Order: Artiodactyla                                                                               Family: Cervidae                                  

Scientific name: Axis porcinus                                                            U.S. common name: Hog deer 

Status in the wild: The subspecies A. p. annamiticus of Thailand and Indochina, is listed as endangered by USDI and is on Appendix 1 of CITES. A. p.

                                 porcinus is listed as near threatened by the IUCN. 

Major threats: Hunting and habitat loss. 

Geographic range historically: Pakistan and northern India to Indochina 

Geographic range currently: Pakistan and northern India to Indochina, and introduced to Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Florida, Madagascar

                                                   and Mauritius. 

Habitat: Grasslands and clearings. 

Circadian cycle: Predominantly crepuscular. 

 

Size

(General range given is for Calamian deer, which are similar in size.)

 

General range                       male                                       female                                                    birth

 

Head to rump length:                               1050-1150 mm               

Tail length:                                               200 mm 

Head & tail length:                                  1250-1350 mm               

Shoulder height:                                      600-750 mm 

Weight:                                                      32-50 kg                           43 kg avg.                               32 kg avg.                                               

Sexual dimorphism: Males alone carry antlers on long pedicels.                                                                                                                      

 

Reproduction

 

Mating Season: Can occur year round with peaks in July through October 

Birthing season: Fawning can be year round with peaks from January to April. 

Gestation period: 180-213 days   

Estrous cycle: Females have a post partum estrus; usually come into estrus within a month after parturition. 

Monestrus/polyestrus: Polyestrous 

Courtship: There is no harem herding. 

Number of mammae: Four 

Interbirth interval: 245-316 days 

Sexual maturity: Females by one year of age, no information on males.

                       

 

 

Rearing and young

 

Young called: Fawns 

Number of young (range): One 

 

 

General

 

 

Life expectancy: Probably similar to Calamian deer at 12-20 years. 

Social structure: It is essentially solitary but as many as 40 animals may assemble in certain feeding areas or during the mating season. The normal social

                              unit is a female with her fawn. 

Unique behavior(s): They have a tendency to run through the underbrush with the head held low, much as a hog, rather than jumping over obstacles. 

Coat & coloration: The coat is yellowish brown with darker underparts. The metatarsal tufts are lighter than the rest of the leg. The fawns are spotted. 

Dental Formula: 0/3 I, 0-1/1 C, 3/3 PM, 3/3 M = 32=34 total. Young hog deer may grow small, pointed upper canines, but adults do not. 

Diet: Grasses, forbs, flowers, and fruit. 

 

 

 

 

Sources

 

Nowak, Ronald M. (ed.) 1999.  Walker's Mammals of the World Vol. 2 (6^th edition).  The John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London.

Macdonald, David (ed.). 1987.  The Encyclopedia of Mammals.  Facts on File Publications, New York.

Geist, Valerius 1998. Deer of the World: Their Evolution, Behavior, and Ecology. Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.

The Ultimate Ungulate Page  www.ultimateungulate.com/calamdeer.html  last updated 16 April, 2000. Brent Huffman. 28 May, 2000.