Eld's deer - Cervus eldii (original) (raw)
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**Status:**Classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List 2006, and listed on Appendix I of CITES. Three subspecies of Eld's deer are currently recognised: Manipur brow-antlered deer (C. e. eldii), Thailand brow-antlered deer (C. e. siamensis), and the Burmese brow-antlered deer (C. e. thamin). Of these, the Manipur brow-antlered deer is classified as Critically Endangered (CR), the Thailand brow-antlered deer is classified as Data Deficient (DD), and the Burmese brow-antlered deer is classified as Lower Risk/near threatened (LR/nt) on the IUCN Red List 2006.
Description
Eld's deer is known for the impressive bow- or lyre-shaped antlers of the stags, which sweep back in a single, long curve, with a smaller branch growing towards the front of the head. The antlers are replaced every year, and reach their largest size during the breeding season. This majestic species possesses the usual elegant stature of Cervus deer with its long, thin legs, long, slender body, short tail and large, projecting ears. The coarse coat is reddish-brown to grey with paler underparts, redder in summer, and darker brown in winter. Stags are larger and heavier than females, tend to be darker in colour, and possess a thick mane of long hair around the neck. Young have white spots that eventually fade and disappear.