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| Sika Deer | ||||||||||||||||
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| Cervus nippon Temminck, 1838 |
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North Honshu Sika Deer C. n. aplodontus |
The Sika Deer (Cervus nippon) is a member of the deer family Cervidae that inhabits much of East Asia. It is found in mixed deciduous forests to the north, and mixed subtropical deciduous and evergreen forests to the south. The Sika Deer are closely related to Red Deer, Central Asian Red Deer and elk.
Red Deer
| Red Deer | ||||||||||||||||||
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 Male (Stag or Hart)
 Female (Hind)
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| Cervus elaphus Linnaeus, 1758 |
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 Range of Cervus elaphus
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The Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) is one of the largest deer species. The Red Deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Asia Minor and parts of western and central Asia. It also inhabits the Atlas Mountains region between Morocco and Tunisia in northwestern Africa, being the only species of deer to inhabit Africa. Red Deer have been introduced to other areas including Australia, New Zealand and Argentina. In many parts of the world the meat (venison) from Red Deer is used as a food source.
Red Deer are ruminants, characterized by an even number of toes, and a four-chambered stomach. Recent DNA evidence indicates that the Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) and the East Asian and North American Elk (Wapiti) (Cervus canadensis) represent two distinct species. They also hint at an additional primordial subgroup of Central Asian Red Deer[2]. The ancestor of all Red Deer probably originated in Central Asia and probably resembled Sika Deer.[3]
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