Chamois © JJ Harrison
For many people, deer are perhaps the most familiar and common large mammal. Across the United States, white-tailed deer are found in the countryside, suburbs and even cities, and are often the "culprits" in the destruction of natural landscapes, forest ecosystems and traffic accidents.
There are 55 known species of deer worldwide (taxonomically controversial), including some large and attractive mammals such as moose, elk and reindeer, as well as smaller, mysterious and bizarre appearances. Some deer have no antlers but have tusks, some deer bark, and some deer have not been found by researchers in reality.
Here are 6 cool and mysterious fawns, as well as their range of activities.
1. Porpotes inermis
獐 © Nick Goodrum
Unlike most deer, roe deer have no antlers but long teeth – actually drooping canine teeth. The tusks of roe deer are so conspicuous that sometimes people call them "vampire deer". Males usually strike at their opponents' fangs when they fight each other, and they also use their fangs as weapons to fight.
The roe deer's homeland is in most of the Korean Peninsula and parts of China. In the late 19th century, the roe deer was introduced to Woburn Abbey in England, a deer park famous for its exotic species. Later, Woburn Manor and the roe deer in another park in England escaped, and the fleeing roe deer multiplied into herds, forming wild deer herds in some parts of England.
Visible location: The roe deer is widely distributed in Korea and is considered an agricultural pest animal. Some observers have reported finding traces of roe deer in places like Seosan Lake. There is no doubt that roe deer are more common in the UK, and this unique deer family can be seen at Woburn Manor.
For those who love deer watching, Woburn Manor is a must-see. You can see roe deer and other deer in the scenic, historic manor house. Woburn Manor also managed to save elk from extinction, perhaps the most bizarre rescue operation ever made to save the species.
2. Pudu
Pudu Deer © Frederic BISSON
Two close relatives of the Pudu deer– the Northern Pudu deer and the Southern Pudu deer – are the smallest deer on Earth. They are about 12 to 17 inches (about 30 to 43 centimeters) long at shoulders, and the newborn fawn is only 6 inches (about 15 centimeters) tall, and they are incredibly cute, a bit like a rabbit, like bambi, and like a stuffed toy.
Male Purdue deer have short antlers and no bifurcations. This deer lives in temperate rainforests in South America and is seriously threatened by habitat loss.
Visible location: It's not easy to find a Pudu deer in the dense rainforest. Mammalian watcher Jon Hall recommends a trip to Parque Tepuhueico in Chile, a private reserve that is a great spot to spot southern Purdue deer. Also in Chile, the Nature Conservancy's Valdivian Coastal Reserve provides excellent habitat for the Pudu deer, with automatic tracking cameras in the reserve that monitor the activity of the Purdue deer in real time.
3. Red Chamois (Muntiacus muntjac)
© Brian Gratwicke
The chamois has antlers, but other than that, this Asian deer bears little resemblance to the white-tailed deer in your backyard. The chamois is small and often hides in dense forests. Its canine teeth are fang-shaped and used in combat, and they make sharp and loud barks when frightened.
There are about 15 species of chamois, most of which are distributed in South Asia. Among them, the red chamois is relatively common, but people still know very little about them. Red chamois have fewer chromosomes than other mammals (7 males and 6 females).
Unlike most ungulate mammals, the red chamois is omnivorous, with records showing that they feed on eggs and even carrion. The red chamois has a visible suborbital gland— a dark spot under the eye that marks its territory with scents.
Visible locations: Make a stop in India's national parks such as Bandarga National Park and Kazilanga National Park and you're likely to see the sight of chamois (known locally as bark deer). The chamois usually rush back into the dense forest, leaving only a quick glimpse.
Reeves's muntjac is another deer introduced to Woburn Manor. Like the roe deer, the chamois has escaped from Woburn Manor and has now begun to spread and can be found everywhere in the English countryside.
4. Muntiacus truongsonensis
We didn't find pictures of the Long Mountain Chamois, only pictures of the Central and Southern Oryx. © Bill Robichaud
In 1997, scientists found traces of the Long Sam chamois in the Choi Son Mountains of Vietnam. However, the Central-South Oryx nghetinhensis found in the same mountain range is more remarkable. The Central Andyx is a large mammal that resembles a cow.
Western researchers have not seen the Zhongnan gazelle, nor have they seen the Long Mountain Chamois. The original species descriptions of the chamois were based on skulls found in village markets and houses. In the 10 years that began in 2004, researchers found no further evidence of the existence of the chamois. It wasn't until 2014 that a forester discovered that a catcher had caught a chamois and released it, which was recorded on video.
The Choi Son Mountains are home to another endemic chamois, the Vietnamese Muntiacus vuquangensis. Unfortunately, rampant poachers have laid multiple traps in the mountains, putting the Vietnamese giant chamois at serious risk.
Visible location: The Long Mountain Chamois is a very rare mammal. To see the Long Mountain Chamois, you need to go through a hard adventure, with extraordinary wild skills and excellent luck.
5. Mazama nana
© Niall Corbet
At first glance, the shorthorn deer resembles a chamois found in the New World. In fact, the two species of deer are not very closely related. The shorthorn deer is small and mysterious, and lives in the forests of the Yucatan Peninsula in Central and southern South America.
Until the 1990s, taxonomists had only found 4 species of shorthorn deer. Recent studies have shown that there may be as many as 23 species in the genus Brachycephalus, some of which are more common in national parks, nature reserves and cultural sites, and even appear frequently and briefly.
However, even for researchers, many species of shorthorn deer are rare. A good example is the shorthorn deer. Found in a small area on the border of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, the short-horned deer are mysteriously exposed day and night. On this crowded, researched earth, there are still secrets. The same is true of the study of deer, which is full of mystery.
Visible Locations: There are reports that shortfoot deer can be seen in Falls National Park in Argentina. Given the crowding of this famous tourist attraction, and the lush forest surrounding it, I think the odds of seeing the croquettes there are no less likely than winning the lottery – but still worth a try.
There are many great wildlife sanctuaries in Latin America, and if you look closely at all times, you can spot other species of shorthorn deer.
6. Axis porcinus
Dolphin Deer © Mike Prince
Dolphin deer are physically robust and live on grassy floodplains, so they are more common than most of the other deer we mentioned. The deer has short legs and its head is tilted back when running, so it doesn't look like a deer and more like a pig (hence the name). Guinea deer are typically solitary animals, but after a fire, they flock to grass and feed on grass buds.
Many of the world's deer are not as well off as white-tailed deer, as are guinea deer. Over the past 25 years, due to poaching and habitat loss, the number of guinea deer has decreased by more than 90% in South Asia.
Visible location: Kaziranga National Park in northeastern India is the home base of guinea deer, where about 15,000 dolphin deer live. In this spectacular park, you can also see one-horned rhinos, elephants, wild buffaloes, deer and other animals. It is one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in the world.
Nepal's Royal Chitwan and Bardia National Parks also have many porcupine deer for visitors to see.