fbpx
Wikipedia

Chital

The chital or cheetal (Axis axis; /təl/), also known as the spotted deer, chital deer and axis deer, is a deer species native to the Indian subcontinent. It was first described and given a binomial name by German naturalist Johann Christian Polycarp Erxleben in 1777. A moderate-sized deer, male chital reach 90 cm (35 in) and females 70 cm (28 in) at the shoulder. While males weigh 70–90 kg (150–200 lb), females weigh around 40–60 kg (88–132 lb). It is sexually dimorphic; males are larger than females, and antlers are present only on males. The upper parts are golden to rufous, completely covered in white spots. The abdomen, rump, throat, insides of legs, ears, and tail are all white. The antlers, three-pronged, are nearly 1 m (3 ft 3 in) long.

Chital
Temporal range: Middle Pleistocene-Present[1]
Stag
Doe
Both in Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Cervidae
Subfamily: Cervinae
Genus: Axis
Species:
A. axis
Binomial name
Axis axis
(Erxleben, 1777)
Distribution of chital (2011)[2]
Synonyms[3][4]
List
  • Axis major Hodgson, 1842
  • A. minor Hodgson, 1842
  • Cervus axis ceylonensis (J. B. Fischer, 1829)
  • C. a. indicus (J. B. Fischer, 1829)
  • C. a. maculatus (Kerr, 1792)
  • C. a. zeylanicus (Lydekker, 1905)
  • C. nudipalpebra (Ogilby, 1831)
  • Rusa axis zeylanicus (Lydekker, 1905)

Etymology

The vernacular name "chital" (pronounced /təl/)[5] comes from cītal (Hindi: चीतल), derived from the Sanskrit word citrala (चित्रल), meaning "variegated" or "spotted".[6] The name of the cheetah has a similar origin.[7] Variations of "chital" include "cheetal" and "cheetul".[8] Other common names for the chital are Indian spotted deer (or simply the spotted deer) and axis deer.[2]

Taxonomy and phylogeny

The chital was first described by Johann Christian Polycarp Erxleben in 1777 as Cervus axis.[9] In 1827, Charles Hamilton Smith placed the chital in its own subgenus Axis under the genus Cervus.[10][4] Axis was elevated to generic status by Colin P. Groves and Peter Grubb in 1987.[11] The genus Hyelaphus was considered a subgenus of Axis.[3] However, a morphological analysis showed significant differences between Axis and Hyelaphus.[12] A phylogenetic study later that year showed that Hyelaphus is closer to the genus Rusa than Axis. Axis was revealed to be paraphyletic and distant from Hyelaphus in the phylogenetic tree; the chital was found to form a clade with the barasingha (Rucervus duvaucelii) and the Schomburgk's deer (Rucervus schomburgki). The chital was estimated to have genetically diverged from the Rucervus lineage in the Early Pliocene about 5 million years ago. The following cladogram is based on a 2006 phylogenetic study:[13]

Cervus, fallow deer (Dama dama), Père David's deer (Elaphurus davidianus) and Rusa

Rucervus

Barasinga

Schomburgk's deer

Axis

Chital

Indian hog deer (A. porcinus)

Muntjacs (Muntiacus)

Fossils of extinct Axis species dating to the early to Middle Pliocene were excavated from Iran in the west to Indochina in the east.[14] Remains of the chital were found in the Middle Pleistocene deposits of Thailand along with sun bear, Stegodon, gaur, wild water buffalo and other living and extinct mammals.[1]

Description

 
Male in velvet, Kanha National Park

The chital is a moderately sized deer. Males reach up to 90–100 cm (35–39 in) and females 65–75 cm (26–30 in) at the shoulder; the head-and-body length is around 1.7 m (5 ft 7 in). While immature males weigh 30–75 kg (66–165 lb), the lighter females weigh 25–45 kg (55–99 lb). Mature stags can weigh up to 98–110 kg (216–243 lb).[15]

The tail, 20 cm (7.9 in) long, is marked by a dark stripe that stretches along its length. The species is sexually dimorphic; males are larger than females, and antlers are present only on males.[16]

The dorsal (upper) parts are golden to rufous, completely covered in white spots. The abdomen, rump, throat, insides of legs, ears, and tail are all white.[16] A conspicuous black stripe runs along the spine (back bone).[17] The chital has well-developed preorbital glands (near the eyes) with stiff hairs.[18] It also has well-developed metatarsal glands and pedal glands located in its hind legs. The preorbital glands, larger in males than in females, are frequently opened in response to certain stimuli.[19][20]

Each of the antlers has three lines on it. The brow tine (the first division in the antler) is roughly perpendicular to the beam (the central stalk of the antler).[16] The antlers, three-pronged, are nearly 1 m (3 ft 3 in) long.[21] Antlers, as in most other cervids, are shed annually. The antlers emerge as soft tissues (known as velvet antlers) and progressively harden into bony structures (known as hard antlers), following mineralisation and blockage of blood vessels in the tissue, from the tip to the base.[22][23] A study of the mineral composition of the antlers of captive barasinga, chital, and hog deer showed that the antlers of the deer are very similar. The mineral content of the chital's antlers was determined to be (per kg) 6.1 mg (0.094 gr) copper, 8.04 mg (0.1241 gr) cobalt, and 32.14 mg (0.4960 gr) zinc.[24]

Hooves measure between 4.1 and 6.1 cm (1.6 and 2.4 in) in length; hooves of the fore legs are longer than those of the hind legs. The toes taper to a point.[15] The dental formula is 0.1.3.33.1.3.3, same as the elk.[16] The milk canine, nearly 1 cm (0.39 in) long, falls off before one year of age, but is not replaced by a permanent tooth as in other cervids.[18] Compared to the hog deer, the chital has a more cursorial build. The antlers and brow tines are longer than those in the hog deer. The pedicles (the bony cores from which antlers arise) are shorter, and the auditory bullae are smaller in the chital.[18] The chital may be confused with the fallow deer. Chital have several white spots, whereas fallow deer usually have white splotches. Fallow also have palmate antlers whereas chital have 3 distinct points on each side. The chital has a prominent white patch on its throat, while the throat of the fallow deer is completely white. The biggest distinction is the dark brown stripe running down the chital's back.[25] The hairs are smooth and flexible.[15]

