Axis deer
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Axis Deer ( Axis axis ) |
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| Hamilton Smith , 1827 |
The Axishirsche ( Axis ) are a kind in South and Southeast Asia living deer (Cervidae). Axis deer are among the most vividly drawn deer in the world. Her coat has white spots all year round, which contrast vividly with the bright red-brown coat.
features
Axis deer have a body length between 1.1 and 1.75 meters. Their tail is relatively long for deer and measures 13 to 38 centimeters. Males have a shoulder height of 60 to almost 1 meter. They weigh between 27 and 110 kilograms.
The fur of all four species is colored bright red-brown. In addition to the almost white spots that they have on the upper body, they have a white spot on the throat, a white belly, and lighter colored legs. It is also characterized by the rather bushy tail with the white underside. The antlers , which, as with almost all deer species, are only worn by the males, have three ends per pole. While the axis deer wears a conspicuous flecked dress and is slender throughout its life, the other three species are sturdier and the markings are less conspicuous or completely absent. These animals reach head trunk lengths of 100 to 175 centimeters, a shoulder height of 60 to 100 centimeters and a weight of 27 to 110 kilograms.
Of the four species, the axis deer is the one with the most even and elegant physique for the human observer. The other three types have shorter legs and a stockier body. In the event of disturbances, they flee into the thicket and wind through it like pigs. The structure of the antlers is unique. The bar bends backwards and then forwards again. The eye and middle rung arise from the antler rod at an angle of 90 degrees and are bent vertically upwards at the tip. The axis deer has the largest antlers of all axis deer. The antler rod measures 76 and 96 centimeters. The other three axial deer species have antler lengths between 39 and 61 centimeters. Since these are tropical deer species, the period of antler shedding and antler growth can not be precisely determined. Even deer from the same habitat can have antlers in different growth phases.
Of the four types of axis deer, the axis deer is the one from which most vocalizations can be heard. The other three deer species can be heard much less frequently. During the rutting season, the male axis deer makes harsh barking sounds and throaty, but high-pitched growls. Females make barking alarm sounds when they are startled. This sound can also be heard when the male drives them during the rut.
distribution
It is native to South and Southeast Asia , with the Bawean and Calamian deer each only endemic to small islands. Sometimes these two species are only viewed as feral pig deer populations, but mostly recognized as separate species.
Way of life
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The axis deer lives mostly on grass and is a more social animal than the other three species. They mainly graze on grassland that borders directly on the forest and into which they can escape if they are disturbed. Axis deer benefit when domestic cattle are present on their foraging areas, as cattle eat the rougher, longer grasses, while axis deer prefer the young and tender shoots. In addition, they also eat agricultural crops, fallen fruits and flowers.
The three other species of axis deer live more solitary and inhabit forest areas, jungles and terrain that is overgrown with thick scrub. They also mainly eat grass and fallen fruits, as well as shoots, buds and small branches of various woody plants. All species prefer to be active in the early morning and late afternoon, during the hottest time of the day they rest and move as little as possible. Fleeing axis deer often jump into the water and escape the disturber by swimming.
The males of all four species mark with their antlers by sweeping the outer bark of tree trunks, exposing the white, inner bark. Axis deer in particular can cause considerable damage to forests. Axis deer rub the bark off almost every tree in the forest areas bordering the Äsflächen. Very often this causes the trees to die. Axis deer prevent their grazing areas from becoming bushy and turning into forest.
Reproduction
The females of all four species are able to reproduce all year round. They are only jumped by the males who have already freed the bast skin from their antlers. As soon as they have lost their antlers and a new one begins to grow immediately afterwards, other males with swept antlers dominate the herd and come to reproduce.
Between Axis axis deer of the species Axis axis there is an act of showing off, but less often fights. This is less common in the other three species. However, they are decidedly aggressive during the mating season and often fight. Because of this aggression, they are relatively seldom shown in zoological gardens. They attack their keepers as well as males of other larger species.
The wearing time of all species is very long. Young are born 225 to 230 days after mating. Most of them only have one young, and twins are a rare occurrence. Deer calves have spotted fur from birth. They grow up very quickly and the female young are ready to conceive when they are 12 months old.
Predators
Tigers and red dogs are among the most important predators of the axis deer . Red dogs usually hunt in packs. Axis deer usually flee from them; occasionally, however, axis deer attack them using their antlers and their forelegs. Axis deer, on the other hand, can only flee from the tiger. They therefore react immediately to warning calls from birds and monkeys, which could indicate an approaching tiger. Usually they try to keep so much distance from the tiger that further approach is pointless for it. All four species are also eaten by pythons found in their respective habitats.
The axis deer, which occurs in India and Nepal, shows a special behavioral adaptation in the regions where tigers and red dogs are found. Since they have learned that both species avoid collisions with humans, they tend to be on the outskirts of villages. At night they occasionally even come to the villages and mingle with the domestic cattle.
Greater than the threat posed by red dogs and tigers, however, is the conquest of land by the growing population in Southeast Asia.
species
There are five types:
- Axishirsch or Chital ( Axis axis ( Erxleben , 1777))
- Axis porcinus group
- Hind Indian hog deer ( Axis annamiticus ( Heude , 1888))
- Calamian deer or Calamian pig deer ( Axis calamianensis ( Heude , 1888))
- Bawean deer or Bawean hog deer ( Axis kuhlii ( Temminck , 1836))
- Pig deer ( Axis porcinus ( Zimmermann , 1780))
Sometimes the axis deer is placed in the subgenus Axis , while the pig deer belongs to Hyelaphus . Systematically, the axis deer are likely to be closely related to the barasinghas or grouped deer ( Rucervus ).
For more information see under the articles.
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World . Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999 ISBN 0-8018-5789-9
- Leonard Lee Rue III: The Encyclopedia of Deer . Voyageur Press, Stillwater 2003, ISBN 0-89658-590-5
Web links
Single receipts
- ↑ Rue, p. 42
- ↑ Rue, p. 42
- ↑ Rue, p. 44
- ↑ Rue, p. 45
- ↑ Rue, p. 45
- ↑ Rue, p. 46
- ↑ Rue, p. 46
- ↑ Rue, p. 46
- ↑ Rue, p. 46
- ↑ Colin Groves and Peter Grubb: Ungulate Taxonomy. Johns Hopkins University Press, 2011, pp. 1–317 (SS 71–107)
- ↑ Clément Gilbert, Anne Ropiquet and Alexandre Hassanin: Mitochondrial and nuclear phylogenies of Cervidae (Mammalia, Ruminantia): Systematics, morphology, and biogeography. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 40, 2006, pp 101-117
- ↑ Alexandre Hassanin, Frédéric Delsuc, Anne Ropiquet, Catrin Hammer, Bettine Jansen van Vuuren, Conrad Matthee, Manuel Ruiz-Garcia, François Catzeflis, Veronika Areskoug, Trung Thanh Nguyen and Arnaud Couloux: Pattern and timing of diversification of Cetartiodactalia, Lauriala (Mammia ), as revealed by a comprehensive analysis of mitochondrial genomes. Comptes Rendus Palevol 335, 2012, pp. 32-50