The spotted deer is an elegantly built and widespread animal living on the territory of India and neighbouring countries. Its other names: chital and axis deer.
Physical Characteristics
- Size: The spotted deer is a medium sized deer. Both sexes have well developed limbs and stands about 90 cm (35 inches) at the shoulder for the males and 70 cm (28 inches) for the females.
- Weight: Males fall within the range of 70 to 90 kilograms (150 to 200 pounds) while females are smaller, and thus weigh approximately 40 to 60 kilograms (88 to 132 pounds).
- Sexual Dimorphism: Typically to many of the deer species the spotted deer also shows sexual dimorphism. Males are bigger than females and only male have the antlers.
- Coat: Their upper portions are coloured in golden to rufous tinge and featured with unnoticeable heavenly designed white dots. Such features resemble sunbeams breaking through the trees over their coat.
- Distinctive Features: If you look carefully you will be able to see that they have stripes at their tail, and the colour is black. Furthermore they also have a pair of preorbital glands located on the side of their heads above the eyes.
Etymology
The meaning of the name “chital” has a quite interesting etymology. The term comes from the Hindi word “cītal” which itself was derived from the Sanskrit “citrala” which translates to “variegated” or “spotted”. This is rather amusing that the name of the swift cheetah has roots in the same origin as its colouring. Some of the possible variations of “chital” include “cheetal” and “cheetul”.
Range and Habitat
The spotted deer roams across the grasslands and forests of:
- India
- Bhutan
- Bangladesh
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- Sri Lanka
Behaviour and Ecology
- Social Creatures: Spotted deer are gregarious animals and they can easily form herds and the sight of these deer feeding is very beautiful to watch.
- Diet: What they eat in terms of diet comprises of grass, leaves as well as fruits. They are the significant seed spreaders, which hasa great importance in forest re-colonization.
- Lifespan: These deer can live up to 20 – 30 years in the wild.
Conservation Status
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature the population status of the spotted deer is least concern. But this has continued to be threatened by loss of their natural habitat as well as poaching.
Some of the other deer Species present in India
Sambar Deer
- Scientific Name: Rusa unicolor
- Description: One specific kind of deer that is present in the country is the Sambar which is also the largest of all deer species present in the country. Originally they had a dark brown pelage and is widely recognized for their large mass.
- Habitat: This species of deer is found in the wooded area, mountainous terrains and in the grasslands.
- Distinctive Feature: They have lengthy and curled shaped horns as their most distinguishing aspect.
- Fun Fact: Sambar deer are good swimmers and they are often seen to cross rivers and lakes.
- Where to Find Them: Sambar deer can be found in different National Parks and wildlife Sanctuary of Indian sub-continent.
Barasingha (Swamp Deer)
- Scientific Name: Rucervusduvaucelii
- Description: Barasinghas look like the Sambar deer but is much smaller in size. They have a light brown fur that is spotted in white colour.
- Habitat: As the name suggest they prefer the region with such features as swamps and the grass land regions.
- Unique Antlers: Barasinghas are considerably marked by the large antler with up to 12 tines.
- Conservation Status: There were once thought to be on the brink of extinction but have been saved because of conservationist activities.
- Notable Location: Barasinghas are found in Kanha National Park and hence it is a good destination to find them.
Indian Hog Deer
- Scientific Name: Axis porcinus
- Description: These are much smaller in size as compared to other species of deer. These animals have rage colour with reddish-brown fur together with white blotches over their body.
- Habitat: They live in; grasslands, flood plains as well as riparian forests.
- Distinctive Markings: They have chestnut colour coat with dark stripe along their back.
- Fun Fact: They are very good divers and are mostly found in places that are close to water bodies.
- Where to See Them: Kaziranga National Park and Dudhwa National Park are the places to search for Indian hog deer.
Barking Deer (Indian Muntjac)
- Scientific Name: Muntiacus muntjak
- Description: The small sized mammal commonly known as mice deer or barking deer is of stocky built with reddish brown coat on its body.
- Unique Feature: They give out a barking sound when threatened.
- Habitat: It thrives in areas with a lot of undergrowth and in hilly regions. Barking deer prefer a forest environment with lots of under growth and steep slopes.
- Fun Fact: They are usually alone and they will seek refuge in dense bush.
- Where to Spot Them: Discover them in the WesternGhats and the Himalayas silk routes.
The IUCN: ‘Guardians of Biodiversity’
For the IUCN it goes beyond being simply the letters that make up the acronym – it stands for a pledge made to the world, as well as its living heritage. Since its establishment in 1948 the IUCN has developed into one of the most comprehensive and influential source of information on the state of the natural world and the steps required to preserve it. Let’s explore what makes the IUCN so significant
What Is the IUCN?
- Comprehensive Information Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is their gem which keeps on shining brightly for its immense value and utility. This list is full of important information on the conservation status of animals, fungi and plants around the world. It is as if Earth is providing a health check-up of its fauna and flora to let the world know which ones are doing well, which are vulnerable or which are one pushing the button of being extinct.