Distribution and habitat

The chital ranges over 8–30°N in India and through Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.[4] The western limit of its range is eastern Rajasthan and Gujarat. The northern limit is along the Terai belt of the foothills of the Himalaya and from Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal through to Nepal, northern West Bengal and Sikkim and then to western Assam and the forested valleys of Bhutan, which are below an elevation of 1,100 m (3,600 ft).[2] The eastern limit of its range is through western Assam[26][27] to the Sunderbans of West Bengal and Bangladesh.[2] Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Sri Lanka are the southern limits.[28] Chital occur sporadically in the forested areas throughout the rest of the Indian peninsula.[29] Within Bangladesh, it currently only exists in the Sundarbans and some ecoparks situated around the Bay of Bengal, as it became extinct in the central and north-east of the country.[2]

Australia

The chital was the first species of deer introduced into Australia in the early 1800s by John Harris, surgeon to the New South Wales Corps, and he had about 400 of these animals on his property by 1813. These did not survive, and the primary range of the chital is now confined to a few cattle stations in North Queensland near Charters Towers and several feral herds on the NSW north and south[citation needed] coasts. While some of the stock originated from Sri Lanka (Ceylon), the Indian race likely is also represented.[30][31]

The United States

In the 1860s, axis deer were introduced to the island of Molokai, Hawaii, as a gift from Hong Kong to King Kamehameha V. The deer were introduced to Lanai, another of the Hawaiian Islands, soon afterward and are now plentiful on both islands. The deer were introduced to Maui island in the 1950s to increase hunting opportunities. Because the deer have no natural predators on the Hawaiian islands, their population is growing 20 to 30% each year, causing serious damage to agriculture and natural areas.[32]

Releasing them on the island of Hawaii was planned, as well, but this was abandoned after pressure from scientists over damage to landscapes caused by the deer on other islands. In 2012, deer were spotted on the island of Hawaii; wildlife officials believe people had flown the deer by helicopter and transported them by boat onto the island. In August 2012, a helicopter pilot pleaded guilty to transporting four axis deer from Maui to Hawaii.[33] Hawaiian law now prohibits "the intentional possession or interisland transportation or release of wild or feral deer."[34]

In 1932, axis deer were introduced to Texas. In 1988, self-sustaining herds were found in 27 counties, located in Central and South Texas.[35] The deer are most populous on the Edwards Plateau, where the land is similar to that of India.[36]

Croatia

Chital of unknown origin were introduced to the islands of Brijuni in 1911. They also live on Rab Island. The population on the islands comprised about 200 individuals as of 2010. Attempts by hunters to introduce the species to the mainland of Croatia were unsuccessful.[37]

Behaviour and ecology

 
Male feeding in Nagarhole
 
Female running in Mudumalai

Chital are active throughout the day. In the summer, time is spent in rest under shade, and the sun's glare is avoided if the temperature reaches 80 °F (27 °C); activity peaks as dusk approaches. As days grow cooler, foraging begins before sunrise and peaks by early morning. Activity slows down during midday, when the animals rest or loiter about slowly. Foraging recommences by late afternoon and continues till midnight. They fall asleep a few hours before sunrise, typically in the forest which is cooler than the glades.[28] These deer typically move in a single file on specific tracks, with a distance of two to three times their width between them, when on a journey, typically in search of food and water sources.[16] A study in the Gir National Park (Gujarat, India) showed that chital travel the most in summer of all seasons.[38]

When cautiously inspecting its vicinity, the chital stands motionless and listens with rapt attention, facing the potential danger, if any. This stance may be adopted by nearby individuals, as well. As an antipredator measure, chital flee in groups (unlike the hog deer that disperse on alarm); sprints are often followed by hiding in dense undergrowth. The running chital has its tail raised, exposing the white underparts.[28] The chital can leap and clear fences as high as 1.5 m (4.9 ft) but prefers to dive under them. It stays within 300 m (980 ft) of cover.[18]

A gregarious animal, the chital forms matriarchal herds comprising an adult female and her offspring of the previous and the present year, which may be associated with individuals of any age and either sex, male herds, and herds of juveniles and mothers.[21][39] Small herds are common, though aggregations of as many as 100 individuals have been observed.[16] Groups are loose and disband frequently, save for the juvenile-mother herd.[40] Herd membership in Texas is typically up to 15;[21] herds can have five to 40 members in India.[28][41] Studies in the Nallamala Hills (Andhra Pradesh, India) and the Western Ghats (western coast of India) showed seasonal variation in the sex ratio of herds; this was attributed to the tendency of females to isolate themselves ahead of parturition. Similarly, rutting males leave their herds during the mating season, hence altering the herd composition.[39] Large herds are most common in monsoon, observed foraging in the grasslands.[41]

Predators of chitals include Indian wolves, Bengal tigers, Asiatic lions, leopards, pythons, dholes, Indian pariah dogs, bears, and crocodiles. Fishing cats, jungle cats, foxes, golden jackals and eagles target juveniles. Males are less vulnerable than females and juveniles.[18][28]

A vocal animal, the chital, akin to the North American elk, gives out bellows and alarm barks.[16] Its calls are, however, not as strong as those of elk or red deer; they are mainly coarse bellows or loud growls.[18] Bellowing coincides with rutting.[28][42] Dominant males guarding females in oestrus make high-pitched growls at less powerful males.[18] Males may moan during aggressive displays or while resting.[21] Chital, mainly females and juveniles, bark persistently when alarmed or if they encounter a predator. Fawns in search of their mother often squeal. The chital can respond to the alarm calls of several animals, such as the common myna and langurs.[18]

Marking behaviour is pronounced in males. Males have well-developed preorbital glands (near the eyes). They stand on their hind legs to reach tall branches and rub the open preorbital glands to deposit their scent there. This posture is also used while foraging. Urine marking is also observed; the smell of urine is typically stronger than that of the deposited scent. Sparring between males begins with the larger male displaying his dominance before the other; this display consists of hissing heading away from the other male with the tail facing him, the nose pointing to the ground, the ears down, the antlers upright, and the upper lip raised. The fur often bristles during the display. The male approaches the other in a slow gait. Males with velvet antlers may hunch over instead of standing erect as the males with hard antlers. The opponents then interlock their horns and push against each other, with the smaller male producing a sound at times which is louder than that produced by sambar deer, but not as much as the barasinga's. The fight terminates with the males stepping backward, or simply leaving and foraging.[18] Fights are not generally serious.[28]

Individuals may occasionally bite one another.[18] Common mynas are often attracted to the chital.[15] An interesting relationship has been observed between herds of chital and troops of the northern plains grey langurs, a widespread South Asian monkey. Chital benefit from the langurs' eyesight and ability to post a lookout from trees, while the langur benefit from the chital's strong sense of smell, both of which help keep a check on potential danger.[28] The chital also benefit from fruits dropped by langurs from trees such as Terminalia bellirica and Phyllanthus emblica.[43][44] The chital has been observed foraging with sambar deer in the Western Ghats.[39]

Diet

 
Chital graze when grasses are available, else they browse.

