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The
sika deer are of medium size, compact,
small-headed, and mostly spotted. The
tail is medium long, and the simple
antlers have eight to ten endings. The
HRL is 42-62 inches (105-155 cm), the BH
is 30-44 inches (75-110 cm), and the
weight is 55-242 pounds (25-110 kg).
Originally
the preferred habitat in Japan was large
forests with clearings, but they have
adjusted well to the cultivated man-made
landscapes. Since many sika deer live in
a semi-tame state in parks and on farms,
they are easily introduced into other
countries, especially since the northern
subspecies does well in the climate of
Europe. In addition to European forests
and parks, they now also inhabit the
island of Madagascar. Presently in
Germany, there are several populations
living in the wild.
Sika
deer are gregarious, travelling in
herds. They are normally diurnal. The
rut of the northern subspecies is in
November and December. The males then
cry with high notes which often change
into piercing sounds. The females'
gestation period is seven and a half
months, and the young are born by the
end of June to the beginning of August.
Usually only one young is born, although
twins occur on occasion. The life span
of the sika is 10-15 years. Some sikas
in captivity reach a very old age; the
record is 25 years.
Sika
deer are amazingly hardy. They thrive
even in winter on scarce food without
additional feeding. North American deer
shed their antlers and have several
months without; sikas start growing new
antlers immediately after shedding the
old. Sikas are highly vocal. At least
ten different sounds have been recorded. |
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Deer,
common name for certain hoofed, artiodactyl
mammals,
usually characterized by bony, often
branching antlers that are shed and
regenerated annually. Deer range through
the Americas, Europe, Asia, and North
Africa. The largest populations occur in
mixed wooded and open land, although
deer also live in swamps, on mountains,
and on northern tundras. Deer species
range in size from the European elk, or
moose (see Elk),
which may reach a shoulder height of
2.35 m (7.7 ft), to the South American
pudu, which can be as little as 25 cm
(10 in) high at the shoulder. The first
deer appeared in the early Oligocene
epoch in Asia, about 38 million years
ago.
Deer
commonly have lithe, compact bodies and
long, powerful legs suited for rugged
woodland terrain. They are also
excellent swimmers. Their lower cheek
teeth have crescent ridges of enamel,
which enable them to grind a wide
variety of vegetation. The animals are
ruminants, or cud chewers, and have a
four-chambered stomach. Nearly all deer
have a facial gland, in front of each
eye, that contains a strongly scented
substance, or pheromone,
used to mark its home range. The males
of many species open these glands wide
when angry or excited. All deer except
the musk
deer have a
liver
without a gallbladder.
The musk deer, along with the Chinese
water deer, also differs from other
species in that it has no antlers and
bears upper canines that have developed
into tusks. |
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