Deer
The deer family (Cervidae) has 44 living species, including the moose, muntjac and caribou. The males of all species of deer except the Chinese water deer have antlers. In caribou, both sexes have antlers.
Featured in the following TV programmes
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Archived
Countryfile: 18/10/2009
John Craven investigates whether it is getting harder to educate children about food.
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Archived
Landward: Episode 21
Dougie Vipond investigates whether our countryside is becoming cluttered with road signs.
Featured in the following Radio programmes
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Catch Up
The Living World: Sika Deer
Lionel Kelleway heads to Purbeck to see sika at the start of the rutting season.
Red deer
Milu
ReindeerAbout
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. They include for example Moose, Red Deer, Reindeer, Roe and Chital. Animals from related families within the order Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates) are often also considered to be deer – these include muntjac and water deer. Male (and a few female) deer of all species (except the Chinese Water deer who only have short tusks instead) grow and shed new antlers each year – in this they differ from permanently horned animals such as antelope – these are in the same order as deer and may bear a superficial resemblance. The musk deer of Asia and Water Chevrotain (or Mouse Deer) of tropical African and Asian forests are not usually regarded as true deer and form their own families, Moschidae and Tragulidae, respectively.
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Scientific Classification
Order: Even-toed ungulate (Artiodactyla)
Family: Deer (Cervidae)
Other Artiodactyla
- Camels, llamas and allies (Camelidae)
- Cattle, antelopes and allies (Bovidae)
- Giraffes and okapis (Giraffidae)
- Hippopotamidae (species: Hippopotamus)
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