Imagine a world where antlered beasts roam freely, each with unique characteristics and quirks. With this aid, the excursion through the wild to find 25 types of animals like deer. Deer, elk, and moose are all part of the same Cervidae family. They have slim legs, split hooves, and mostly eat plants. Deer type animals have unique qualities that make them interesting. Let’s discuss these animals that live in forests and grasslands.
Discover More About The Following Types Of Animals Like Deer
Deer are diverse animals, with over 90 species found worldwide. Each type of deer has unique characteristics and adaptations that make them attractive to study. They show a variety of behaviours and survival strategies, from the majestic elk to the elusive muntjac. Here, we discuss more about deer like animals with horns:
Blackbuck
Scientific name: Antelope cervicapra
The blackbuck, also called the Indian antelope, is a deer-like animal found mainly in India and Nepal. They have a unique look, with smooth black and white coats and twisted horns in males, which makes them attractive to wildlife fans. But their numbers have dropped because their homes are disappearing and people are hunting them.
Chinkara
Scientific name: Gazelle Benetti
The chinkara, also called the Indian gazelle, is a beautiful and graceful animal that lives in India, Pakistan, and Iran. It is a type of animal like deer known for its slender body and elegant movements and symbolizes wildlife in these areas. The chinkara is unique because it can live in dry regions, showing nature’s strength.
Gazelles
Scientific name: Gazelle
Gazelles are fascinating animals that have captivated nature lovers and biologists for a long time. They are known for their agility and speed, making them a captivating species in the animal kingdom. Gazelles are found in various African and Asian regions and are well-suited for living in dry areas.
Roan Antelope
Scientific name: Hippo tragus equines
It has a stunning reddish-brown coat and unique white facial markings. It has long, pointed horns and is often called the horse-like antelope because of its robust build and powerful gait. Roan antelopes mostly eat grass and leaves when there isn’t much grass. Some deer consume small amounts of meat, like mice, if hungry and can get it quickly.
Giant Sable
Scientific name: Hippo tragus Niger
The giant sable is a special kind of antelope found in the woodlands of Angola. They have long, dark horns and a beautifully marked coat. They are endangered because their homes are being destroyed, and they are being hunted. Giant sables live in small groups with one male and several females and their babies. This helps them survive in the wild.
Gemsbok
Scientific name: Oryx gazelle
The Gemsbok, also called Oryx, is a beautiful antelope in the dry areas of Southern Africa. Its face has long, straight horns and black and white markings. Gemsboks are good at living in harsh desert conditions, using their strong sense of smell and endurance to find food and water. The Gemsbok can survive for a long time without drinking water by getting moisture from the plants they eat.
Greater Kudu
Scientific name: Tragelaphus strepsiceros
Greater kudu lives in Eastern and Southern Africa’s woodlands and savannas. The kudu has large ears and is very agile, reaching speeds of up to 60 kilometres per hour. Male kudus use their long, corkscrew-shaped horns for more than just defence. They also use them in sparring matches during mating season to establish dominance and secure mating rights with females.
Nilgai
Scientific name: Boselaphus tragocamelus
The nilgai, also called the blue bull, is a beautiful antelope from India. These animals look like deer, with long legs and slim bodies. The males have blue coats, and the females are light brown. People are often amazed by their beauty and grace because they look like deer. Nilgai are big antelopes with a lot of strength and endurance.
Nyala
Scientific name: Tragelaphus angasii
The Nyala deer-like animal is from southern Africa and is an antelope. It has a beautiful coat that can be reddish-brown or slate-grey with white marks on its face and legs. Male nyalas have long, spiral horns that can grow up to 80 centimetres. Nyalas live in forests and thickets near rivers and marshes. They are good at finding food by grazing and browsing. Male nyalas are more significant than females, with darker colours and big horns. Both Deer and sheep are very humble animals. Both are herbivorous mammals.
Tibetan Antelope
Scientific name: Pantholops Hodgson
The Tibetan antelope, called chiru, is similar to deer. It has long legs and beautiful, curved horns, and it’s a stunning sight in the extensive grasslands of Tibet. One of the most amazing things about Tibetan antelopes is their incredible migration across some of Earth’s highest and most challenging terrains.
Pronghorn
Scientific name: Antilocapra Americana
The pronghorn is a fast and agile animal that lives in North America. It looks like a deer but is in its unique family called Antilocaprid. It has white patches on its rump and good vision, which helps it spot predators. The pronghorn can run fast for a long time, which allows it to survive in harsh environments with animals like coyotes and wolves.
Ladakh Uriel
Scientific name: Ovis vignei
The Ladakh Urial, also known as the shape or red sheep, is a type of wild sheep found in the high-altitude areas of Central Asia. Despite its name, the Ladakh Urial looks a lot like a deer, with its slim body and long legs. This unique appearance has fascinated wildlife fans and researchers interested in its graceful yet muscular body. Although these animals are similar to deer, the Ladakh Urial has special features that make it different from other animals.