Grazers as well as browsers, the chital mainly feed on grasses throughout the year. They prefer young shoots, in the absence of which, tall and coarse grasses are nibbled off at the tips. Browse forms a major portion of the diet only in the winter-October to January-when the grasses, tall or dried up, are no longer palatable. Browse includes herbs, shrubs, foliage, fruits, and forbs; Moghania species are often preferred while browsing. Fruits eaten by chital in the Kanha National Park (Madhya Pradesh, India) include those of Ficus species from January to May, Cordia myxa from May to June, and Syzygium cumini from June to July. Individuals tend to group together and forage while moving slowly.[28] Chital are generally silent when grazing together. Males often stand on their hindlegs to reach tall branches. Water holes are visited nearly twice daily, with great caution.[18] In the Kanha National Park, mineral licks rich in calcium and phosphorus pentoxide were scraped at by the incisors. Chital also gnaw bones and fallen antlers for their minerals. Males in velvet indulge in such osteophagia to a greater extent.[45] Chital in the Sunderbans may be omnivores; remains of red crabs have been found in the rumen of individuals.[28]

Reproduction

 
Chital bucks sparring
 
Female with newborn

Breeding takes place throughout the year, with peaks that vary geographically. Sperm is produced year-round, though testosterone levels register a fall during the development of the antlers. Females have regular oestrus cycles, each lasting three weeks. The female can conceive again two weeks to four months after the birth. Males sporting hard antlers are dominant over those in velvet or those without antlers, irrespective of their size. Courtship is based on tending bonds. A rutting male fasts during the mating season and follows and guards a female in oestrus. The pair does several bouts of chasing and mutual licking before copulation.[18]

The newborn is hidden for a week after birth, a period much shorter than most other deer. The mother-fawn bond is not very strong, as the two get separated often, though they can reunite easily as the herds are cohesive. If the fawn dies, the mother can breed once again so as to give birth twice that year. The males continue their growth till seven to eight years. The average lifespan in captivity is nearly 22 years. The longevity in the wild, however, is merely five to ten years.[18][28]

The chital is found in large numbers in dense deciduous or semievergreen forests and open grasslands.[28] The highest numbers of chital are found in the forests of India, where they feed upon tall grass and shrubs. Chital have been also spotted in Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary in Bhutan, which has the only remaining natural sal (Shorea robusta) forest in the country. They do not occur at high altitudes, where they are usually replaced by other species such as the sambar deer. They also prefer heavy forest cover for shade and avoid direct sunlight.[18]

Conservation status

The chital is listed on the IUCN Red List as least concern "because it occurs over a very wide range within which there are many large populations".[2] Currently, no range-wide threats to chitals are present, and they live in many protected areas. However, population densities are below ecological carrying capacity in many places due to hunting and competition with domestic livestock. Hunting for the deer's meat has caused substantial declines and local extinctions.[2] The axis deer is protected under Schedule III of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972)[29] and under the Wildlife (Preservation) (Amendment) Act, 1974 of Bangladesh.[2] Two primary reasons for its good conservation status are its legal protection as a species and a network of functioning protected areas.[2]

The chital has been introduced to the Andaman Islands, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Paraguay, Uruguay, Alabama, Point Reyes National Seashore in California, Florida, Hawaii, Mississippi, and Texas in the United States, and the Veliki Brijun Island in the Brijuni Archipelago of the Istrian Peninsula in Croatia.[2][46][47]