- Membership Union: What is more, the IUCN is an association of distinct parties’ voices. It consists of a combination of government and non-governmental agencies and institutions making it a membership of more than 1400. It is in this regard that collaborative approach is used so as to incorporate the scientific findings with the ground realities.
- Red List Categories: The IUCN divides species into nine groups with regards to their threat level for global extinction. These include ‘Least concern’ (where species faces minimal threat) up to the sadistic ‘Extinct’ (for species which does not exist in the wild any more). That is, the Red List is not just the identification program; it contains an appeal.
Recent Highlights
- Bornean Elephant: Bornean Elephants, by the statistics of the 2024 IUCN Red List are now considered as endangered because of the many human impacts. These are noble animals and they are threatened with some factors such as loss of habitat and hunting by people.
- Iberian Lynx: Despite this, by and large due to conservation measures that have been put in place the Iberian Lynx population has bounced back from being nearly endangered. It moved from “Endangered” to “Vulnerable.
- Coral Reefs: The IUCN works with partners to protect these underwater paradises as the world contends with the longest coral bleaching event in recorded history. Deforestation, pollution, wildlife extinction, effects of climate change among other aspects put these vibrant ecosystems under threat but there’s still hope.
Why Does It Matter?
IUCN Red List is not merely a scientific work, it’s a wakeup call. It shows us which species requires attention, where the conservation should be directed and how the future can be changed. Whether one is speaking about the ghostly snow leopard or the unassuming bee, each entry is important.
Categories and Criteria
The IUCN Red List divides species into nine main categories, each reflecting the level of threat they face:
- Not Evaluated: It accredits that there are species which its conservation status cannot be determined because of lack of adequate information.
- Data Deficient: Some species that have insufficient information to classify them a low risk species.
- Least Concern: found in large number and no immediate threat to the species.
- Near Threatened: Species that are potentially very close to the threatened list, but are not on the list as yet.
- Vulnerable: Especially, it’s the species that are likely to be wiped out in the wild if threats persist.
- Endangered: Endangered species; species at considerable risk of extinction in their natural habitat.
- Critically Endangered: Species which are under threat of extinction to the highest level.
- Extinct in the Wild: These are species that have become extinct in the wild but have been known to have existed in captivity and or have been saved through such programs as breeding.
- Extinct: Species that have been completely exit from the face of the universal earth.
Examples:
- Vulnerable: The Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) predominates in the mountainous territories of the Central and South Asian states. It is endangered and its main factors include habitat reduction, hunting, as well as climate change.
- Endangered: Sumatran Orangutan(Pongo abelii), Status: Critically Endangered. Its major threats include; loss of habitat due to logging and expansion of palm oil plantations besides hunting by poachers.
- Critically Endangered: Javan Rhino also known as Rhinoceros sondaicus is among those that are nearly extinct with nearly a dozen of them still in their natural environment. Nowadays habitat fragmentation and killing of this animal has decreased the chances of survival to a greater extent.
- Extinct in the Wild: Although now almost entirely sighted in the wild the california condor (Gymnogyps californianus) has been bred in captivity and even released into the wild.
- Extinct: Dusky Seaside Sparrow (Ammospiza nigrescens)was extinct in the late 1980’s and. The last recorded sightings were in the 1980s and thus the species has been deemed as extinct.
What is Sexual Dimorphism?
This is how we define sexual dimorphism: Beyond the genitals, the males and females of the same species differ in the value of their morphological characteristics that is properties connected with the body shape and size.
What It Is
Sexual dimorphisms are differences in appearance that may include size, form or colour pattern, as well as sexual behaviour, or physical attributes in male and females of a species.Such differences are not reproductive but often have something to do with mate choice, competition or other aspects of an organism’s live.
Examples of Sexual Dimorphism
- Ornamentation and Coloration: There is varieties where differential orientation and colour patterns are seen. For instance:
- Peafowl (Peacocks and Peahens): Males of this specie have beautiful bright feathers on their tails which they display during the mating season. The female peafowls also known as peahens are known to have comparatively less bright coloration than the male peafowls.
- Birds and Reptiles: Some factors of the bird and reptile species include; sexual di-chromatism, which is the variations of colour in different animals, where males and females of the same species have different colour feathers.
Size and Shape
- Deer: Males are also called bucks has an antler while the females does not.
- Lions: Only the male lions are known to have a mane while the lionesses do not have one.
Behavioural Traits
- Songbirds: The use of songs also varies between males and females where males sing for the purpose of attracting their female counterparts and the female has less and less elaborate songs.
- Aggressive Traits: In order to be able to fight off their competitors some males even grow bigger teeth or heads.
Why does it exist?
- Sexual Selection: A good part of sexual dimorphism is determined by sexual selection. Male fight for female, and things that increase their likelihood of ‘winning’ such battles become more developed as generations go by.
- Costs and Benefits: Ornamental structures (such as peacock feathers) also carry a risk for being energy expensive to grow and to sustain. But if these attributes make a male more appealing to the females, then it’s beneficial in terms of evolutionary perspective.
Monomorphism
Monomorphism is the type of sexual selection where both male and female morphological similarities are very close. The only obvious variation detected in monomorphic species is the sexual organs of the two sexes.