Markhor
Scientific name: Capra falconeri
The Markhor is a wild goat found in Central Asia. It has long, spiralled horns and a strong presence. People are interested in it because it looks like a deer, But it isn’t. The Markhor is in danger because it is losing its habitat and being hunted. It is now an endangered species, and we need to work to protect it and make people aware of its situation.
Vietnamese Mouse Deer
Scientific name: Tragulus versicolor
The Vietnamese Mouse Deer, also called the silver-backed chevrotain, looks like a small deer. It is the smallest hoofed mammal in the world and lives in the dense tropical forests of Vietnam and nearby areas. Mouse deer eat a herbaceous meal of fallen fruits and fungi, which can be easily found on the ground.
Sambar
Scientific name: Rusa unicolor
Sambar is a big deer from South Asia. They have impressive antlers and are often confused with other deer, like red deer or elk. But one thing that sets them apart is their long ears, rare in similar deer. The sambar is different because of its unique traits. It can live in other places, like forests and grasslands.
Bara Singha
Scientific name: Rucervus duvaucelii
Bara Singha, also called swamp deer, looks like regular deer but has unique antlers with more than twelve points, making them stand out. They live in the Indian subcontinent and have been in danger because their homes are disappearing and people hunt them. But work to protect them has helped their numbers start to grow again. These animals live in groups and show complex behaviours like making sounds and using body movements to stay together.
Red Deer
Scientific name: Cervus elaphus
Red deer, called Cervus elaphus, is a big animal in Europe, Asia, and North Africa. They are often mixed up with other deer likes animals, elk, and moose but can be distinguished by their size and reddish-brown coat. Red deer are known for being agile and graceful in forests and grasslands. They are social animals and form strong bonds within their herds. During the mating season, dominant males show their authority and compete for mates with loud calls.
Elk
Scientific name: Cervus canadensis
Elk, also called wapiti, are big animals that look like deer but are larger and have impressive antlers. They live in forests in North America and East Asia and are important because they eat plants. During mating season, male elk fight for dominance and the right to mate. Elk are good at living in challenging places and can live in many different habitats.
Reindeer
Scientific name: Rangifer tarandus
Reindeer, also called caribou in North America, are impressive animals known for their big antlers and ability to live in challenging places. They have adapted to survive in the cold Arctic tundra, showing a remarkable ability to handle extreme cold and find food. Their special hooves help them dig through snow to find plants they need to survive the long winter.
Moose
Scientific name: Alces alces
Moose are often called the gentle giants of the animal kingdom. People sometimes confuse them with deer because they look similar, with long legs and big antlers. But moose have unique qualities that make them different from other deer. They are huge, with adult males weighing 1,500 pounds and standing over 7 feet tall at the shoulders. This makes moose the most significant type of deer.
Is It Painful For Deer To Grow Antlers?
Antlers have velvet that gives them nutrients and blood as they grow. This soft tissue has nerves and protects the antlers. When the antlers are fully developed, deer rub off the velvet on trees or shrubs, leaving polished antlers. Moose and elk also have this feature. Hormones and genetics help their antlers proliferate.
Why Do Deer Lose Their Antlers Every Year?
Deer shed their antlers every year due to hormonal changes. This process, called antler casting, allows deer to grow new antlers, usually in late winter or early spring. Antlers are bone-like tissue with many blood vessels and nerves, unlike permanent horns. The shedding starts with a drop in testosterone levels, which makes specialized cells weaken the connection between the antlers and the deer’s skull.
Can You Tell The Age Of A Deer By Its Antlers?
Determining a deer’s age from its antlers is hard. Antlers’ size and complexity can show maturity, but genetics, nutrition, and health affect their growth. Weather and food availability also impact antler growth in deer. Some animals, like elk, look like deer but have bigger antlers.
Final Words
Deer come in different types, showing how diverse and adaptable they are. Each species has unique traits and behaviours that help them survive elsewhere. Knowing these different types of animals like deer, is essential for conservation. We can protect each species better if we understand them. Studying and valuing the different kinds of deer can help us understand their ecological importance. We can then work to ensure they keep existing for future generations. We must protect these amazing animals and their homes for the future.
FAQs
Can Deer Eat Mouse?
No, deer usually don’t eat mice. Deer mainly eat plants like grass, leaves, and fruits because they are herbivores. Their digestive systems are made for processing plants, and they don’t have the instincts or physical abilities to hunt and eat small animals like mice.
What is the female deer called?
The female deer is called a doe. They are typically smaller and more agile than male deer, and they play a critical role in the reproductive cycle of deer populations. During the breeding season, does attract male deer, known as bucks, through scent marking and vocalizations.