With effect from 2 August 2022, the European Union added the chital to the list of invasive alien species and banned its import into the EU.[48]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b K. Suraprasit, J.-J. Jaegar, Y. Chaimanee, O. Chavasseau, C. Yamee, P. Tian, and S. Panha (2016). "The Middle Pleistocene vertebrate fauna from Khok Sung (Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand): biochronological and paleobiogeographical implications". ZooKeys (613): 1–157. doi:10.3897/zookeys.613.8309. PMC 5027644. PMID 27667928.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Duckworth, J.W.; Kumar, N.S.; Anwarul Islam, M.; Sagar Baral, H. & Timmins, R. (2015). "Axis axis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T41783A22158006. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T41783A22158006.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  3. ^ a b Srinivasulu, C.; Srinivasulu, B. (2012). South Asian Mammals: their Diversity, Distribution, and Status. New York: Springer. pp. 357–358. ISBN 978-1-4614-3449-8.
  4. ^ a b c Grubb, P. (2005). "Species Axis axis". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 661. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  5. ^ "Chital". Dictionary.com Unabridged (Online). n.d. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  6. ^ Platts, J. T. (1884). "चीतल ćītal". A Dictionary of Urdu, Classical Hindi, and English. London: W. H. Allen & Co. p. 470.
  7. ^ "Cheetah". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  8. ^ "Chital". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  9. ^ Erxleben, J. C. P. (1777). "Axis". Systema Regni Animalis per Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, Varietates cvm Synonymia et Historia Animalivm (in Latin). p. 312.
  10. ^ Cuvier, G. (1827). The Animal Kingdom arranged in Conformity with its Organization. Vol. 5. London: William Clowes. p. 312.
  11. ^ Groves, C. P.; Grubb, P. (1987). "Relationships of living deer". In Wemmer, C. M. (ed.). Biology and Management of the Cervidae. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. pp. 21–59. ISBN 978-0-87474-980-9.
  12. ^ Meijaard, E. & Groves, C.P. (2004). "Morphometrical relationships between South-east Asian deer (Cervidae, tribe Cervini): evolutionary and biogeographic implications". Journal of Zoology. 263 (2): 179–196. doi:10.1017/S0952836904005011.
  13. ^ Gilbert, C.; Ropiquet, A.; Hassanin, A. (2006). "Mitochondrial and nuclear phylogenies of Cervidae (Mammalia, Ruminantia): Systematics, morphology, and biogeography". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 40 (1): 101–117. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2006.02.017. PMID 16584894.
  14. ^ Di Stefano, G. & Petronio, C. (2002). (PDF). Geologica Romana. 36 (311): e334. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 March 2016.
  15. ^ a b c d Waring, G.H. (1996). "Preliminary study of the behavior and ecology of axis deer on Maui, Hawaii". Online Report Presented by the Hawaii Ecosystems at Risk (HEAR) Project.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g Schmidly, D.J. (2004). (Revised ed.). Austin, Texas (USA): University of Texas Press. pp. 263–264. ISBN 978-1-4773-0886-8. Archived from the original on 31 December 2017.
  17. ^ Kays, R.W.; Wilson, D.E. (2009). Mammals of North America (2nd ed.). Princeton, New Jersey (USA): Princeton University Press. p. 166. ISBN 978-069114092-6.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Geist, V. (1998). Deer of the World: their Evolution, Behaviour and Ecology (1st ed.). Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books. pp. 58–73. ISBN 978-081170496-0.
  19. ^ Groves, C.; Grubb, P. (1982). "Relationships of living deer". Biology and Management of the Cervidae: A Conference Held at the Conservation and Research Center, National Zoological Park, Smithsonian Institution, Front Royal, Virginia, 1–5 August 1982: 21–59.
  20. ^ Müller-Schwarze, D. (1982). "Evolution of cervid olfactory communication". Biology and Management of the Cervidae: A Conference Held at the Conservation and Research Center, National Zoological Park, Smithsonian Institution, Front Royal, Virginia, 1–5 August 1982: 223–234.
  21. ^ a b c d Ables, E.D. (1984). The Axis Deer in Texas. Texas, USA: Texas A & M University Press. pp. 1–86. ISBN 978-089096196-4.
  22. ^ Fletcher, T.J. (1986). "Reproduction: seasonality". Management and Diseases of Deer: A Handbook for the Veterinary Surgeon: 17–18.
  23. ^ Kay, R.N.B.; Phillippo, M.; Suttie, J.M.; Wenham, G. (1982). "The growth and mineralization of antlers". Journal of Physiology. 322: 4.
  24. ^ Pathak, N.N; Pattanaik, A.K; Patra, R.C; Arora, B.M (2001). "Mineral composition of antlers of three deer species reared in captivity". Small Ruminant Research. 42 (1): 61–65. doi:10.1016/S0921-4488(01)00218-8.
  25. ^ McGlashan, A. (2011). Al McGlashan's Hunting Australia. Croydon, London (UK): Australian Fishing Network. pp. 76–80. ISBN 978-186513189-4.
  26. ^ Gee, E.P. (1964). The wild life of India. London: Collins.
  27. ^ Choudhury, A.U. (1994). Checklist of the Mammals of Assam. Guwahati, India: Gibbon Books. ISBN 81-900866-0-X.
  28. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Schaller, G.B. (1984). The Deer and the Tiger: A Study of Wildlife in India (Midway reprinted ed.). Chicago: University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-022673631-0.
  29. ^ a b Sankar, K. & Acharya, B. (2004). "Chital (Axis axis (Erxleben, 1777)". ENVIS Bulletin (7): 171–180.
  30. ^ "Australia's Wild Deer". Australian Deer Research Foundation (ADRF). Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  31. ^ . Australian Deer Association. Archived from the original on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  32. ^ McAvoy, A. (2012). "Mystery deer growth pitting hunters against Hawaii". Associated Press. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  33. ^ Audrey McAvoy (22 August 2012). "Alleged animal smugglers used helicopters to fly sheep to Maui, deer to Big Island". Associated Press. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  34. ^ , Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 21 June 2012, archived from the original on 26 June 2012, retrieved 21 June 2012
  35. ^ Davis, William B., and David J. Schmidly. . The Mammals of Texas – Online Edition. Texas Tech University. Archived from the original on 31 December 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  36. ^ Ables, Ernest D. "Axis Deer". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  37. ^ Kusak, J. & Krapinec, K. (2010). "23. Ungulates and their management in Croatia". In Apollonio, M.; Andersen, R. & Putman, R. (eds.). European Ungulates and their Management in the 21st Century. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 527–539. ISBN 9780521760614.
  38. ^ Dave, C.V. (2008). Ecology of Chital (Axis axis) in Gir (PDF) (PhD thesis). Saurashtra University. pp. 21–209.
  39. ^ a b c Ramesh, T.; Sankar, K.; Qureshi, Q.; Kalle, R. (2010). "Group size, sex and age composition of chital (Axis axis) and sambar (Rusa unicolor) in a deciduous habitat of Western Ghats". Mammalian Biology – Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde. 77 (1): 53–59. doi:10.1016/j.mambio.2011.09.003.
  40. ^ de Silva, P.K.; de Silva, M. (1993). "Population structure and activity rhythm of the spotted deer in Ruhuna National Park, Sri Lanka". Developments in Animal and Veterinary Sciences (26): 285–294.
  41. ^ a b Srinivasulu, C. (2001). "Chital (Axis axis Erxleben, 1777) herd composition and sex ratio on the Nallamala Hills of Eastern Ghats, Andhra Pradesh, India". Zoos' Print Journal. 16 (12): 655–658. doi:10.11609/jott.zpj.16.12.655-8.
  42. ^ Mishra, H. and Wemmer, C. 1987. "The comparative breeding ecology of four cervids in Royal Chitwan National Park, Nepal". Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  43. ^ Prasad, S.; Chellam, R.; Krishnaswamy, J.; Goyal, S.P. (2004). (PDF). Current Science. 87 (9): 1188–1190. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2008.
  44. ^ Newton, P.N. (1989). "Associations between langur monkeys (Presbytis entellus) and chital deer (Axis axis): Chance encounters or a mutualism?". Ethology. 83 (2): 89–120. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0310.1989.tb00522.x.
  45. ^ Barrette, C. (1985). "Antler eating and antler growth in wild Axis deer". Mammalia. 49 (4). doi:10.1515/mamm.1985.49.4.491. S2CID 85046773.
  46. ^ First record of the invasive alien species Axis axis (Erxleben, 1777) (Artiodactyla: Cervidae) in Brazil
  47. ^ Ciervo Axis (Axis axis)
  48. ^ "Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1203 of 12 July 2022". Official Journal of the European Union. 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.

