Black-Tailed Deer- It is called the Columbia blacktail to distinguish it from the mule deer, although it is now considered of the same species. In appearance the black-tailed deer is similar to the mule deer but considerably smaller; the tail is longer, dark above and white beneath. The Crook black-tailed deer is the same species found in Arizona and New Mexico.

Brocket Deer- The brocket deer has slender legs and an arched back. It grows simple spike antlers that do not branch out, carrying them for a year and then shedding them. The red brocket, found in every country of Central and South America except Chile, is the most common of these deer. It measures about 95 to 130 cm (about 37 to 51 in) in length with a tail about 10 to 15 cm (about 4 to 6 in) long, stands about 60 to 70 cm (about 24 to 27 in) at the shoulders, and weighs about 16 to 21 kg (about 35 to 46 lb). The red brocket’s coat is a dark reddish-brown.

The brocket deer is most active in the early morning and just after sunset, when it grazes on grasses, browses on vines, and eats fruits that have fallen to the ground. It is a good swimmer. The brocket deer is unsociable and generally lives alone, except when mating. One young is born about seven months after mating, which occurs throughout the year. The brocket deer is hunted extensively for food and to prevent it from eating bean and corn crops in agricultural areas.



Caribou- Caribou range in height from 87 to 140 cm (34 to 55 in) at the shoulder and weigh from 60 to 318 kg (130 to 701 lb). Both males and females have antlers, but the female's are smaller and simpler. Two principal groups exist: the Barren Ground, or Arctic, caribou and the woodland caribou.

Barren Ground caribou are native to the tundra regions of northern Canada, Greenland, and Alaska. Historically, the Inuit living in arctic regions have depended on these animals for survival, using every part of the body for food, implements, or clothing. The caribou usually live in small herds of cows and calves and a few bulls. Most of the older bulls stay in separate small bands, except during rut, and travel on the fringes of migrating herds. Breeding takes place in September and October, and the calves are born in May and June. These caribou have a gray or light brown summer coat and a white winter coat. In winter they gather in large herds and migrate south to warmer Canadian forests, sometimes traveling 5000 km (more than 1900 mi), then return north in springtime. The staple diet of caribou is lichens, but they also eat grasses, shrubs, tree shoots, and mushrooms.


Chinese Water Deer- Chinese water deer are found in east central China and Korea. They inhabit swamps and areas along riverbanks, where they take cover in tall grasses, reeds, and other vegetation. They are sometimes found in hills and mountainous areas.

Chinese water deer are relatively small, measuring 45 to 55 cm (18 to 22 in) at the shoulder, with a body length of 78 to 100 cm (31 to 39 in). They weigh up to 30 kg (66 lb). Their long, coarse fur is light brown with white on the chin, throat, and belly. Instead of antlers, these deer have long upper canine teeth, which in the male extend like tusks up to 7 cm (3 in) out of the mouth. Chinese water deer run with a leaping motion, and they are excellent swimmers.

The Chinese water deer’s diet is made up of grasses, reeds, and other fibrous plant material. They also eat vegetables and are known to feed on crops. Like all deer, they are ruminants, or cud-chewers, with ridged, lower cheek teeth that help them to chew tough plants.



Fallow Deer- The fallow deer, found wild in western Asia and southern Europe, is about 1 m (about 3 ft) high at the shoulders, and spotted white in summer. A larger, brighter species found in Iran and northern Africa can be partially tamed, and in Great Britain this species has often been kept in private parks. The bucks and does live apart until the mating season, which is usually in October; in June the does usually bear one fawn, but occasionally two or three.

In prehistoric times a huge deer with antlers of the fallow-deer type existed in Ireland, England, northern and central Europe, and western Asia. Known as the giant deer, giant fallow deer, Irish elk, or Irish deer, this species had a shoulder height similar to the Alaskan moose, and bore antlers having a spread 3.7 m (12 ft) from tip to tip.


Guemal- There are two species of guemals: the Chilean guemal, found in Chile and Argentina; and the Peruvian guemal, found in Peru, neighboring areas of Bolivia and Chile, and northwestern Argentina. The Peruvian guemal is unique among deer for its social behavior.

