Deer (singular and plural) are habitats around the world. Clearing the ruminant mammals forming open areas within forests to some extent the family Cervidae. The two main may actually benefit deer populations by groups are the Cervinae, including exposing the understory and allowing the muntjac, the elk (wapiti), the fallow the types of grasses, weeds, and herbs deer and the chital, and the Capreolinae, to grow that deer like to eat. including the reindeer (caribou), the roe Additionally, access to adjacent deer and the moose. Female reindeer, croplands may also benefit deer. and male deer of all species (except the However, adequate forest or brush cover Chinese water deer), grow and shed must still be provided for populations to new antlers each year. In this they differ grow and thrive. from permanently horned antelope, Deer are widely distributed, with which are in the same indigenous representatives in all order, Artiodactyla. continents except Antarctica and The musk deer of Asia and water Australia, though Africa has only one chevrotain (or mouse deer) of tropical native deer, the Barbary stag, a African and Asian forests are not usually subspecies of red deer that is confined regarded as true deer and form their to the Atlas Mountains in the northwest own of the continent. However, fallow families: Moschidae and Tragulidae, deer have been introduced to South respectively. Africa. Small species of brocket Deer appear in art deer and pudús of Central and South from Paleolithic cave paintings onwards, America, and muntjacs of Asia generally and they have played a role in occupy dense forests and are less often mythology, religion, and literature seen in open spaces, with the possible throughout history, as well as exception of the Indian muntjac. There in heraldry. Their economic importance are also several species of deer that are includes the use of their meat highly specialized, and live almost as venison, their skins as soft, exclusively in mountains, grasslands, strong buckskin, and their antlers as swamps, and "wet" savannas, or riparian handles for knives. Deer hunting has corridors surrounded by deserts. Some been a popular activity since at least the deer have a circumpolar distribution in Middle Ages, and remains an important both North America and Eurasia. business today. Examples include the caribou that live in Arctic tundra and taiga (boreal forests) Deer live in a variety of biomes, ranging and moose that inhabit taiga and from tundra to the tropical rainforest. adjacent areas. Huemul deer While often associated with forests, (taruca and Chilean huemul) of South many deer are ecotonespecies that live America's Andes fill the ecological in transitional areas between forests and niches of the ibex and wild goat, with thickets (for cover) and prairie and the fawns behaving more like goat kids. savanna (open space). The majority of The highest concentration of large deer species inhabit temperate large deer species in temperate North mixed deciduous forest, mountain America lies in the Canadian Rocky mixed coniferous forest, tropical Mountain and Columbia seasonal/dry forest, and savanna Mountain regions between Alberta and British Columbia where all five North species of deer in the world, with most American deer species (white-tailed species being found in Asia. Europe, in deer, mule deer, caribou, elk, and comparison, has lower diversity in plant moose) can be found. This region has and animal species. However, many several clusters of national parks national parks and protected reserves in including Mount Revelstoke National Europe do have populations of red Park, Glacier National Park deer, roe deer, and fallow deer. These (Canada), Yoho National Park, species have long been associated with and Kootenay National Park on the the continent of Europe, but also British Columbia side, and Banff inhabit Asia Minor, the Caucasus National Park, Jasper National Park, Mountains, and Northwestern Iran. and Glacier National Park (U.S.) on the "European" fallow deer historically lived Alberta and Montana sides. Mountain over much of Europe during the Ice slope habitats vary from moist Ages, but afterwards became restricted coniferous/mixed forested habitats to primarily to the Anatolian Peninsula, in dry subalpine/pine forests with alpine