Visayan Spotted Deer

Rusa alfredi

Visayan Spotted Deer

“ This isn't about deer hunting. ”

– Jeff Duncan

Scientific Taxonomy & Character Information

Domain: Eukaryota

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Clade: Synapsida

Class: Mammalia

Order: Artiodactyla

Family: Cervidae

Subfamily: Cervinae

Genius: Rusa

Species: Rusa alfredi

Descendant: Sambar

Named by: Philip Lutley Sclater

Year Published: 1870

Size: 125 to 130 cm (49 to 51 in) in length; 70 to 80 cm (28 to 31 in) in shoulder height and 25 to 80 kg (55 to 176 lb) in weight

Lifespan: 20 years

Type: 

Title: 

Pantheon: 

Time Period: Pleistocene−Holocene

Alignment: Skittish

Threat Level: ★★★

Diet: Herbivorous 🌿🍇

Elements: n/a

Inflicts: Bleeding, sundered

Weaknesses: Fire, electric, arcane, dark, light

Casualties: ???

Based On: itself

Conservation Status: Endangered (EN) − IUCN Red List

Visayan Spotted Deer (Rusa alfredi), also known as the Visayan Deer, Philippine Spotted Deer or Prince Alfred's Deer, is a nocturnal and endangered species of deer located primarily in the rainforests of the Visayan islands of Panay and Negros though it once roamed other islands such as Cebu, Guimaras, Leyte, Masbate, and Samar.

Etymology

This deer is named after Alfred Ernest Albert, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. He was the second son and fourth child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

Physical Appearance

The deer is small and short-legged yet it is the largest endemic species of deer among the Visayas. Adults range from 125 to 130 cm (49 to 51 in) long from the head to the base of the tail, 70 to 80 cm (28 to 31 in) in shoulder height and 25 to 80 kg (55 to 176 lb) in weight.


This species is easily distinguished from other species of deer in the Philippines by the distinctive "A" pattern of beige spots which dot its deep brown back and sides. Other distinctive features include cream underparts and white fur on the chin and lower lip. The animal's head and neck are brown, but lighter than the body, and the eyes are ringed with paler fur. Males are larger than females and have short, thick, bumpy antlers.

Abilities

Being extremely cautious and cryptic, they will swiftly hide in thick vegetation if they perceive any danger.

Ecology

The species' range once covered the shoreline up to at least 2,000 m above sea level. Its habitat is in dense cogon grassland, and primary and secondary forest. Most of its habitat consists of areas where its diet of young shoots of cogon grass and young low-growing leaves and buds are plentiful.


The deer breed from November to December, although mating could begin earlier. Males have a roaring call to attract females. Reports mostly mention a single calf with a mated pair, although conclusive evidence on the number of young is not available because of the rarity of sightings. Calves are born after a gestation period of around 240 days. Weaning takes place at six months and the calves are mature from 12 months.

Behavior

They are extremely shy and, when startled, flee into thick woodland.

Distribution and Habitat

This species is endemic to the Western Visayan Islands (or Negros–Panay Faunal Region) of the central Philippines. Previously the species was found on Panay, Guimaras, Negros, Cebu, Masbate and probably Ticao Islands.


This deer formerly occurred from sea-level to at least 2,000 m asl in primary and secondary growth forest. It can persist in some degraded habitats such as cogon grasslands as long as there are areas of dense cover. Its preferred habitat is not clear, since it is now restricted to steep, rugged slopes of dipterocarp forest that are inaccessible to humans.


Tamed

Adult stag and doe cannot be tame, but the fawn can tame. The fawn feed harmless and eat any leaves or bamboo shoots depending on the same appetite for Philippine brown deer.

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