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| Profile |
| Scientific
name: |
Cervus nippon taiouanus |
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| Features: |
The
Formosan sika deer is a medium-sized subspecies of deer measuring
about 1.5m in length with a shoulder height around 98cm. They
are named for the white, plum blossom-like spots on their
back. Males are larger than females, with a shoulder height
of 1m, and their antlers-which they start to grow at two years
of age and continue to add one branch per year until they
are five years old-can grow to more than 70cm in length. The
smaller females have no antlers. |
| Behavior: |
The
Formosan sika deer feeds mainly on leaves and tends to eat
in the same area. They often rest at noon by either taking
a nap under the trees or regurgitating the food that they've
just eaten. A clean animal, they can often be seen in the
springtime grooming their white fur while their light-chestnut
or white-spotted summer coats are growing in. However, once
their dark brown winter coats have grown in during the autumn,
the males will roll about in the mud and dirty themselves
in order to attract the attention of females. Formosan sika
deer usually roam about on plains and in foothills. Sensitive
by nature, they will go on alert at the first sign of trouble,
setting their necks upright and opening their eyes wide. During
their mating season in the autumn, the males will lock antlers
and combat one another for a position of dominance and the
right to mate. |
| Habitat: |
Formosan
sika deer inhabit plains and mountainous areas at 300-500m
elevations. |
| Low-Altitude
Areas>Fauna>Formosan
sika deer |
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