Order: Artiodactyla                                                                               Family: Cervidae                                  

Scientific name: Axis calamianensis                                                   U.S. common name: Calamian deer 

Status in the wild: Classified as endangered by IUCN and USDI, and is on Appendix 1 of CITES. 

Major threats: Habitat loss 

Geographic range historically: Calamian Islands in the Philippines. 

Geographic range currently: Calamian Islands in the Philippines. 

Habitat: Deciduous forests and clearings 

Circadian cycle: Nocturnal 

 

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:                                                      36-50 kg                                                                                                                                             

Sexual dimorphism: Males alone bear three-pronged antlers, which are mounted on forehead pedicels.                                                                                                                                             

 

Reproduction

 

 

Gestation period: 180 days 

Number of mammae: Four 

Sexual maturity: 8-12 months 

                      

 

Rearing and young

 

Young called: Fawns 

Number of young (range): One, two are very rare. 

Condition of young: Precocial 

Eyes open: At birth 

Weaned: At about six months. 

 

 

General

 

 

Life expectancy: 12-20 years. 

Social structure: Can be found in small herds. 

Unique behavior(s): If threatened, Calamian deer will creep with their heads held low to the ground into nearby cover, a habit which they share with their

                                   close relatives the hog deer and Bawean deer.  Remaining low to the ground and hiding in dense vegetation may be an adaptation to aerial

                                   and arboreal predators.  The primary vocalization is a soft high-pitched nasal call. 

Coat & coloration: The coat is yellowish brown with darker underparts. There is a white patch from the lower jaw to the throat and a white moustache

                                  mark, and white fur inside and at the base of the ears. It has a short bushy tail. Fawns are unspotted. 

Dental Formula: 0/3 I, 0-1/1 C, 3/3 PM, 3/3  M = 32-34 total 

Diet: Leaves 

 

 

 

 

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.

Wagner, Denise C. Personal observation, San Diego Wild Animal Park.