Axis Deer - Description
The Axis Deer are considered to be the most beautiful of the cervids. They have a black dorsal stripe and are profusely spotted with white on a fawn background, shading from almost black or pinkish brown on the back to white on the under parts. Bucks are larger than does, with broader chest and darker facial markers. The males' antlers curve in a lyre shape with up to three points on each antler. The antlers are shed annually on the deer's own clock, so in one herd there may occur newly shed bucks, hard horn bucks, and bucks in the velvet.
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Picture courtesy of
Fossil Rim
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Axis Deer - Taxonomy
- Common name: Axis Deer, Chital, Spotted Deer (is subdivided into 2 subspecies: Indian and Ceylinese.)
- Latin name: Axis axis
- Order: Artiodactyla (cloven-hoofed)
- Suborder: Ruminantia (cud-chewers)
- Family: Cervidae (deer)
Size: Males are about 30-39 inches at the shoulder, females - 26-33 inches.
Weight: Males are about 140-200 pounds, females - 90-150 pounds.
Life Span: up to 20 years in captivity, 9-11 years in the wild.
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Picture courtesy of
Maui Hutting Outfitters
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Axis Deer - Habitat
Axis Deer live mostly in woodland, forests with glades, and clearings near waterways. They graze in the morning and evening and rest during the day. Axis Deer take refuge from predators in streams or rivers.
Axis Deer - General Info Links
61 Indian Spotted Deer - Many photos and video.
Animal Kingdom, get to know the animals - Contains information on distribution and population trends of Axis Deer and other deer.
Axis axis, Chital Deer - Contains photos and basic facts about Axis Deer.
Axis Deer - Frequently asked questions about Axis Deer Compiled By Comanche Spring Ranch, Eden Texas.
Axis Deer (Cervus axis) - The Mammals of Texas - Online Edition.
Axis Deer, chital - Brief description and links to other deer species.
Axis or Spotted Deer - Contains description and habits of Axis Deer.
BBC - Nature Wildfacts - Meet Axis deer and learn about its way of life.
Chital, Axis (or Spotted) Deer - Classification and images of Axis Deer are presented.
Deer Basics - Main branches of the Deer family tree are presented.
Deer Species - Medical article on Deer' reproduction.
Fossil Rim - Axis Deer - General info on the various deer with pictures.
Hunter Education - Learn about the way of life of different deer.
Identity Card - A guide on Deer species.
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Picture courtesy of
Mayfield Ranch
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Indian Axis Deer - Chital Deer: facts and photos.
Indian Jungle - Contains links to Indian zoos and parks with Axis Deer.
Indian Wildlife - Some major animal species of India, including Axis Deer are presented.
JungleWalk - Axis deer information and pictures.
Published Information on Axis Deer - A work in progress!! NOTE: This document is a mirror of http.
Species of Deer - A brief review of all Deer species.
The Axis Deer - Learn about the axis deer. Beauty of species depends on a fine head of antlers in most deer but this is not the case with the axis deer.
