Six species of deer

The UK has six species of deer living wild. Red Deer, Cervus elaphus – true native species found in Scotland, the Lake District, and on Exmoor, as well as Northern Ireland, much larger than all other deer, and indeed any other British mammal. Distinctive rusty, red-brown colour in summer. Short tail and pale rump patch. Red Deer, English Lake District, very old, low-light, scanned film photo Roe Deer, Capreolus capreolus – true native species present across the whole of England, Scotland, and Wales. Rusty red coat in summer, grey-ish in winter. Prominent white rump and no tail. Females have a small tush or tuft of hair on their rump in winter. Roe Deer Fallow, Dama dama – native and living freely across England and Wales and into Scotland as well as Northern Ireland, but also. Their coat is quite varied some pale, some less so but with white spots. Usually have a distinctive black inverted horseshoe shape on their rump, and a black stripe on their tail. Only species in the UK where the stags have palmate (hand-shaped) antlers. Fallow Deer (Reeves’) Muntjac, Muntiacus reevesi – introduced species, also known as the Barking Deer for its canine-sounding call. Smallest of deer in UK. Russet brown, distinctive shape and hunched posture. Wide, flat tail with an often-displayed white underside. Present across all of southern England. Reeves’ Muntjac Deer Chinese Water, Hydropotes inermis – introduced species. 10 percent of world population f...
Source: David Bradley Sciencebase - Songs, Snaps, Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Vertebrates Source Type: blogs