Mammals · Artiodactyla · Cervidae

Sika Deer

Cervus nippon

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

It is an extremely vocal species, able to produce more than ten distinct calls, from soft whistles to high-pitched screams.

Weight

25 kg – 111 kg

Lifespan

10 years

Diet

Herbivore

Feeds mainly on plants.

Activity

Crepuscular

Active above all at dawn and dusk.

Social structure

Herd

Lives in large groups as a strategy against predators.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Temperate forestHerbivore Crepuscular In herds Temperate forest Mammal

7countries 8parks23same family

Fun facts

In Japan, the deer of the city of Nara are regarded as sacred messengers of the Shinto gods.
It eats dwarf bamboo, acorns and other seasonal fruit, along with grasses and leaves.
It has been widely introduced to Europe and North America.
biologíaIt has a striking spotted summer coat that turns darker and plainer in winter, and has been successfully introduced to several European countries outside its natural range in East Asia.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Temperate forest, grassland and mountain country of East Asia, widely introduced to Europe and North America
Birth weight: 4.5-7 kg at birth, with the characteristic white spots
Size at birth: 4.5-7 kg at birth
Sexual maturity: ~6 months in the female (though she usually breeds for the first time as a yearling)
Gestation / incubation: ~7-7.5 months (210-230 days)
Litter / clutch size: 1 young per birth (twins rare)
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of up to 25 years

Sources consulted: iNaturalist; World Deer; AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); Dimensions.com; Creatures of the World; British Deer Society; A-Z Animals; The Animal Facts