Elaphurus davidianus, Milne Edwards, 1866

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2011, Cervidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 2 Hoofed Mammals, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 350-443 : 425

28.

Pere David's Deer

Elaphurus davidianus

French ert du Père David Gaiman Davidshiisch Spenleh Ciervode Padre David

Taxonomy. Elaphurus davidíanus Milne Edwards, 1866 ,

Imperial Hunting Park near Peking.

The genus appeared in the Late Pliocene of China and japan. Some genetic studie have related to Ruœruus aldi. lts scientific and common names refer to Père A. David. French Lazarite missionary and naturalist. who was able to collect the first skins in 1865. Monotypic.

Distribution. Reintroduced into E China since 1985; main inirocduced populations marked on the map.

Descriptive notes. Head-hody 195-210 cm for males (adult stags) and 180-190 cm for females (hinds), tail length 35 cm, shoulder height 120-140 cm (stags) and 110-120 cm (hinds); weight of 169-220 kg (stags) and 140-170 kg (hinds). Males are on average 40% heavier than females. A large-sized deer, with short neck, elongated and narrow head, large eyes, long legs, and long tail with a terminal tuft. The lachrymal pits are large. The permanent dentition is 34 teeth and the incisors are specialized for grazing. In summer, the coat is reddish-brown with a black dorsal stripe; the winter pelage is grayish-brown with the underside bright cream. Stags have a throat mane. Newborn calves are spotted. Only the preorbital gland is present. Males have very peculiar antlers, consisting of a very short basal beam and two shafts, an almost vertical branched foreshaft and a simpler, backward-pointing hindshaft with thorn-like snags Antler casting occurs in November—January, velvet shedding in April-May. Hooves are large and splayed.

Habitat. Plains, grasslands, and reed marshes.

Food and Feeding. It primarily feeds on grasses, reeds, and leaves.

Breeding. Females attain puberty at 14-26 months of age. They are seasonally nolyestrous, with an estrous cycle of 18-20 days. Stags begin to compete for reproduction at four years of age. Mating season occurs in june-August. Stags join the female groups and compete to defend a harem. They roar, adorn their antlers with soil and vegetation, spray urine, and wallow. At high density they may adopt a lekking behavior. A stag following an estrous hind makes slow, rhythmic left-right antler movements (“swaggering”). After a gestation of 283-287 days, hinds give birth to a single calf weighing 11-12 kg in March-April. The calf can stand after 40 minutes and nurses after one hour; it remains hidden for around five days. The white spots on its coat fade after two months. Weaning occurs at 6-10 months of age. Normally Pere David's Deer live to a maximum of 18 years of age. Maximum longevity in captivity is 23 years.

Activity patterns. It is diurnal and crepuscular.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. It is very agile on moist ground and spends a lot of time in water. It can swim well. It is a social species, forming male and female groups. Mixed-sex groups are present only during the mating season.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Extinct in the Wild on The IUCN Red List. It became extinct a long time ago, perhaps 1800 years ago, and was preserved by the Chinese Emperor in his Imperial Hunting Park not far from Beijing. After the extermination of the last animals in the Hunting Park in 1900, the species was saved by a captive breeding program begun in England by the Duke of Bedford. In 1985-2002 the reintroduction into China took place. Currently, there are in China 53 herds, with a total of more than 2000 individuals. Four localities have the most numerous herds: Milu Park in Beijing, Dafeng Reserve, Tian’ezhou Wetland Reserve, and Yuanyang.

Bibliography. Beck & Wemmer (1983), Geist (1998), Jiang Zigang et al. (2000), Schaller & Hamer (1978), Wemmeret al. (1989), Zeng Yan et al. (2007).

Figures

27. White-lipped Deer Cervus albirostris French cerf à museau blanc German Weißlippenhirsch Spanish Ciervo hociblanco Other common names Thoıold (s Deer), 28. Pere David's Deer Elaphurus davidianus French ert du Père David Gaiman Davidshiisch Spenleh Ciervode (Padre David), 29. Brow-antlered Deer (Rucervus eldii)

Distribution. Reintroduced into E China since 1985; main inirocduced populations marked on the map.