Both Chilean and Peruvian guemals prefer mountainous areas, typically living at elevations between 1300 and 5200 m (4300 to 17,000 ft) above sea level. They occupy the highest parts of their range in the summer and descend into valleys for the winter. They may inhabit forests, grasslands, or shrub-covered areas.

Guemals are large but short-legged animals, ranging in height from 78 to 90 cm (31 to 35 in) at the shoulder. They are 140 to 165 cm (55 to 65 in) long, and weigh from 45 to 65 kg (99 to 143 lb). The coarse, gray-brown fur is lighter on the belly and legs. Peruvian guemals have a black Y-shaped stripe on the face and white fur beneath the tail. Chilean guemals have a brown spot on the rump and brown fur beneath the tail. Male guemals of both species have relatively short antlers with only two spikes.

Guemals feed on grasses, sedges, and other plant material, eating mainly during the day. Peruvian guemals are unusual among deer because they feed in peaceful groups of up to 30 individuals, which may include males, females, and young. Chilean guemals live alone or with one other individual, usually a mating partner.



Marsh Deer- Found only in southern Brazil, marsh deer once ranged across central and southern South America. As their name suggests, these deer prefer wet environments, such as marshes, floodplains, riverbanks, and other wetland areas.

Marsh deer measure between 110 and 120 cm (43 to 47 in) high at the shoulder and 180 to 200 cm (71 to 79 in) from the nose to the base of the tail. They weigh up to 150 kg (330 lb). Marsh deer have coarse, brown or reddish-brown fur that is lighter colored on the neck and belly. The muzzle, lower part of the legs, and underside of the bushy tail are black. The hooves are slightly spread apart in a manner that helps the animal to walk on soft, wet ground. Adult males have large, branching antlers.

Marsh deer are herbivores with a diet consisting of aquatic plants, grasses, and reeds. Like other types of deer, they have four-chambered stomachs. They use ridged teeth in their lower cheeks to grind regurgitated food, commonly known as cud. Marsh deer are usually active at night, taking shelter in dense vegetation during the day.



Moose- The name moose, given by the Algonquin, a native North American tribe, means “eater of twigs,” reflecting the animal’s primary diet of leaves and twigs. Moose are referred to as elk in Europe and Asia, where they inhabit the forests of northern Asia and Europe from Siberia in the east to Norway in the west, the Baltic region, and northern China. In North America moose are found in wooded areas of Canada and the northern United States. The deer known in North America as elk is also called wapiti.

Moose are huge animals, with males, known as bulls, standing up to 2 m (6.5 ft) at the shoulder. Some bulls weigh more than 726 kg (1600 lb). Their characteristically long legs enable them to both browse on low bushes and small trees and wade in lakes and ponds to feed on aquatic plants. Once in the water, moose move easily and are powerful swimmers.

The head of the moose is large with an overhanging upper lip, or muzzle. A drooping growth of hair and skin, called a bell, hangs from the throat. The large, constantly moving ears of the moose act like radar, providing excellent hearing. A large shoulder hump is formed by the upward projections from neck vertebrae. Strong ligaments, which are necessary to hold the large head erect, are attached to these upward projections. The body color of the moose is generally brownish-black, with the face lightening to a brown color in the summer. The face of bulls darkens to a dark brown or black color as the breeding season approaches.

Prominent features of bulls are the enormous antlers with marginal prongs, or tines, which can exceed 1.5 m (60 in) in width and 22.7 kg (50 lb) in weight. Antlers are covered with a soft, nutrient-rich skin called velvet, which is shed in early September and often eaten by bulls. Antlers themselves are shed each year after the mating season, which generally is in late September. Older bulls shed their antlers in December, and by the end of January most bulls have shed their antlers. Occasionally, some young ones will carry antlers into February. New antlers begin to grow in early April.



Mule Deer- Mule Deer, common name for a large deer of the western and central United States, so called because of its extremely large ears, which measure almost 25 cm (almost 10 in) in length. This animal attains a height of 107 cm (42 in) at the shoulder. The name black-tailed deer is sometimes applied to a subspecies of the mule deer inhabiting the Rocky Mountains. The tail of this deer along the basal two-thirds is white above and dark below; the terminal third is black.



