Cervus albirostris, Przewalski, 1883

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

27.

White-lipped Deer

Cervus albirostris

French cerf à museau blanc German Weißlippenhirsch Spanish Ciervo hociblanco Other common names Thoıold s Deer

Taxonomy. Cervus albirostris Przewalski, 1883 ,

Nan Shan, Humboldt’s Mountains, bansu (.

is sometimes classified m4 distinct ge nus, Pnzuıalslıh Earlier thought to be related to sambaß (Rfßfl) › bl" “WTPVQlogical, behavioral, and geflflic 81141 'WS align this species with the red deu' clade. wzsfizzwwvzdbwzvflewzlsfl » Russian office.Fìttexplorer of Polish origin. in 1879. W. G. 'l'l\omld collected two i n' v specimens in 1891 and send them to Euro’): Distribution. E Tibetan Plateau (E Xizang. w Ggmurgnghah W “Chuan 8‘ Nwyunnan).

Descriptive notes. Head-body on average ioo cm for males (stags) and 180 cm for females (hinds), tail lengt 12-13 cm, shoulder height 120-130 cm (stags) and 110- 120 cm (hinds); weight 190-220 kg (stags) and 90-150 kg (hinds). Stags are on average 60% heavier than hinds. Large-sized deer with a large face and relatively short legs. The rump patch large and reddish. The tail relatively short. The ears are long, pointed, and fringed with white. Hooves are short and broad. The coat is grayish-brown; the muzzle, chin, and upper throat are white. There is a pale ring around the eyes. The pelage is stiff, thick, and coarse. Newborn calves are spotted; the spots fade precociously at 1 - 5 months of age. Preorbital and metatarsal glands are well developed. Pennanent dentition of 34 teeth, with rudimentary upper canines. Molars erupt at 3-30 months of age. Antlers of adult stags are long, typically with five points, a brow tine, a high trez tine, a dagger, and a tenninal fork. At full size the antler beam is 90-95 cm long. Yearling males are normally spikers, and subadults 2-3 years old are three- to four-tined. The largest antlers of adults have up to seven tines and are 130-133 cm long. ln adult stags velvet shedding occurs in September and antler rnclinrr in Mzffrhanfir Hıbitfit. lt is a high-elevation specialist, living in rhododendron scrub and alpine grasslands above spruce forests, at 3500-5100 m above sea level. The short legs, massive haunches, and broad hooves allow it to use steep terrain.

Food and Feeding. t is classified as an intermediated feeder, with a tendency to graze. prefers grasses and sedges but also eats leaves and shoots of woody plants. lts diet includes al least 95 species of plants.

Breeding. Females attain puberty at 18-30 months of age. Males reach sexual maturity at about 18 months but do not begin to reproduce before four years of age. Gestation is about 246 days. Rutting season peaks in October. Stagsjoin female groups and maintain microscale harems within the large mixed group or tend individual estrous hinds, without strong competition or oven aggression from other males. lnjune hinds separate themselves from the group and seek an isolated place to give birth. The newborns weigh about 9 kg and are precocial. Half an hour after birth they are able to stand up and within a couple of hours they begin to move away from the birth site. After two weeks calves follow their mothers and rejoin the group. Maximum known longevity in the wild is nine years for stags and twelve years for hinds. They can attain 19 years of age in captivity. Main predators are Gray Wolves (Cams lupus) and Snow Leopards (Panthera unria).

Activity patterns. 1t is diurnal and active all day, with peaks at dawn and dusk.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Thanks to its robust build and specialized hooves, it is very agile on steep terrain. t is also a good swimmer. 1 t has been described as a nomadic species, moving slowly across vast areas to feed and to shelter from harsh weather. In autumn the deer descend from high summer ranges to low winter ranges. highly gregarious, forming large herds of 25-35 individuals on average. Males and females tend to live separately for most of the year, mixed groups are mainly observed during the rutting season. Aggregations of up to 100-170 animals have been recorded in recent times and up to 800 were documented in the past.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red Lust. Hunting, poaching, and competition with domestic stock (yaks, sheep, and goats) have dramatically reduced the distribution range and population size. Hunting has been prohibited since 1989. ln 1999 there were an estimated 15,800 individuals. A more recent estimate is around 7000 animals. Poaching for meat, antlers, and organs, and competition with livestock are still important threats.

Bibliography Harris (2008c) Harris 8i Loggers (2004) Hams 8i MIIer (1995) Kay at al (1993) Koizumi er al (1993) Lesley (2010), Mıura er al (1993) Schaller (1998) Sheng à Ohtaıshı (1993)

Figures

is sometimes classified m4 distinct ge nus, Pnzuıalslıh Earlier thought to be related to sambaß (Rfßfl) › bl" “WTPVQlogical, behavioral, and geflflic 81141 'WS align this species with the red deu' clade. wzsfizzwwvzdbwzvflewzlsfl » Russian office.Fìttexplorer of Polish origin. in 1879. W. G. 'l'l\omld collected two i n' v specimens in 1891 and send them to Euro’): Distribution. E Tibetan Plateau (E Xizang. w Ggmurgnghah W “Chuan 8‘ Nwyunnan).