Red Deer (Cervus elaphus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Cervus ("deer") elaphus ("deer")

Herd of Red Deer (subspecies C. e. scoticus) at Haweswater, Cumbria - April 2011

Featured Subspecies: Cervus elaphus scoticus
Weight: 160-240kg  /  Length: 201cm 
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Red Deer holds many size related records in the UK - it is the biggest extant land animal in the UK and the fourth largest deer in the world. They are one of only two native deer to the UK (along with the Roe, all others have been introduced) and are probably about the easiest to see if you are in the right place - they favour open country a lot more than the rest of the species which prefer woodland. Particularly common in the North of the country in mountainous and hilly country where it is often managed for shooting estates.

Related Species:
Order: Artiodactyla 
Family: Cervidae 
Genus: Cervus 
SUBSPECIES: C. e. elaphus, C. e. alashanicus, C. e. atlanticus, C. e. barbarus, C. e. brauneri, C. e. canadensis, C. e. corsicanus, C. e. hanglu, C. e. hispanicus, C. e. kansuensis, C. e. macnelli, C. e. maral, C.e. nannodes, C. e. pannoniensis, C. e. scoticus, C. e. songaricus, C. e. wallichii, C. e. xanthopygus, C. e. yarkandensis

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A locally abundant resident

 - Seen around Haweswater

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List,  RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Sika Deer (Cervus nippon)

OTHER NAMES: Spotted Deer, Japanese Deer

Latin Etymology: Cervus ("deer") nippon ("of Japan")

Adult Sika Deer (subspecies C. n. yesoensis) at Akkeshi, Japan - December 2014

Featured Subspecies: Ezo Deer - Cervus nippon yesoensis
Weight: 45-109kg  /  Length: 95-180cm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUTATED / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Sika Deer are the closest relation of the Red Deer and native to the Far East of Asia.  In addition to their close relationship, the Sika Deer in Japan has also benefited from the eradication of wolves in its native range, meaning that its population has exploded mostly unchecked except for humans.  The Sika deer has also been introduced into the UK in several places, and there are a number of feral populations present, some of which have been interbreeding with native red deer.

Related Species:
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Cervidae
Genus: Cervus
Subspecies: C. n. aplodontus, C. n. grassianus, C. n. keramae, C. n. kopschi, C. n. mandarinus, C. n. mantchuricus, C. n. nippon, C. n. pseudaxis, C. n. pulchellus, C. n. sichuanicus, C. n. soloensis, C. n. taioanus, C. n. yesoensis

 - Sighting Locations -

JAPAN - Japanese - ニホンジカ  /  Nihonjika ("Japan Deer") 

Widespread resident

 - TOKYO/HOKKAIDO 2014 TRIP: Several seen from train near Akkeshi 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .