8 Subspecies Of Deer
Did you know that there are currently at least 25 subspecies of deer around the world? Most of them live in Eurasia, although they are also found in Africa, America and Oceania. In this article we will list some of them.
Deer subspecies in Eurasia and Africa
The cervids live in almost the entire European territory, in North Africa and West Asia. Some of the deer subspecies that we can find in these regions are:
1. Iberian deer
Although smaller than its European relative –which also lives in Spain– it is an animal with a majestic bearing, reddish-brown fur and a lighter belly that turns grayish in winter.
Males can weigh 200 kilos – females reach half that weight – and have large horns, as happens with other cervids. In this species, the female specimens have small protrusions on the upper part of the skull.
2. European deer
It is one of the largest wild herbivores on the continent and similar in colors and antlers to the Iberian ones. It lives in dense forests and mountainous systems, and its habits differ according to human presence : it can be nocturnal, except for the mating season, or diurnal.
It should be noted that, although males have horns, they do not use them to defend themselves; instead, they run away to avoid being hunted.
3. Siberian deer
Unlike other cervids, Siberian males do not have antlers, their body is medium-sized – about a meter high – and they have legs that are suitable for jumping and not sinking in the snow during winter.
It is herbivorous and feeds on lichens, leaves, stems, mosses, bark, and mushrooms. It has solitary habits – it only hangs out with others in the breeding season – and is more active at dawn and dusk.
4. Bactrian deer
It is also known as the Russian Turkestan or Bokara deer. It inhabits Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, although their populations are increasingly reduced due, in part, to the frequent conflicts in these countries.
The Bactrian deer prefers a particular habitat called the tugaí forest, which is made up of valleys, plains, and a large amount of vegetation. It is there where it has been developed for centuries.
Deer subspecies in America
In this continent it is known as ‘wapití’ and is typical of the northern regions. In the south –Chile and Argentina– it has been introduced for sport hunting and considered harmful to the ecosystem. The subspecies of American deer are:
1. Yellowstone deer
Also called the Rocky Mountains, it inhabits southern Canada (Alberta and British Columbia), as well as the western and central United States (Utah, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, and Dakota).
It is large in size: the males reach two meters in height and 370 kilos in weight, and they have horns that are five feet long. The females have darker fur and are around 200 kilos.
2. Manitoba deer
The Manitoba elk inhabits this province of Canada in areas declared nature reserves, such as the Riding Mountain, Prince Albert and Duck Mountain National Parks .
3. Roosevelt deer
It is the largest deer subspecies, with males reaching 600 kilos, and was named after former President Theodore Roosevelt, an amateur naturalist.
The antlers of the males have several tips and webbed ends. It inhabits western North America (Vancouver, Oregon, and Washington).
4. California deer
It is the smallest of the North American deer and until 1870 it lived in the forests, prairies and chaparral of California; however, hunting and the destruction of the environment almost led to its extinction. Fortunately, a reserve was created in the center of the state where they have been multiplying since then.
