Roe Deer Grazing

Roe Deer Grazing

Deer constitute the second most diverse family after bovids.[clarification needed] Though of a similar build, deer are strongly distinguished from antelopes by their antlers, which are temporary and regularly regrown unlike the permanent horns of bovids.Characteristics typical of deer include long, powerful legs, a diminutive tail and long ears.Deer exhibit a broad variation in physical proportions. The largest extant deer is the moose, which is nearly 2.6 metres (8.5 ft) tall and weighs up to 800 kilograms (1,800 lb).The elk stands 1.4–2 metres (4.6–6.6 ft) at the shoulder and weighs 240–450 kilograms (530–990 lb).On the contrary, the northern pudu is the smallest deer in the world; it reaches merely 32–35 centimetres (13–14 in) at the shoulder and weighs 3.3–6 kilograms (7.3–13.2 lb). The southern pudu is only slightly taller and heavier.Sexual dimorphism is quite pronounced – in most species males tend to be larger than females,and, except for the reindeer, only males possess antlers.

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Vladimir Kudinov
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