Muntjac- Muntjac, common name for certain small Asian deer characterized by short, two-tined antlers and by upper canine teeth that are prolonged into tusks in the adult males. Muntjacs stand 41 to 78 cm (16 to 31 in) high at the shoulder. They inhabit densely wooded regions. Because they bark in response to predators or other disturbances, muntjacs are also called barking deer. The Indian muntjac, a typical species, is golden tan above and white below, with dark brown limbs and face.



Musk Deer- Musk Deer, small, solitary deer of Central and eastern Asia. It has no horns, and the canine teeth of the male project in the form of longish tusks. The male is much hunted for its musk, a substance secreted by a gland located in the abdomen and used in perfume and in Chinese medicinal preparations.



Pudu- There are two species of pudus: the northern pudu, whose range extends from Colombia to central Peru, and the southern pudu, which is found in southern Chile and western Argentina. Both types of pudus inhabit dense, humid forests and nearby grasslands at elevations ranging from sea level to as high as 4000 m (13,000 ft).

These tiny deer, which are the smallest members of the deer family, have stout bodies covered with long, coarse, reddish-brown fur; short legs; and broad, rounded heads with small eyes and ears. They measure between 60 and 83 cm (24 to 33 in) in length, with a shoulder height of 25 to 43 cm (10 to 17 in). They weigh about 6 to 13 kg (13 to 29 lb). Males of both species have antlers consisting of small, single spikes measuring less than 10 cm (4 in). The northern pudu, which is slightly larger than its southern cousin, has a brown-black face and feet, and light-colored ears.

The pudu browses on bushes and trees, eating twigs, bark, fruit, berries, and nuts. It also eats flowers and vegetable crops. Once thought to be active primarily at night, pudus are now known to be active in the daytime as well, especially in the early morning.

Pudus are solitary animals that do not stray far from their local habitat. After mating in the fall, females of both species give birth to a single fawn about 210 days after conception. The fawns of southern pudus are spotted, but those of northern pudus are not.



Red Deer- It is 1.2 m (4 ft) at the shoulder, with a red-brown coat and a short tail. The male's branched antlers have at least ten tines and are shed annually; females lack antlers. The males live alone or in casual groups, but the females and their offspring live in highly organized herds. During breeding season, from early September to mid-October, a male will attach itself to a group of females and spend its days circling them to ward off rivals. The female usually bears a single fawn, and calves stay with their mothers for two to three years. The Eurasian red deer belongs to the same species as the North American wapiti. The North American wapiti is often called an elk, a term used for the moose in Europe and in Asia.


Reindeer- Unlike other deer, both the male and female bear antlers. The antlers of the male are long, branched, and slightly flattened at the tips; the brow tines are well developed. The antlers of the female are smaller and simpler.

Reindeer are sturdy, short-legged animals, having a brownish coat that is dark in the summer and light in winter; the long hairs under the neck, the fur just above the hooves, and the region about the tail are almost white. Reindeer range in height from 87 to 140 cm (34 to 55 in) tall at the shoulder. The animals have large, spreading hooves that enable them to travel on snow-covered areas. They feed on vegetation such as grasses, leaves, mosses, and lichens, obtained by scraping away the snow cover with their antlers and hooves.



Roe Deer- An adult buck stands about 71 cm (about 28 in) at the shoulder and weighs about 27 kg (about 60 lb). The short, upright antlers are three-pronged. During the summer the coat is reddish-brown above and white below, and in winter it is grayish-brown with a noticeable white patch on the rump. The roe deer is found mostly in forests, but it ventures out into open terrain in the summer. The bucks aggressively establish individual territories in the spring. Mating occurs in August. Roe rings are paths in the forest trampled by roe deer at play or in premating rituals. Fertilized egg implantation in the uterus is delayed approximately four months, and a gestation period of about 5.5 months follows implantation. The young are born in May, two fawns usually being produced in a litter. The distinctive mating call of the doe is simulated by hunters to attract bucks.