External links

  •   Data related to Axis axis at Wikispecies

chital, chital, cheetal, axis, axis, also, known, spotted, deer, chital, deer, axis, deer, deer, species, native, indian, subcontinent, first, described, given, binomial, name, german, naturalist, johann, christian, polycarp, erxleben, 1777, moderate, sized, d. The chital or cheetal Axis axis tʃ iː t el also known as the spotted deer chital deer and axis deer is a deer species native to the Indian subcontinent It was first described and given a binomial name by German naturalist Johann Christian Polycarp Erxleben in 1777 A moderate sized deer male chital reach 90 cm 35 in and females 70 cm 28 in at the shoulder While males weigh 70 90 kg 150 200 lb females weigh around 40 60 kg 88 132 lb It is sexually dimorphic males are larger than females and antlers are present only on males The upper parts are golden to rufous completely covered in white spots The abdomen rump throat insides of legs ears and tail are all white The antlers three pronged are nearly 1 m 3 ft 3 in long ChitalTemporal range Middle Pleistocene Present 1 StagDoeBoth in Kanha National Park in Madhya PradeshConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 2 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaOrder ArtiodactylaFamily CervidaeSubfamily CervinaeGenus AxisSpecies A axisBinomial nameAxis axis Erxleben 1777 Distribution of chital 2011 2 Synonyms 3 4 List Axis major Hodgson 1842A minor Hodgson 1842Cervus axis ceylonensis J B Fischer 1829 C a indicus J B Fischer 1829 C a maculatus Kerr 1792 C a zeylanicus Lydekker 1905 C nudipalpebra Ogilby 1831 Rusa axis zeylanicus Lydekker 1905 Contents 1 Etymology 2 Taxonomy and phylogeny 3 Description 4 Distribution and habitat 4 1 Australia 4 2 The United States 4 3 Croatia 5 Behaviour and ecology 5 1 Diet 5 2 Reproduction 6 Conservation status 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksEtymology EditThe vernacular name chital pronounced tʃ iː t el 5 comes from cital Hindi च तल derived from the Sanskrit word citrala च त रल meaning variegated or spotted 6 The name of the cheetah has a similar origin 7 Variations of chital include cheetal and cheetul 8 Other common names for the chital are Indian spotted deer or simply the spotted deer and axis deer 2 Taxonomy and phylogeny EditThe chital was first described by Johann Christian Polycarp Erxleben in 1777 as Cervus axis 9 In 1827 Charles Hamilton Smith placed the chital in its own subgenus Axis under the genus Cervus 10 4 Axis was elevated to generic status by Colin P Groves and Peter Grubb in 1987 11 The genus Hyelaphus was considered a subgenus of Axis 3 However a morphological analysis showed significant differences between Axis and Hyelaphus 12 A phylogenetic study later that year showed that Hyelaphus is closer to the genus Rusa than Axis Axis was revealed to be paraphyletic and distant from Hyelaphus in the phylogenetic tree the chital was found to form a clade with the barasingha Rucervus duvaucelii and the Schomburgk s deer Rucervus schomburgki The chital was estimated to have genetically diverged from the Rucervus lineage in the Early Pliocene about 5 million years ago The following cladogram is based on a 2006 phylogenetic study 13 Cervus fallow deer Dama dama Pere David s deer Elaphurus davidianus and RusaRucervus BarasingaSchomburgk s deerAxis ChitalIndian hog deer A porcinus Muntjacs Muntiacus Fossils of extinct Axis species dating to the early to Middle Pliocene were excavated from Iran in the west to Indochina in the east 14 Remains of the chital were found in the Middle Pleistocene deposits of Thailand along with sun bear Stegodon gaur wild water buffalo and other living and extinct mammals 1 Description Edit Male in velvet Kanha National Park The chital is a moderately sized deer Males reach up to 90 100 cm 35 39 in and females 65 75 cm 26 30 in at the shoulder the head and body length is around 1 7 m 5 ft 7 in While immature males weigh 30 75 kg 66 165 lb the lighter females weigh 25 45 kg 55 99 lb Mature stags can weigh up to 98 110 kg 216 243 lb 15 The tail 20 cm 7 9 in long is marked by a dark stripe that stretches along its length The species is sexually dimorphic males are larger than females and antlers are present only on males 16 The dorsal upper parts are golden to rufous completely covered in white spots The abdomen rump throat insides of legs ears and tail are all white 16 A conspicuous black stripe runs along the spine back bone 17 The chital has well developed preorbital glands near the eyes with stiff hairs 18 It also has well developed metatarsal glands and pedal glands located in its hind legs The preorbital glands larger in males than in females are frequently opened in response to certain stimuli 19 20 Each of the antlers has three lines on it The brow tine the first division in the antler is roughly perpendicular to the beam the central stalk of the antler 16 The antlers three pronged are nearly 1 m 3 ft 3 in long 21 Antlers as in most other cervids are shed annually The antlers emerge as soft tissues known as velvet antlers and progressively harden into bony structures known as hard antlers following mineralisation and blockage of blood vessels in the tissue from the tip to the base 22 23 A study of the mineral composition of the antlers of captive barasinga chital and hog deer showed that the antlers of the deer are very similar The mineral content of the chital s antlers was determined to be per kg 6 1 mg 0 094 gr copper 8 04 mg 0 1241 gr cobalt and 32 14 mg 0 4960 gr zinc 24 Hooves measure between 4 1 and 6 1 cm 1 6 and 2 4 in in length hooves of the fore legs are longer than those of the hind legs The toes taper to a point 15 The dental formula is 0 1 3 3 3 1 3 3 same as the elk 16 The milk canine nearly 1 cm 0 39 in long falls off before one year of age but is not replaced by a permanent tooth as in other cervids 18 Compared to the hog deer the chital has a more cursorial build The antlers and brow tines are longer than those in the hog deer The pedicles the bony cores from which antlers arise are shorter and the auditory bullae are smaller in the chital 18 The chital may be confused with the fallow deer Chital have several white spots whereas fallow deer usually have white splotches Fallow also have palmate antlers whereas chital have 3 distinct points on each side The chital has a prominent white patch on its throat while the throat of the fallow deer is completely white The biggest distinction is the dark brown stripe running down the chital s back 25 The hairs are smooth and flexible 15 Distribution and habitat EditThe chital ranges over 8 30 N in India and through Nepal Bhutan Bangladesh and Sri Lanka 4 The western limit of its range is