Axis calamianensis (Heude, 1888)
publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6514377 |
DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6514466 |
persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03A087C4-FFCC-FFCD-FF01-FD23E21EF941 |
treatment provided by |
Conny |
scientific name |
Axis calamianensis |
status |
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Calamian Deer
Axis calamianensis View in CoL
French: Cerf des Calamian / German: Calamian-Schweinshirsch / Spanish: Axis de Calamianes
Taxonomy. Cervus calamianensis Heude, 1888 ,
Calamian Islands.
It has previously been treated as a subspecies of A. porcinus . Monotypic.
Distribution. Calamian Is (Busuanga, Calauit, Culion, Marily & Dimaquiat). View Figure
Descriptive notes. Head-body on average 130 cm, tail 20 cm, shoulder height 60— 75 cm; weight 35-50 kg. Medium-sized, relatively long-legged deer with a bushy tail; males have prominent pedicles and short three-tined antlers 20-30 cm in length. The coat is tawny brown, with legs much darker than body; the muzzle is whitish.
Habitat. It lives in grasslands, open woodlands, secondary forests.
Food and Feeding. It primarily feeds on forbs and grasses but also on leaves and twigs.
Breeding. Females attain puberty at about 8-15 months of age. After a gestation of around 222-226 days they give birth to a single fawn weighing 1.1-6 kg. Fawns are able to suckle an hour after birth. Weaning occurs after 4-6 months.
Activity patterns. It is diurnal and crepuscular.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. It is often observed in small groups.
Status and Conservation. CITES Annex I. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List. In 1996 the total population size was estimated at 550 animals. It is decreasing; hunting pressure and agricultural expansion are major threats.
Bibliography. Groves & Grubb (1987), Villamor (1987, 1991), Wemmer (1998).
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.