3350 x 5025 px | 28,4 x 42,5 cm | 11,2 x 16,8 inches | 300dpi
Altre informazioni:
Richard Lydekker 1849 1915 English naturalist, geologist writer book London Geological Survey India vertebrate paleontology northern India Kashmir fossil mammals reptiles bird Natural History Museum Manual Palaeontology Henry Alleyne Nicholson Wild Animals of Burma Malay Tibetr biogeography biogeographical boundary Indonesia Lydekker's Line Wallacea Australia-New Guinea Royal Natural History London Frederick Warne & co 1893-94 six volume Red Deer Cervus elaphus is one of the largest deer species. The Red Deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Asia Minor and parts of western and central Asia. It also inhabits the Atlas Mountains region between Algeria and Tunisia in northwestern Africa, being the only species of deer to inhabit Africa. Red Deer have been introduced to other areas including Australia, New Zealand and Argentina. In many parts of the world the meat (venison) from Red Deer is widely used as a food source. Red Deer are ruminants, characterized by an even number of toes, and a four-chambered stomach. Recent DNA evidence indicates that the Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) and the East Asian and North American Elk (Wapiti) (Cervus canadensis) represent two distinct species. They also hint at an additional primordial subgroup of Central Asian Red Deer. The ancestor of all Red Deer probably originated in Central Asia and likely resembled Sika Deer. Although at one time Red Deer were rare in some areas, they were never close to extinction. Reintroduction and conservation efforts, especially in the United Kingdom, have resulted in an increase of Red Deer populations, while other areas, such as North Africa, have continued to show a population decline.