Sambar- Sambar, common name for several large Asian deer, particularly for the Indian species, which attains a height of 102 to 160 cm (40 to 63 in) at the shoulder and may weigh as much as 272 kg (600 lb). The coat is dark brown with chestnut marks on the rump and underparts. The large, rugged antlers are typically rusine, the brow tines being simple and the beams forked at the tip. In some specimens the antlers exceed 101 cm (40 in). Sambars live in woodlands and feed mainly on grass and herbs.



Tufted Deer- Tufted Deer, small deer native to eastern Asia, named for the characteristic tuft of hair on its forehead. Tufted deer are found only in central and southern China and in the northern part of Myanmar. They live in forests at elevations of 4500 m (15,000 ft) or more, usually near a river, lake, or other water source.

Tufted deer have a shoulder height of 50 to 70 cm (20 to 28 in). They have a body length of 110 to 160 cm (43 to 63 in), not including the short tail, which measures less than 15 cm (6 in). Adults weigh up to 50 kg (110 lb). Their fur is typically dark brown, but white on the belly, ear tips, and underside of the tail, and the head and neck are gray. The tufted hair on the forehead is usually brown-black and often conceals the male’s small, unbranched antlers. Males have canine teeth that resemble tusks. These canine teeth measure up to 2.5 cm (1 in) long and are used for self-defense, aggressive displays with other male deer, and feeding.

Tufted deer eat a variety of plant material, including grasses and tree bark, and occasionally feed on small mammals and ground-nesting birds. Like other types of deer, tufted deer have four-chambered stomachs. They use the ridged teeth of their lower cheeks to grind regurgitated food, commonly known as cud.

Predominantly solitary animals, tufted deer come together for mating in the fall and early winter. After a gestation of about 180 days, females give birth to one or two young. The young deer are similar in appearance to the adults but have spotted backs. Like their close relatives the muntjacs, or barking deer, tufted deer make a barking sound during the mating season and when alarmed.



Virginia Deer- Virginia Deer, deer native to the eastern United States, also known as white-tailed deer. In summer the deer has red-brown fur that changes to gray-brown in winter. The tail is characteristically long and is white underneath. The Virginia deer is one of the largest American deer, the buck reaching about 183 cm (about 72 in) in length and about 91 cm (about 36 in) in height at the shoulder and weighing close to 136 kg (300 lb). It is one of the most popular targets of American big-game hunters, but because of strict conservation laws regulating deer hunting, the total number of these deer remains almost constant. The full-grown antlers of the male are arched forward and have five or six points. The animals are very swift and canter with their heads and tails erect. Two fawns, born in the spring, comprise a typical brood; the young have red-brown fur flecked with white spots that disappear during their first winter. Some suburbs and forest areas now have high deer populations, which may lead to destruction of vegetation and of associated nest sites for ground-dwelling forest birds. Two subspecies of Virginia deer, the key deer and the Columbian white-tailed deer, are classified as endangered.



Wapiti- Wapiti, also American elk, ruminant mammal native to the northern part of the western hemisphere from southern Canada to northern Mexico, and conspecific with the red deer of Europe, northwestern Africa, and Asia. It has dark brown fur on the head and neck, and creamy gray fur on the back and flanks. A full-grown stag stands up to 1.5 m (up to 4.9 ft) high at the shoulder, and weighs up to 340 kg (up to 750 lb). The antlers are smooth and attain a great size, averaging more than 1.2 m (more than 4 ft) each in length. The antlers are shed in March, begin to grow again in late spring, and are fully grown by fall. Wapiti graze and browse on grasses, twigs, and leaves.

The wapiti formerly ranged throughout the temperate regions of the western hemisphere, but the advance of civilization limited its range and caused huge herds to be slaughtered for food and sport. The animal is now largely restricted to the mountainous areas of the western United States and Canada. The stags live alone or in small groups apart from the main herd during most of the year, joining the herd only during the mating season. At this time the stags fight over the right to the females, accompanying these fights with a braying call. In late spring some populations of wapiti leave the lowlands and migrate to the upper reaches of the mountain forests. The doe bears a single fawn. The animal known in Europe as the elk is known in North America as the moose.