present-day Turkey. meadows higher up. The foothills and Present-day fallow deer river valleys between the mountain populations in Europe are a result of ranges provide a mosaic of cropland and historic man-made introductions of this deciduous parklands. The rare woodland species, first to the Mediterranean caribou have the most restricted range regions of Europe, then eventually to the living at higher altitudes in the subalpine rest of Europe. They were initially park meadows and alpine tundra areas of animals that later escaped and some of the mountain ranges. Elk and reestablished themselves in the wild. mule deer both migrate between the Historically, Europe's deer species alpine meadows and lower coniferous shared their deciduous forest habitat forests and tend to be most common in with other herbivores, such as the this region. Elk also inhabit river valley extinct tarpan (forest horse), bottomlands, which they share with extinct aurochs (forest ox), and the White-tailed deer. The White-tailed deer endangered wisent (European bison). have recently expanded their range Good places to see deer in Europe within the foothills and river valley include the Scottish Highlands, the bottoms of the Canadian Rockies owing Austrian Alps, the wetlands between to conversion of land to cropland and Austria, Hungary, and the Czech the clearing of coniferous forests Republic and some fine National Parks, allowing more deciduous vegetation to including Doñana National Park in Spain, grow up the mountain slopes. They also the Veluwe in the Netherlands, live in the aspen parklands north of the Ardennes in Belgium, Calgary and Edmonton, where they and Białowieża National Park of Poland. share habitat with the moose. The Spain, Eastern Europe, and the adjacent Great Plains grassland habitats Caucasus Mountains still have virgin are left to herds of elk, American bison, forest areas that are not only home to and pronghorn antelope. sizable deer populations but also for other animals that were once abundant The Eurasian Continent (including the such as the wisent, Eurasian Indian Subcontinent) boasts the most lynx, Iberian lynx, wolves, and brown Lanka of which Kanha National bears. Park, Dudhwa National Park, The highest concentration of and Chitwan National Park are most large deer species in temperate Asia famous. Sri Lanka's Wilpattu National occurs in the mixed deciduous forests, Park and Yala National Park have large mountain coniferous forests, and taiga herds of Indian sambar and chital. The bordering North Korea, Manchuria Indian sambar are more gregarious in Sri (Northeastern China), and the Ussuri Lanka than other parts of their range Region (Russia). These are among some and tend to form larger herds than of the richest deciduous and coniferous elsewhere. forests in the world where one can The Chao Praya River Valley of find Siberian roe deer, sika deer, elk, and Thailand was once primarily tropical moose. Asian caribou occupy the seasonal moist deciduous forest and northern fringes of this region along the wet savanna that hosted populations of Sino-Russian border. hog deer, the now-extinct Schomburgk's Deer such as the sika deer, Eld's deer, Indian sambar, and deer, Thorold's deer, Central Asian red Indian muntjac. Both the hog deer and deer, and elk have historically been Eld's deer are rare, whereas Indian farmed for their antlers by Han sambar and Indian muntjac thrive in Chinese, Turkic peoples, Tungusic protected national parks, such as Khao peoples, Mongolians, and Koreans. Like Yai. Many of these South Asian and the Sami people of Finland and Southeast Asian deer species also share Scandinavia, the Tungusic peoples, their habitat with other herbivores, such Mongolians, and Turkic peoples of as Asian elephants, the various Asian Southern Siberia, Northern Mongolia, rhinoceros species, various antelope and the Ussuri Region have also taken to species (such as nilgai, four-horned raising semi-domesticated herds of antelope, blackbuck, and Indian Asian caribou. gazelle in India), and wild oxen (such The highest concentration of as wild Asian water large deer species in the tropics occurs buffalo, gaur, banteng, and kouprey). in Southern Asia in India's Indo-Gangetic One way that different herbivores can Plain Region and Nepal's Terai