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Home > Coniferous Forest Animals > Roe Deer

Roe Deer

Roe deer or Western roe deer is a species of small deer distributed in many places of Europe and Asia. As compared to the female roe deer, males are larger having short and erect antlers with 2 or 3 points. During October-January, the old antlers are shed and replaced by new ones that are covered with vascular ‘velvet’ skin, which supply blood to facilitate the growth.

Roe Deer

Roe Deer

Scientific Classification

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassMammalia
SuperorderUngulata
OrderArtiodactyla
FamilyCervidae
SubfamilyCapreolinae
GenusCapreolus
Scientific NameCapreolus capreolus
Roe Deer Pictures

Roe Deer Pictures

Roe Deer Images

Roe Deer Images

Quick Information

Other NamesEuropean roe deer, European roe (English); Corzo (Spanish); Chevreuil Europeen, Chevreuil (French)
SizeBody length: 3.1-4.4 ft (95-135 cm)

Shoulder height: 2.1-2.5 ft (65-75 cm)

Tail length: 0.8-1.2 in (2-3 cm)

Weight33-77 lb (15-35 kg)
ColorGolden red/reddish brown in summer; brown, gray, or black in winter; lighter bellies with white rump (kidney-shaped on males, heart-shaped on females)
DistributionMost of Europe excluding Cyprus, Ireland, Sardinia, Corsica, and some Mediterranean Sea islands; northern Iraq, Iran, Syria, and the Caucasus in Asia
HabitatDense woods; sometimes in sparse forests and open grasslands
SoundsAn alarm bark; female deer use a high-pitched “pheep” as mating call
LifespanUp to 10 years
DietBerries, grass, leaves, young shoots; browse bilberry, heather, brambles, and deciduous/coniferous tree shoots
AdaptationsTheir fur comprises hollow hairs that insulate them from cold; males use their antlers to fight enemies; spotted coat in juvenile deer is used as camouflage
DiseasesChronic wasting disease, bluetongue (BT), foot-and-mouth disease
Number of offsprings1-3 fawns, 2 are common
Gestation Period10 months
PredatorsBirds of prey, wolves, lynxes, foxes
Conservation StatusLeast Concern
European Roe Deer

European Roe Deer

Roe Deer Male

Roe Deer Male

Behavior

Primarily active during the dawn and dusk, the roe deer moves quickly and gracefully in the forests. It lives either solitarily or in small groups, but it can form large groups to feed together in the winter. The males (bucks) defend their territories aggressively during the breeding season.

Mating and Reproduction

Their rut or mating season is between mid-July and mid-August, during which polygamous males fight by locking and pushing their antlers inflicting serious injuries on their rivals. Once the winner takes possession of the loser’s territory, it starts mating a female. The buck exhibits courtship by chasing the doe (female deer) until it is ready to breed.

To avoid giving births during the winter months, the roe deer delay the implantation for few months. The development of fertilized eggs starts in December and January while the offsprings are produced during May-June.

Roe Deer Female

Roe Deer Female

Baby Roe Deer

Baby Roe Deer

Life Cycle

For the first few weeks after birth, the fawns are left in the long grasses hidden from the predators. After this time, the mother nurses its offsprings until they are 3 months old. Juvenile deer attain sexual maturity when they are 14 months old.

Roe Deer Buck

Roe Deer Buck

Roe Deer Antlers

Roe Deer Antlers

Interesting Facts

  • The European and Siberian roe deer were once considered the same species.
  • Roe deer are now hunted for meat by the locals of Pohnpei, Micronesia where they were originally introduced by the Germans.
  • The renowned character Bambi of the novel “Bambi, A Life in the Woods” is a male roe deer.
Roe Deer Tracks

Roe Deer Tracks

Roe Deer Skull

Roe Deer Skull

References:

  1. https://bds.org.uk/information-advice/about-deer/deer-species/roe-deer/
  2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roe_deer
  3. https://www.britannica.com/animal/roe-deer
  4. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/42395/22161386
  5. https://bds.org.uk/information-advice/about-deer/deer-species/roe-deer/

Published on September 10th 2016 by admin under Coniferous Forest Animals.
Article was last reviewed on 5th December 2024.

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