Indian hog deer
Indian hog deer | |
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Indian hog deer in Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary , Thailand
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Artiodactyla |
Family: | Cervidae |
Subfamily: | Cervinae |
Genus: | Axis |
Species: | A. porcinus
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Binomial name | |
Axis porcinus (Zimmermann, 1780)
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Range in green | |
Synonyms | |
Hyelaphus porcinus (Zimmermann, 1780) |
The Indian hog deer (Axis porcinus), or Indochinese hog deer, is a small
Its name derives from the
Taxonomy
Cervus porcinus was the
Description
This section needs additional citations for verification. (January 2022) |
A mature hog deer stag stands about 70 centimetres (28 in) at the shoulder, and weighs approximately 50 kilograms (110 lb); hinds are much smaller, standing about 61 centimetres (24 in) and weighing around 30 kilograms (66 lb). They are very solidly built, with a long body and relatively short legs; the line of the back slopes upward from the shoulders to a high rump. The ears are rounded; older animals tend to become light coloured in the face and neck. The Indian hog deer's coat is quite thick, and generally a uniform dark-brown in winter, except for the underparts of the body and legs, which are lighter in colour. During late spring, the change to a summer coat of rich reddish-brown commences, although this may vary between individuals. Many hog deer show a dark dorsal stripe extending from the head down the back of the neck, and along the spine. In summer, there is usually a uniform row of light-coloured spots along either side of the dorsal stripe from the shoulders to the rump. The tail is fairly short and brown, but tipped with white. The underside of the tail is white, and the deer can fan the white hairs out in a distinctive alarm display.
Indian hog deer have preorbital glands on the face just below the eyes and metatarsal glands located high on the side of the rear legs. Pedal glands are located between the cleaves or toes of the hind hooves.
The antlers of a mature hog deer stag are typically three tined, having a brow tine and a solid main beam terminating in inner and outer top tines. However, antlers with more points are not uncommon.[12] The distinctive features of typical hog deer antlers are the acute angle between the brow tine and main beam, and the fact that the inner tops tend to be short and angle back from the main beam and across towards the opposite antler.
Distribution and habitat
The Indian hog deer's status in
A small, isolated population lives in Cambodia’s Prek Prasab Wildlife Sanctuary.[13]Behaviour and ecology
The Indian hog deer is gregarious only when conditions are favorable and do not form a "unit" at these times, fleeing in different directions rather than in a herd. When alarmed, it makes a whistling vocalization or a warning bark. Home ranges vary widely in size, but average about 0.70 km2 (0.27 sq mi). Males are aggressive, and may become territorial at low population densities,
The tiger, leopard and clouded leopard are known predators of the Indian hog deer.[14] Other known predators include the Burmese python and dhole.[15]
See also
References
- ^ . Retrieved 21 January 2022.
- ISBN 9780959343861.
- ISBN 9780958573214.
- ^ Zimmermann, E.A.W. (1777). "Cornibus teretibus". Specimen zoologiae geographicae, quadrupedum domicilia et migrationes sistens. Leiden: Apud Theodorum Haak, et Socios. pp. 532–535.
- ^ Zimmermann, E.A.W. (1780). "Der dickleibige Hirsch". Geographische Geschichte des Menschen, und der allgemein verbreiteten vierfüßigen Thiere. Vol. 2. Leipzig: Weygand. p. 131.
- ^ Jardine, W. (1835). "The brown porcupine Axis Axis porcinus". The natural history of the ruminating animals. Edinburgh: Lizars. pp. 203–204.
- ^ Hodgson, B.H. (1847). "On various genera of the ruminants". The Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. 16 (2): 685–711.
- .
- PMID 15522810.
- ^ Groves, C.P. & Grubb, P. (2011). Ungulate taxonomy (PDF). Baltimore, Maryland: The Johns Hopkins University Press. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-10-30. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
- PMID 30397218.
- ^ Michelin, Andrea. "Axis porcinus". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
- ^ "Rare hog deer confirmed to thrives in Cambodia raising hope for conservation in Cambodia and the world". WWF Asia Pacific. 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
- .
- PMID 31624584.
External links
"Axis porcinus". ASM Mammal Diversity Database. 1.5. American Society of Mammalogists. Retrieved 25 August 2021.