Region. survive together in a given area is for These fertile plains consist of tropical each species to have different food seasonal moist deciduous, dry preferences, although there may be deciduous forests, and both dry and wet some overlap. savannas that are home to chital, hog Australia has six introduced species of deer, barasingha, Indian sambar, deer that have established sustainable and Indian muntjac. Grazing species wild populations from acclimatisation such as the endangered barasingha and society releases in the 19th century. very common chital are gregarious and These are the fallow deer, red deer, live in large herds. Indian sambar can be sambar, hog deer, rusa, and chital. Red gregarious but are usually solitary or live deer introduced into New Zealand in in smaller herds. Hog deer are solitary 1851 from English and Scottish stock and have lower densities than Indian were domesticated in deer farms by the muntjac. Deer can be seen in several late 1960s and are common farm national parks in India, Nepal, and Sri animals there now. Seven other species of deer were introduced into New brown winter coat in autumn, which in Zealand but none are as widespread as turn gives way to the summer coat in the red deer. following spring. Moulting is affected by the photoperiod. Description Deer are also excellent jumpers and swimmers. Deer are ruminants, or Deer constitute the second most diverse cud-chewers, and have a four- family after bovids. Though of a similar chambered stomach. Some deer, such build, deer are strongly distinguished as those on the island of Rùm, do from antelopes by their antlers, which consume meat when it is available. are temporary and regularly regrown unlike the permanent horns of Nearly all deer have a facial gland in bovids. Characteristics typical of deer front of each eye. The gland contains a include long, powerful legs, a diminutive strongly scented pheromone, used tail and long ears. Deer exhibit a broad to mark its home range. Bucks of a wide variation in physical proportions. The range of species open these glands wide largest extant deer is the moose, which when angry or excited. All deer have is nearly 2.6 metres (8.5 ft) tall and a liver without a gallbladder. Deer also weighs up to 800 kilograms have a tapetum lucidum, which gives (1,800 lb). The elk stands 1.4–2 metres them sufficiently good night vision. (4.6–6.6 ft) at the shoulder and weighs 240–450 kilograms (530–990 lb). On the Antlers contrary, the northern pudu is the smallest deer in the world; it reaches All male deer possess antlers, with the merely 32–35 centimetres (13–14 in) at exception of the Chinese water deer, in the shoulder and weighs 3.3–6 kilograms which males have long tusk-like canines (7.3–13.2 lb). The southern pudu is only that reach below the lower jaw. Females slightly taller and heavier. Sexual generally lack antlers, though female dimorphism is quite pronounced – in reindeer bear antlers smaller and less most species males tend to be larger branched than those of the males. than females, and, except for the Occasionally females in other species reindeer, only males possess antlers. may develop antlers, especially in Coat colour generally varies telemetacarpal deer such as European between red and brown, though it can roe deer, red deer, white-tailed deer and be as dark as chocolate brown in the mule deer and less often in tufted deer or have a grayish tinge as in plesiometacarpal deer. A study of elk. Different species of brocket deer antlered female white-tailed deer noted vary from gray to reddish brown in coat that antlers tend to be small and colour. Several species such as the malformed, and are shed frequently chital, the fallow deer and the sika around the time of parturition. deer feature white spots on a brown The fallow deer and the various coat. Coat of reindeer shows notable subspecies of the reindeer have the geographical variation. Deer undergo largest as well as the heaviest antlers, two moults in a year; for instance, in red both in absolute terms as well as in deer the red, thin-haired summer coat is proportion to body mass (an average of gradually replaced by the dense, greyish 8 grams (0.28 oz) per kilogram of body mass); the tufted deer, on the other others. Antlers can be an honest signal hand, has the smallest