Crested deer
| Crested deer | ||||||||||||
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Crested Deer ( Elaphodus cephalophus ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
| Elaphodus | ||||||||||||
| Milne-Edwards , 1872 | ||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
| Elaphodus cephalophus | ||||||||||||
| Milne-Edwards , 1872 |
The tufted deer or Schopfmuntjak ( Elaphodus Cephalophus ) is in East Asia living deer from the tribe of muntiacini (Muntiacini).
features
Crested deer reach a head body length of 110 to 160 centimeters, a tail length of 7 to 15 centimeters and a shoulder height of 50 to 70 centimeters. The weight of adult animals varies from 17 to 50 kilograms. The coarse fur is dark brown or dark gray in color, the lips, the tips of the ears, the underside of the tail and sometimes the eye region are bright white. The name-giving feature is the black-brown, up to 17 centimeters high head of hair on the head. This tuft runs from the eyes to the back of the head. The antlers, which only the males carry, consist of two simple rods that reach a length of five centimeters and are often completely hidden in the head of hair. Males also have elongated upper canines that protrude from their mouths.
The differences to the genus of the Muntjaks ( Muntiacus ) lie in the larger body, the smaller canine teeth and the shorter rose bushes (the bony base of the antlers).
distribution and habitat
The distribution area of the crested deer includes southern China from Tibet to the provinces of Zhejiang and Fujian , and they can also be found in northern Myanmar . Their habitat are mountain forests at altitudes between 300 and 4500 meters. However, the crested deer never stays far from water.
Way of life
Crested deer are predominantly crepuscular and live solitary. They are territorial and true to their location. A barking noise is used to communicate with other members of the same species, while the tail is raised so that a white "escape signal" appears. The fright According to the cropping deer is a loud bark. With this, he warns his partner animal and the young animal of danger and presumably also draws the attention of the disturber. The food of the crested deer consists of grasses and other plants.
The mating takes place in late autumn and winter, the birth occurs after a seven-month gestation period in late spring or summer. The wearing time is on average 210 days. Usually a single young is born, twins are rare. Young animals have rows of white spots along the backbone, but are otherwise colored like adults. Their weight is one to two kilograms and are unusually heavy and large compared to the body size of the adult animals. Sexual maturity occurs at 18 months. They reach a maximum age of twelve years.
The predator's predators include leopards, tigers and bears. Jackals can also beat young animals.
threat
The degree of endangerment to the crested deer is not known. An estimate from 1993 put the population in China at 500,000 animals.
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. 2 volumes. 6th edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD et al. 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .
- David M. Leslie Jr., Dana N. Lee, Richard W. Dolman: Elaphodus cephalophus (Artiodactyla: Cervidae). Mammalian Species 45 (904), 2013; Pp. 80-91. doi : 10.1644 / 904.1
- Leonard Lee Rue III: The Encyclopedia of Deer . Voyageur Press, Stillwater 2003, ISBN 0-89658-590-5
Web links
- Photos, distribution map and further information
- Elaphodus Cephalophus in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2006. Posted by: Deer Specialist Group, 1996. Accessed on 30/11/2006.