eastern Rajasthan and Gujarat The northern limit is along the Terai belt of the foothills of the Himalaya and from Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal through to Nepal northern West Bengal and Sikkim and then to western Assam and the forested valleys of Bhutan which are below an elevation of 1 100 m 3 600 ft 2 The eastern limit of its range is through western Assam 26 27 to the Sunderbans of West Bengal and Bangladesh 2 Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Sri Lanka are the southern limits 28 Chital occur sporadically in the forested areas throughout the rest of the Indian peninsula 29 Within Bangladesh it currently only exists in the Sundarbans and some ecoparks situated around the Bay of Bengal as it became extinct in the central and north east of the country 2 Australia Edit The chital was the first species of deer introduced into Australia in the early 1800s by John Harris surgeon to the New South Wales Corps and he had about 400 of these animals on his property by 1813 These did not survive and the primary range of the chital is now confined to a few cattle stations in North Queensland near Charters Towers and several feral herds on the NSW north and south citation needed coasts While some of the stock originated from Sri Lanka Ceylon the Indian race likely is also represented 30 31 The United States Edit In the 1860s axis deer were introduced to the island of Molokai Hawaii as a gift from Hong Kong to King Kamehameha V The deer were introduced to Lanai another of the Hawaiian Islands soon afterward and are now plentiful on both islands The deer were introduced to Maui island in the 1950s to increase hunting opportunities Because the deer have no natural predators on the Hawaiian islands their population is growing 20 to 30 each year causing serious damage to agriculture and natural areas 32 Releasing them on the island of Hawaii was planned as well but this was abandoned after pressure from scientists over damage to landscapes caused by the deer on other islands In 2012 deer were spotted on the island of Hawaii wildlife officials believe people had flown the deer by helicopter and transported them by boat onto the island In August 2012 a helicopter pilot pleaded guilty to transporting four axis deer from Maui to Hawaii 33 Hawaiian law now prohibits the intentional possession or interisland transportation or release of wild or feral deer 34 In 1932 axis deer were introduced to Texas In 1988 self sustaining herds were found in 27 counties located in Central and South Texas 35 The deer are most populous on the Edwards Plateau where the land is similar to that of India 36 Croatia Edit Chital of unknown origin were introduced to the islands of Brijuni in 1911 They also live on Rab Island The population on the islands comprised about 200 individuals as of 2010 Attempts by hunters to introduce the species to the mainland of Croatia were unsuccessful 37 Behaviour and ecology Edit Male feeding in Nagarhole Female running in Mudumalai Chital are active throughout the day In the summer time is spent in rest under shade and the sun s glare is avoided if the temperature reaches 80 F 27 C activity peaks as dusk approaches As days grow cooler foraging begins before sunrise and peaks by early morning Activity slows down during midday when the animals rest or loiter about slowly Foraging recommences by late afternoon and continues till midnight They fall asleep a few hours before sunrise typically in the forest which is cooler than the glades 28 These deer typically move in a single file on specific tracks with a distance of two to three times their width between them when on a journey typically in search of food and water sources 16 A study in the Gir National Park Gujarat India showed that chital travel the most in summer of all seasons 38 When cautiously inspecting its vicinity the chital stands motionless and listens with rapt attention facing the potential danger if any This stance may be adopted by nearby individuals as well As an antipredator measure chital flee in groups unlike the hog deer that disperse on alarm sprints are often followed by hiding in dense undergrowth The running chital has its tail raised exposing the white underparts 28 The chital can leap and clear fences as high as 1 5 m 4 9 ft but prefers to dive under them It stays within 300 m 980 ft of cover 18 A gregarious animal the chital forms matriarchal herds comprising an adult female and her offspring of the previous and the present year which may be associated with individuals of any age and either sex male herds and herds of juveniles and mothers 21 39 Small herds are common though aggregations of as many as 100 individuals have been observed 16 Groups are loose and disband frequently save for the juvenile mother herd 40 Herd membership in Texas is typically up to 15 21 herds can have five to 40 members in India 28 41 Studies in the Nallamala Hills Andhra Pradesh India and the Western Ghats western coast of India showed seasonal variation in the sex ratio of herds this was attributed to the tendency of females to isolate themselves ahead of parturition Similarly rutting males leave their herds during the mating season hence altering the herd composition 39 Large herds are most common in monsoon observed foraging in the grasslands 41 Predators of chitals include Indian wolves Bengal tigers Asiatic lions leopards pythons dholes Indian pariah dogs bears and crocodiles Fishing cats jungle cats foxes golden jackals and eagles target juveniles Males are less vulnerable than females and juveniles 18 28 A vocal animal the chital akin to the North American elk gives out bellows and alarm barks 16 Its calls are however not as strong as those of elk or red deer they are mainly coarse bellows or loud growls 18 Bellowing coincides with rutting 28 42 Dominant males guarding females in oestrus make high pitched growls at less powerful males 18 Males may moan during aggressive displays or while resting 21 Chital mainly females and juveniles bark persistently when alarmed or if they encounter a predator Fawns in search of their mother often squeal The chital can respond to the alarm calls of several animals such as the common myna and langurs 18 Marking behaviour is pronounced in males Males have well developed preorbital glands near the eyes They stand on their hind legs to reach tall branches and rub the open preorbital glands to deposit their scent there This posture is also used while foraging Urine marking is also observed the smell of urine is typically stronger than that of the deposited scent Sparring between males begins with the larger male displaying his dominance before the other this display consists of hissing heading away from