Animals
Chital Deer
Class: Mammal
Geographical Region: Asia
- Distribution & Habitat
- Description & Behaviour
- Reproduction
- Diet
- Threats & Conservation
- Interesting information
Distribution & Habitat
Native to India and Sri Lanka, the Chital Deer prefers open woodland in grassy areas. They are frequently found close to water.
Description & Behaviour
A chital stands about 90cm at the shoulder and weighs about 85kg. Males are larger in size than the females and have thicker necks and chests. Males are darker in colour, especially around the head and face, and this darkening becomes more pronounced with age.
Its antlers are usually three-pronged, curve in a lyre shape and may grow up to 75cm in length. Antlers are usually shed every 18 months rather than annually, as with deer from more temperature climates.
Chital deer have a keen sense of smell and excellent hearing. They also swim well and take readily to water.
Herd movements are led by an adult female. They congregate in groups of 5 to 10 but occasionally in groups of up to 100.
They are often fairly tolerant of approach by humans and vehicles, especially where they are accustomed to human disturbance.
An interesting relationship has been observed between herds of chital and troops of the Northern Plains Grey Langur, a leaf-eating monkey. Chital apparently benefit from the langurs' good eyesight and ability to post a lookout in a treetop, helping to raise the alarm when a predator approaches. For the langurs' part, the chital's superior sense of smell assist in early predator warning, and it is common to see langurs foraging on the ground in the presence of chital. The chital also benefit from fruits dropped by the langurs from trees.
Reproduction
Births may occur throughout the year. For this reason, males do not have their antler cycles in synchrony and there are some fertile females at all times of the year. Males sporting hard antlers are dominant over those in velvet or those without antlers, irrespective of their size and other factors.
Lifespan is around 20-30 years.
Diet
Grass makes up a large proportion of the diet, but they also feed on herbaceous plants and browse on twigs and leaves. They will also eat their shed antlers as a source of nutrients.
They feed in the morning and evening, resting in the midday heat.
Chital deer will follow troops of monkeys through the forest, eating the discarded fruit that monkeys throw away.
Threats & Conservation
Their main predators are pythons, wild dogs (dhole), tigers and leopards.
Interesting information
- Also known as axis or spotted deer.
- 'Chital' is a Hindi word meaning spotted.
- The Chital is called Jinke in Kannada, Pulli Maan in Tamil, Duppi in Telugu, Phutuki Horin in Assamese and Hiran in Hindi (ultimately derived from Harini, the Sanskrit root word for 'deer').
- It has been introduced to Queensland, Australia, Point Reyes National Seashore near San Francisco, California, Texas and Florida as well as Hawaii in the United States.
- Chital deer are hunted for sport and its meat and hide in the United States. Axis meat is 99.8% fat free, making it the leanest meat of any mammal. The taste of the meat is very close to good beef.
- Chital deer have the distinction of being the first species imported into Australia. Dr John Harris, surgeon to the 102nd Regiment of Foot (NSW Corps) had chital enclosed at Blackwattle Swamp near Ultimo in Sydney as early as 1803. Though the fate of these animals is unknown, they were later released in other states, particularly Queensland and Victoria.
- The only known herd known established in the wild in Australia inhabits the country around Maryvale Creek in Queensland