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Scientific Name of Deer - Cervidae GeeksforGeeks

Scientific name for deer is Cervidae. Deers are hoofed, ruminant, even-toed ungulates that belong to the order Artiodactyla and class Mammalia. The family of Cervidae mainly comprises two groups: Cervinae and Capreolinae.  Deers are generally native to all continents, with the exclusion of Antarctica and Australia. In this article, we will discuss the scientific name of the deer, its characteristics, and common species of the deer in India and around the world.

Table of Content

What is the Scientific Name of Deer?

The scientific name for deer is Cervidae. Deer are even-toed ungulates that belong to the order Artiodactyla and class Mammalia. The Cervidae family is divided into two main groups: Cervinae and Capreolinae. The members of the Cervinae subfamily are also known as Old World Deers. The scientific name for the white-tailed deer is Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmerman) (Cervidae). There are 38 subspecies of white-tailed deer in the world. Deer species include White-tailed deer, Mule deer, Elk, Moose, Red deer, Caribou, Fallow deer, Roe deer, Pudú, and Chital.

Also Read: Scientific Name – Definition & Examples

Taxonomy Classification of Deer

Before we study taxonomic classification of deer let’s study what taxonomic classification is. Taxonomic classification is a method in which we classify organisms on the basis of their shared characteristics into different groups to represent their biological and evolutionary similarities .

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordates

Class

Mammalia

Order

Artiodactyl

Family

Carnidae

Genus

Cervus

Species

Unicolor

Characteristics of Deer

There are some characteristics which make deer distinct from other animals. Major characteristics are ;

  • Deer grow and shed antlers annually. Antlers are “bone horns” that require a lot of minerals, protein, and energy to grow.
  • Deer have long, powerful legs, long ears, and a small tail. 
  • They are lean mammals with reddish-brown to gray-brown coloring and cream-colored undersides. 
  • Male deer can have impressive antlers that can grow up to three feet tall at the shoulder and six feet long from nose to tail.
  • Deer have great hearing and sense of smell. They can also run 40 miles per hour and jump 10 feet high.
  • They have hoofed feet (feet are divided into two distinct toes) which helps them to walk easily .
  • They are herbivorous and have scent glands which secret scents to attract the opposite sex during breeding season .
  • Deers have the special ability to move quickly, therefore they are known for their ability to jump long distances.
  • Deer are social animals that travel in groups called herds.

Also Read: Difference Between Herbivores And Carnivores

Common Species of Deer

Some common species of deer are:

  • Sambar deer: Scientific name of Sambar Deer is Rusa Unicolor. They known as the largest deer in India and South Asia and weigh around 500 pounds.
  • Roe deer: Scientific name of Roe deer is Capreolus Capreolus. They are known as native deer of the United kingdom and weigh around 10 – 25 kg.
  • Red deer: Scientific name of red deer is Cervus elaphus.They change their body color according to the surrounding temperature and turn brown in summer and rusty in winter. Mostly found in the northwestern region of the world.
  • Sika deer: Scientific name of red deer is Cervus Nippon. They also change their body color according to the surrounding temperature and turn pale yellow/red in summer and dark gray/black in winter. An adult sika deer weigh around 45 to 70 kgs.

Also Read: Scientific Names of Animals And Plants

Common name

Species name

Scientific name

Barasinga

Duvaucelii

Rucervus Duvaucelii

Sambar deer

Unicolor

Rusa Unicolor

Chital

Axis

Cervus Axis

Sika

Nippon

Cervus Nippon

Elk

Canadensis

Cervus Canadensis

Scientific Name of Deer in India

Indian deer and their scientific name ;

  • Cervus Axis: Commonly known as chital or spotted deer, they are commonly found in Indian forests.
  • Muntiacus muntjak: Also known as Indian mantjack, they are commonly found in dense forests of India.
  • Rusa unicolor: Also known as sambar deer, they are found in dense forest and marshy area across India.

List of some other species found in India are:

  • Rucervus Duvaucelii
  • Axis Porcinus
  • Rucervus Eldii
  • Moschus Chrysogaster

Also Read: Scientific Names of Common Animals

Conclusion – Scientific Name of Deer

The scientific name for all deer species is Cervidae. The Cervidae family is part of the Artiodactyla order, which includes all even-toed ungulates, or hoofed animals with a certain type of foot. The Cervidae family also belongs to the Mammalia class. The Cervidae family is made up of two main groups: Cervinae and Capreolinae. Some species in the Cervidae family include: White-tailed deer, Mule deer, Elk, Moose, Red deer, Caribou, Fallow deer, Roe deer, Pudú, Chital.

Deer live mainly in forests but may be found in deserts, tundra, and swamps and on high mountainsides. Deer play a crucial role in ecosystems by influencing plant growth and supporting predator populations, contributing to biodiversity.

Also Read:

FAQs on Scientific Name of Deer

What is the Scientific Name of Deer?

The scientific name for deer is Cervidae. The Cervidae family is divided into two main groups: Cervinae and Capreolinae.

How many Subfamilies of Family cervidae are There ?

There are two subfamilies of family cervidae namely :Carvenae and Capreolinae.

Deer Belong to Which Family and Kingdom?

Deer belong to the Cervidae family and the Animalia kingdom. The Cervidae family has 55 species that live in many habitats around the world, including forests, grasslands, and tundra. 

Give Some Examples of Deer Species and their Scientific Names.

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and sika deer (Cervus nippon) are common examples of deer species.

What is the Scientific Name for Golden Deer?

The scientific name for the golden deer is Rucervus eldii. The golden deer is also known as the brow-antlered deer, thamin, and the dancing deer.


 


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