the other male with the tail facing him the nose pointing to the ground the ears down the antlers upright and the upper lip raised The fur often bristles during the display The male approaches the other in a slow gait Males with velvet antlers may hunch over instead of standing erect as the males with hard antlers The opponents then interlock their horns and push against each other with the smaller male producing a sound at times which is louder than that produced by sambar deer but not as much as the barasinga s The fight terminates with the males stepping backward or simply leaving and foraging 18 Fights are not generally serious 28 Individuals may occasionally bite one another 18 Common mynas are often attracted to the chital 15 An interesting relationship has been observed between herds of chital and troops of the northern plains grey langurs a widespread South Asian monkey Chital benefit from the langurs eyesight and ability to post a lookout from trees while the langur benefit from the chital s strong sense of smell both of which help keep a check on potential danger 28 The chital also benefit from fruits dropped by langurs from trees such as Terminalia bellirica and Phyllanthus emblica 43 44 The chital has been observed foraging with sambar deer in the Western Ghats 39 Diet Edit Chital graze when grasses are available else they browse Grazers as well as browsers the chital mainly feed on grasses throughout the year They prefer young shoots in the absence of which tall and coarse grasses are nibbled off at the tips Browse forms a major portion of the diet only in the winter October to January when the grasses tall or dried up are no longer palatable Browse includes herbs shrubs foliage fruits and forbs Moghania species are often preferred while browsing Fruits eaten by chital in the Kanha National Park Madhya Pradesh India include those of Ficus species from January to May Cordia myxa from May to June and Syzygium cumini from June to July Individuals tend to group together and forage while moving slowly 28 Chital are generally silent when grazing together Males often stand on their hindlegs to reach tall branches Water holes are visited nearly twice daily with great caution 18 In the Kanha National Park mineral licks rich in calcium and phosphorus pentoxide were scraped at by the incisors Chital also gnaw bones and fallen antlers for their minerals Males in velvet indulge in such osteophagia to a greater extent 45 Chital in the Sunderbans may be omnivores remains of red crabs have been found in the rumen of individuals 28 Reproduction Edit Chital bucks sparring Female with newborn Breeding takes place throughout the year with peaks that vary geographically Sperm is produced year round though testosterone levels register a fall during the development of the antlers Females have regular oestrus cycles each lasting three weeks The female can conceive again two weeks to four months after the birth Males sporting hard antlers are dominant over those in velvet or those without antlers irrespective of their size Courtship is based on tending bonds A rutting male fasts during the mating season and follows and guards a female in oestrus The pair does several bouts of chasing and mutual licking before copulation 18 The newborn is hidden for a week after birth a period much shorter than most other deer The mother fawn bond is not very strong as the two get separated often though they can reunite easily as the herds are cohesive If the fawn dies the mother can breed once again so as to give birth twice that year The males continue their growth till seven to eight years The average lifespan in captivity is nearly 22 years The longevity in the wild however is merely five to ten years 18 28 The chital is found in large numbers in dense deciduous or semievergreen forests and open grasslands 28 The highest numbers of chital are found in the forests of India where they feed upon tall grass and shrubs Chital have been also spotted in Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary in Bhutan which has the only remaining natural sal Shorea robusta forest in the country They do not occur at high altitudes where they are usually replaced by other species such as the sambar deer They also prefer heavy forest cover for shade and avoid direct sunlight 18 Conservation status EditThe chital is listed on the IUCN Red List as least concern because it occurs over a very wide range within which there are many large populations 2 Currently no range wide threats to chitals are present and they live in many protected areas However population densities are below ecological carrying capacity in many places due to hunting and competition with domestic livestock Hunting for the deer s meat has caused substantial declines and local extinctions 2 The axis deer is protected under Schedule III of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972 29 and under the Wildlife Preservation Amendment Act 1974 of Bangladesh 2 Two primary reasons for its good conservation status are its legal protection as a species and a network of functioning protected areas 2 The chital has been introduced to the Andaman Islands Argentina Australia Brazil Chile Mexico Paraguay Uruguay Alabama Point Reyes National Seashore in California Florida Hawaii Mississippi and Texas in the United States and the Veliki Brijun Island in the Brijuni Archipelago of the Istrian Peninsula in Croatia 2 46 47 With effect from 2 August 2022 the European Union added the chital to the list of invasive alien species and banned its import into the EU 48 See also EditSri Lankan axis deer Sambar deer BarasinghaReferences Edit a b K Suraprasit J J Jaegar Y Chaimanee O Chavasseau C Yamee P Tian and S Panha 2016 The Middle Pleistocene vertebrate fauna from Khok Sung Nakhon Ratchasima Thailand biochronological and paleobiogeographical implications ZooKeys 613 1 157 doi 10 3897 zookeys 613 8309 PMC 5027644 PMID 27667928 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link a b c d e f g h i j k Duckworth J W Kumar N S Anwarul Islam M Sagar Baral H amp Timmins R 2015 Axis axis IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015 e T41783A22158006 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2015 4 RLTS T41783A22158006 en Retrieved 19 November 2021 a b Srinivasulu C Srinivasulu B 2012 South Asian Mammals their Diversity Distribution and Status New York Springer pp 357 358 ISBN 978 1 4614 3449 8 a b c Grubb P 2005 Species Axis axis In Wilson D E Reeder D M eds Mammal Species of the World A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference 3rd ed Johns Hopkins University Press p 661 ISBN 978 0 8018 8221 0 OCLC 62265494 Chital Dictionary com Unabridged Online n d Retrieved 24 