antlers of all deer, of genetic quality; males with larger while the pudú has the lightest antlers antlers relative to body size tend to have with respect to body mass (0.6 grams increased resistance to pathogens and (0.021 oz) per kilogram of body higher reproductive capacity. mass). The structure of antlers show considerable variation; while fallow deer Anatomy and elk antlers are palmate (with a broad central portion), white-tailed deer Most deer bear 32 teeth; the antlers include a series of tines corresponding dental formula is: sprouting upward from a forward- 0.0.3.3 curving main beam, and those of the 3.1.3.3 pudú are mere spikes. Antler . The elk and the reindeer may be development begins from the pedicel, a exceptions, as they may retain their bony structure that appears on the top upper canines and thus have 34 teeth of the skull by the time the animal is a (dental formula: year old. The pedicel gives rise to a spiky 0.1.3.3 antler the following year, that is replaced 3.1.3.3 by a branched antler in the third year. ). The Chinese water deer, tufted deer, This process of losing a set of antlers to and muntjac have enlarged develop a larger and more branched set upper canine teeth forming sharp tusks, continues for the rest of the life. The while other species often lack upper antlers emerge as soft tissues (known as canines altogether. The cheek teeth of velvet antlers) and progressively harden deer have crescent ridges of enamel, into bony structures (known as hard which enable them to grind a wide antlers), following mineralisation and variety of vegetation. The teeth of deer blockage of blood vessels in the tissue, are adapted to feeding on vegetation, from the tip to the base. and like other ruminants, they lack Antlers might be one of the most upper incisors, instead having a tough exaggerated male secondary sexual pad at the front of their upper jaw. characteristics, and are intended primarily for reproductive success through sexual selection and for combat. The tines (forks) on the antlers create grooves that allow another male's antlers to lock into place. This allows the males to wrestle without risking injury to the face. Antlers are correlated to an individual's position in the social hierarchy and its behaviour. For instance, the heavier the antlers, the higher the individual's status in the social hierarchy, and the greater is the delay in shedding the antlers; males with larger antlers tend to be more aggressive and dominant over Оле́невые, или оле́ньи (лат. Cervidae) Естественный ареал оленевых — охватывает большие семейство парнокопытных млекопита части Евразии и Америки. ющих, содержащее 51 В Африке они встречаются лишь в современный вид. Оленевые северо-западной части, а в регионах к распространены югу от Сахары отсутствуют. Человек в Евразии, Северной и Южной завёз их в некоторые регионы, в Америке, а также были которых они раньше не существовали, завезены человеком в Австралию и Но в том числе в Австралию, Новую вую Зеландию. Зеландию, Новую Гвинею и на Величина оленевых варьирует некоторые острова Карибского между величиной зайца (пуду) бассейна. Средой обитания оленевых и лошади (лось). Характерны могут быть разнообразные разветвлённые рога, которые имеются климатические и вегетационные зоны в наличии только у самцов. — пустыни, степи, болотистые Исключениями являются местности, леса и только водяной олень, у которого арктическая тундра. вообще нет рогов, и северный олень, у которого рога носят оба пола. Рога Поведение сбрасываются каждый год и вырастают заново. Социальное поведение и Первые олени появились размножение в олигоцене в Азии. Из неё они Некоторые виды живут поодиночке, распространились в Европу и однако большинство видов живут в в миоцене по существовавшему тогда группах (стадах), величина которых естественному мосту в Северную варьирует в зависимости от вида и Америку. В Южную Америку олени среды обитания. Часто это так добрались лишь в геохронологически называемые гаремные группы, в недавнем плейстоцене. которых один самец возглавляет Олени имеют богатое группу из нескольких самок и символическое значение и являются в детёнышей, обороняя её от мифах различных культур и народов. вторжения других соперников- Часто олицетворяют благородство, самцов. В брачный период между величие, красоту, грацию, быстроту. В самцами нередко доходит до христианской культуре поединков за право спаривания. В символизируют отшельничество, таких поединках оружием служат благочестие и чистоту. Значение клыки, а также рога, ежегодный рост оленей в жизни народов отражается в которых совпадает с брачным их языке, например, в эвенкийском периодом. Для пометки ареала и языке для обозначения оленей общения с сородичами олени различного возраста, внешности и т.