. The antlers are much attractive in nature.
Spotted Deer are the animals that are more prolific in breeding. These are the most sociable animal of all the deer. They are frequently seen in association with many other animal species like langurs. They are extremely gregarious in nature.
Sambar Deer
Sambar deer (Cervus unicolor) are seen in the wooded regions of whole India. This is the largest deer in India and has the grandest antler. These animals are nocturnal or crepuscular in habit.
In addition to the spotted deer, the tiger attacks the sambar deer also as their main prey.
The tail is thick and small. The hair materials are coarse and wiry. Sambar and swamp deer have large ears unlike the spotted deer and hence, able to hear sounds well.
Barking Deer
Barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak) are also called as Muntjac or Rib faced deer. The name of barking deer is here because it makes a sound that resembles the barking sound of dog.
Face has ‘V’ shaped ridges. They are seen through out India.
The Muntjac of north India is Muntiacus muntjak vaginalis and the Muntjac of south India is Muntiacus muntjak aureus.
Swamp Deer
Swamp deer (Cervus duvaceli) are also called as “Barasingha”.
These deer have the body weight of about 225 to 320 Kg and the height may be around 150 cms. This is rarely seen in large herds.
Swamp deer are found in three states of India, as follows:
- Kanha Tiger Reserve (MP state) and is called as “Hard ground Swamp Deer”.
- Dudhwa Tiger Reserve ( Uttaranjal state).
- Kaziranga Tiger Reserve (Assam state).
Hog Deer
Hog deer (Axis porcinus) are small in size and are sighted in the low alluvial grass plains of north India from Sind and Punjab to Assam.
Hog deer place the head in low condition and moves without the usual bouncing action that is characteristic to a deer and hence, it has been given the name of hog deer.
These animals are hardly 60 cms at the shoulder.
Musk Deer
Musk deer (Moschus moschiferus) are sighted in the central and north eastern Asia and Nepal. In India, they are seen in Uttaranchal Kedarnath hill, Sikkim and Kashmir. There is no antler in these animals.
This is considered as an undeveloped form of deer. The animal is extremely mobile and the extra large lateral hooves allow this animal to have walk on snow.
They live singly or in pairs. The musk gland is located below the abdomen skin in male.
Mouse Deer
Mouse deer (Tragulus meminna) are also called as the Indian chevrotain. They belong to the family tragulidae. These resemble deer but are more closely related to the camelids and pigs.
These are the smallest deer in India and have the measurement of about 25 to 30 cms as height.
These animals are seen mostly in south India and are also found in Sri Lanka as well as in Myammar.
This is a timid animal with a narrow head and pointed muzzle.
Kashmiri Deer
Kashmiri Deer are also called as Hangul. These animals are related to the European deer.
Kashmiri Deer inhabits the coniferous forests and the grassy meadows in Kashmir himalayas notably in the Dachigam sanctuary between 1700 and 3000 metres-elevation.
The females remain in slopes for fawning.