December 2019 Platts J T 1884 च तल cital A Dictionary of Urdu Classical Hindi and English London W H Allen amp Co p 470 Cheetah Merriam Webster Dictionary Retrieved 10 March 2016 Chital Merriam Webster Dictionary Retrieved 24 December 2019 Erxleben J C P 1777 Axis Systema Regni Animalis per Classes Ordines Genera Species Varietates cvm Synonymia et Historia Animalivm in Latin p 312 Cuvier G 1827 The Animal Kingdom arranged in Conformity with its Organization Vol 5 London William Clowes p 312 Groves C P Grubb P 1987 Relationships of living deer In Wemmer C M ed Biology and Management of the Cervidae Washington D C Smithsonian Institution Press pp 21 59 ISBN 978 0 87474 980 9 Meijaard E amp Groves C P 2004 Morphometrical relationships between South east Asian deer Cervidae tribe Cervini evolutionary and biogeographic implications Journal of Zoology 263 2 179 196 doi 10 1017 S0952836904005011 Gilbert C Ropiquet A Hassanin A 2006 Mitochondrial and nuclear phylogenies of Cervidae Mammalia Ruminantia Systematics morphology and biogeography Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 40 1 101 117 doi 10 1016 j ympev 2006 02 017 PMID 16584894 Di Stefano G amp Petronio C 2002 Systematics and evolution of the Eurasian Plio Pleistocene tribe Cervini Artiodactyla Mammalia PDF Geologica Romana 36 311 e334 Archived from the original PDF on 10 March 2016 a b c d Waring G H 1996 Preliminary study of the behavior and ecology of axis deer on Maui Hawaii Online Report Presented by the Hawaii Ecosystems at Risk HEAR Project a b c d e f g Schmidly D J 2004 The Mammals of Texas Revised ed Austin Texas USA University of Texas Press pp 263 264 ISBN 978 1 4773 0886 8 Archived from the original on 31 December 2017 Kays R W Wilson D E 2009 Mammals of North America 2nd ed Princeton New Jersey USA Princeton University Press p 166 ISBN 978 069114092 6 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Geist V 1998 Deer of the World their Evolution Behaviour and Ecology 1st ed Mechanicsburg Pennsylvania Stackpole Books pp 58 73 ISBN 978 081170496 0 Groves C Grubb P 1982 Relationships of living deer Biology and Management of the Cervidae A Conference Held at the Conservation and Research Center National Zoological Park Smithsonian Institution Front Royal Virginia 1 5 August 1982 21 59 Muller Schwarze D 1982 Evolution of cervid olfactory communication Biology and Management of the Cervidae A Conference Held at the Conservation and Research Center National Zoological Park Smithsonian Institution Front Royal Virginia 1 5 August 1982 223 234 a b c d Ables E D 1984 The Axis Deer in Texas Texas USA Texas A amp M University Press pp 1 86 ISBN 978 089096196 4 Fletcher T J 1986 Reproduction seasonality Management and Diseases of Deer A Handbook for the Veterinary Surgeon 17 18 Kay R N B Phillippo M Suttie J M Wenham G 1982 The growth and mineralization of antlers Journal of Physiology 322 4 Pathak N N Pattanaik A K Patra R C Arora B M 2001 Mineral composition of antlers of three deer species reared in captivity Small Ruminant Research 42 1 61 65 doi 10 1016 S0921 4488 01 00218 8 McGlashan A 2011 Al McGlashan s Hunting Australia Croydon London UK Australian Fishing Network pp 76 80 ISBN 978 186513189 4 Gee E P 1964 The wild life of India London Collins Choudhury A U 1994 Checklist of the Mammals of Assam Guwahati India Gibbon Books ISBN 81 900866 0 X a b c d e f g h i j k l Schaller G B 1984 The Deer and the Tiger A Study of Wildlife in India Midway reprinted ed Chicago University of Chicago Press ISBN 978 022673631 0 a b Sankar K amp Acharya B 2004 Chital Axis axis Erxleben 1777 ENVIS Bulletin 7 171 180 Australia s Wild Deer Australian Deer Research Foundation ADRF Retrieved 17 February 2016 Deer in Australia Australian Deer Association Archived from the original on 20 February 2016 Retrieved 17 February 2016 McAvoy A 2012 Mystery deer growth pitting hunters against Hawaii Associated Press Retrieved 24 May 2012 Audrey McAvoy 22 August 2012 Alleged animal smugglers used helicopters to fly sheep to Maui deer to Big Island Associated Press Retrieved 22 August 2012 New law prohibits having or releasing feral deer in Hawaii Honolulu Star Advertiser 21 June 2012 archived from the original on 26 June 2012 retrieved 21 June 2012 Davis William B and David J Schmidly Axis Deer The Mammals of Texas Online Edition Texas Tech University Archived from the original on 31 December 2017 Retrieved 24 May 2012 Ables Ernest D Axis Deer Handbook of Texas Online Texas State Historical Association Retrieved 24 May 2012 Kusak J amp Krapinec K 2010 23 Ungulates and their management in Croatia In Apollonio M Andersen R amp Putman R eds European Ungulates and their Management in the 21st Century Cambridge Cambridge University Press pp 527 539 ISBN 9780521760614 Dave C V 2008 Ecology of Chital Axis axis in Gir PDF PhD thesis Saurashtra University pp 21 209 a b c Ramesh T Sankar K Qureshi Q Kalle R 2010 Group size sex and age composition of chital Axis axis and sambar Rusa unicolor in a deciduous habitat of Western Ghats Mammalian Biology Zeitschrift fur Saugetierkunde 77 1 53 59 doi 10 1016 j mambio 2011 09 003 de Silva P K de Silva M 1993 Population structure and activity rhythm of the spotted deer in Ruhuna National Park Sri Lanka Developments in Animal and Veterinary Sciences 26 285 294 a b Srinivasulu C 2001 Chital Axis axis Erxleben 1777 herd composition and sex ratio on the Nallamala Hills of Eastern Ghats Andhra Pradesh India Zoos Print Journal 16 12 655 658 doi 10 11609 jott zpj 16 12 655 8 Mishra H and Wemmer C 1987 The comparative breeding ecology of four cervids in Royal Chitwan National Park Nepal Washington D C Smithsonian Institution Press Prasad S Chellam R Krishnaswamy J Goyal S P 2004 Frugivory of Phyllanthus emblica at Rajaji National Park northwest India PDF Current Science 87 9 1188 1190 Archived from the original PDF on 24 September 2015 Retrieved 22 February 2008 Newton P N 1989 Associations between langur monkeys Presbytis entellus and chital deer Axis axis Chance encounters or a mutualism Ethology 83 2 89 120 doi 10 1111 j 1439 0310 1989 tb00522 x Barrette C 1985 Antler eating and antler growth in wild Axis deer Mammalia 49 4 doi 10 1515 mamm 1985 49 4 491 S2CID 85046773 First record of the invasive alien species Axis axis Erxleben 1777 Artiodactyla Cervidae in Brazil Ciervo Axis Axis axis Commission Implementing Regulation EU 2022 1203 of 12 July 2022 Official Journal of the European Union 2022 Retrieved 29 July 2022 External links Edit Data related to Axis axis at Wikispecies Wikimedia Commons has media related to Axis axis Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chital amp oldid 1154222029, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.