п. используют секреты, выделяемые используется несколько десятков железами на голове, ногах и в моче. В терминов. тропических регионах спаривание может проходить на протяжении Распространение всего года, в умеренных широтах оно приходится на осень или зиму. Длительность беременности είναι η εποχή να αλλάξει το δέρμα του. составляет от шести до девяти Μερικά είδη συχνάζουν και σε έλη. Το месяцев. Исключение ελάφι συναντάται σε πολλές составляет европейская косуля, у παραλλαγές (με κέρατα ή χωρίς, которой спаривание проходит летом, μεγαλόσωμο ή μικρόσωμο, με ουρά ή а беременность удлиняется из-за χωρίς, με χαυλιόδοντες ή όχι με μεγάλα того, что оплодотворённая ή μικρά αυτιά κλπ.) σε όλο τον κόσμο яйцеклетка начинает развиваться не εκτός από την Αφρική και сразу. Количество детёнышей την Αυστραλία. Στην Αμερική είναι составляет от одного до двух, изредка μεγαλόσωμα, στην Κίνα μικρόσωμα до четырёх. У детёнышей окраска χωρίς κέρατα, шерсти часто пятнистая. στην Ιάβα και Σουμάτρα μεγάλα με κοντά κέρατα, στην Ευρώπη μέτρια κλπ. Питание Το κόκκινο ελάφι, που το συναντάμε στα περισσότερα μέρη Оленевые растительноядные животн της Ευρώπης και της Μικράς Ασίας, ые, питающиеся различными έχει μήκος ως 2,30 μ. και ύψος ως 1,50 частями растений, в том μ. και ζυγίζει ως 100 κιλά. Έχει σπάνια числе корой, листьями, травами, почка ευκινησία και τρέχει πολύ γρήγορα ми, ветвями и ягелем. По сравнению κάνοντας πηδήματα μέχρι 8 μέτρα. Ζει с полорогими они предпочитают γύρω στα 40 με 50 χρόνια. Στον τόπο более мягкую растительную пищу. μας συναντιέται στον Όλυμπο, στα βουνά της Ηπείρου και σε μερικά ορεινά μέρη της Μακεδονίας. Έχει εχθρούς όλα τα αρπακτικά ζώα και τον άνθρωπο. To ελάφι είναι ζώο θηλαστικό, μηρυκασ Το μόνο όπλο για την άμυνά του είναι το τικό, που ανήκει στην οικογένεια των γρήγορο τρέξιμό του και οι οξύτατες ελαφιδών και στην τάξη των αισθήσεις του. Το θηλυκό του, που δεν αρτιοδακτύλων. Είναι όμορφο, έχει κέρατα, γεννά μια φορά το χρόνο λεπτόσωμο, με κοντό καστανόχρωμο (κάθε 10 μήνες) 1 ως 2 ελαφάκια που τα μαλακό τρίχωμα. Το κεφάλι του είναι θηλάζει και τα αγαπά πολύ. Το ζευγάρι μικρό, με ρύγχος μυτερό. Έχει μεγάλα είναι τόσο αγαπημένο μεταξύ του που όμορφα μάτια και λεπτά ευκίνητα αν τύχει να σκοτωθεί το ένα, το άλλο πόδια. Το αρσενικό έχει στο κεφάλι του είναι δυνατό να πεθάνει από λύπη και κέρατα μεγάλα με διακλαδώσεις που μαρασμό, έχοντας περιπλανηθεί πολλές ανανεώνονται κάθε χρόνο και μοιάζουν μέρες. με φύλλα πλατιά. Ανθρώπινη αλληλεπίδραση & Περιγραφή & οικολογία παράδοση

Ζουν σε πυκνά δάση ζευγαρωτά ή Το κυνηγούν για το νοστιμότατο και πολλά μαζί (αγέλες) και τρέφεται με ευκολοχώνευτο κρέας του, που είναι χλόη, χόρτα ή και με τη φλούδα από ανεκτίμητο για τους αρρώστους. Επίσης τους κορμούς των μικρών δέντρων, για το δέρμα του που χρησιμοποιείται τους οποίους επίσης καταστρέφει για ενδύματα και κάθε λογής δερμάτινα τρίβοντας επάνω τα κέρατά του, όταν είδη. Τα κέρατά του είναι πολύτιμα για την κατασκευή λαβών διάφορων αντικειμένων (πιρουνιών, μαχαιριών, μπαστουνιών κλπ.) καθώς και για κόλλα και ζελατίνα. Παλιότερα αποτελούσαν μια από τις σπουδαιότερες πρώτες ύλες για την παραγωγή αμμωνίας. Σήμερα το κυνήγι του έχει απαγορευτεί, γιατί το είδος σπανίζει στον τόπο μας. Το ελάφι αναφέρεται από το λαό στα τραγούδια και τις παροιμίες του (για την αγάπη της μάνας ελαφίνας στα μικρά της, για την ομορφιά και αθώα γλυκύτητα των ματιών τους καθώς και το λεπτό ευλύγιστο σώμα τους, ώστε μια όμορφη γυναίκα να τη λένε «ελαφίνα»). Επίσης και στη μυθολογία αναφέρεται σε σχέση με τη θεά Άρτεμη, θεά του κυνηγιού. Όλα αυτά δείχνουν πως το ελάφι είναι αγαπημένο ζώο του λαού από παλιά. Δημοκρτου παγνια α. τ χαλκ χρυσ ποισαι φανεσθαι: θεον πυρον μετ τς κρητηρας μεξας κμασσε. β. ιν μοιον μλωι γενσθαι: ζσας τ ιν χρε κρκωι μεξας μετ’ ονου. γ. μγειρον μ δνασθαι τν πυρν νψαι: βοτνην εζωον θς ατο ες τν σταν. (Democritus, Fragmenta 300,19)