Cervus wallichii, G. Cuvier, 1823

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 : 421-422

24.

Central Asian Red Deer

Cervus wallichii

French: Cerf de Wallich / German: China-Rothirsch / Spanish: Ciervo asiatico

Other common names: Hangul (hangl/u), MacNeill's Red Deer (macneilli), Shou (wallichii)

Taxonomy. Cervus wallichii G. Cuvier, 1823 ,

Lake Mansarovar (S Tibet).

For decades the red deer complex, including European and North African Red Deer ( C. elaphus ), Central Asian Red Deer ( C. wallichii ), and Eastern Asian and North American Wapiti (C. canadensis ), was considered as only one species. Several genetic studies have recently tried to clarify the taxonomy of this species complex, but their results are not always concordant. Two or three main clades are genetically distinguishable. C. wallichii is the most primitive representative of the red deer complex lineage. The scientific name refers to the Danish naturalist N. Wallich, who was superintendent of the Botanical Garden of the East India Company in Calcutta. Here three subspecies are recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

C.w.wallichi:G.Cuvier,1823—SWChina(SEXizang),Bhutan.

C.w.hangluWagner,1844—NIndia(Kashmir).

C. w. macneilli Lydekker, 1909 —C & SW China (N Qinghai, Gansu, Shaanxi, W Sichuan & E Xizang).

Descriptive notes. Head—body 190-205 cm for males (stags) and 180-195 cm for females (hinds), tail length 8-12 cm, shoulder height 125-145 cm (stags) and 110-120 cm (hinds); weight of stags 150-240 kg and hinds 110-170 kg. Large-sized deer, with basically a five-tined antler plan, large ears, a short neck mane, a shorttail, massive haunches, and large broad hooves. The rump patch and the tail coloration vary among subspecies. Antlers tend to have a terminal transverse fork and a well-developed bez tine. The “Hangul” (hanglu) has a small rump patch bordered below by a broad black band and a dark tail. The belly is whitish, legs and chest are dark. The “Shou” ( wallichii ) seems to have a rump patch of variable size, often divided by a dark line. Thetail is whitish. The belly is gray, the lips are pale gray. “MacNeill’s Red Deer” (macneilli) has a narrow white rump patch that expands dorsally into a broad black croup patch, and a dark tail. The lips are gray-brown. This subspecies often has six-tined antlers.

Habitat. Hanguls live in moist temperate forest. Shous occur in scrublands and alpine grasslands at 4300-4900 m above sea level. MacNeill’s Red Deeris found in montane conifer forest, willow-rhododendron scrublands, and alpine meadows.

Food and Feeding. As mixed feeders they may graze grasses and forbs, then turn to browsing leaves and twigs.

Breeding. The rutting call begins as a roar but ends in a Wapiti-like bugle. The calving season of the Hangul peaks in July-August.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. They are saltatorial, able to move with agility on steep slopes in scrub vegetation. They are gregarious, with large family groups. The rare Shou has been seen recently in herds of up to 55 animals.

Status and Conservation. Hangul CITES Appendix I. Considered a subspecies of the C. elaphus complex by IUCN and thus not evaluated on The IUCN Red Lust. It is a very rare species, possibly threatened, the Hangul declined from 2000 animals in 1947 to less than 200 animals in the early 1970s, then increased to 1000 by 1989, but dropped again to 150-200 in the last decade. The Shou was considered extinct and rediscovered in a few localities of south-east Tibet (Xizang) in 1995. The status of MacNeill’s Red Deer is unknown. Poaching and pressure from stock grazing continue to be significant threats.

Bibliography. Dolan (1988), Dolan & Killmar (1988), Geist (1998), Groves (2003, 2006), Schaller (1998), Wemmer (1998).

Figures

23. Sika Deer (Cervus nippon), 24. Central Asian Red Deer (Cervus wallichii), 25. Western Red Deer (Cervus elaphus), 26. Wapiti (Cervus canadensis)

Subspecies and Distribution. C.w.wallichi:G.Cuvier,1823—SWChina(SEXizang),Bhutan. C.w.hangluWagner,1844—NIndia(Kashmir). C. w. macneilli Lydekker, 1909 —C & SW China (N Qinghai, Gansu, Shaanxi, W Sichuan & E Xizang).