Mammals · Artiodactyla · Cervidae

Fallow Deer

Dama dama

Least Concern

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

Males grow flattened palmate antlers, unique among European deer, used both as a weapon in combat and as a visual signal of dominance during the rut.

Weight

30 kg – 100 kg

Size

1.3 m – 1.9 m

Lifespan

14 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 forestGrasslandHerbivore Crepuscular In herds Temperate forest Grassland Mammal

40countries 183parks23same family

Fun facts

It is native to Turkey and the eastern Mediterranean, and has been widely introduced across Europe since antiquity.
It feeds by grazing grasses and browsing herbaceous plants.
One animal reached a record 25 to 27 years in captivity.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Mixed woodland and open grassland; native to Turkey and the eastern Mediterranean, widely introduced across Europe since antiquity
Birth weight: ~4.5 kg at birth, with the characteristic white spots
Size at birth: ~30 cm long at birth
Sexual maturity: 14 months (though it rarely competes successfully in the rut until several years later)
Gestation / incubation: 229-234 days
Litter / clutch size: 1 young per birth (twins uncommon)
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of up to 25-27 years

Sources consulted: JungleDragon; Mammal Society; All Things Wild; AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); Animal Diversity Web; A-Z Animals; Grokipedia (Fallow deer); World Deer; Texas Tech Mammals of Texas