HomeAnimal ProfilesMammalsSambar Deer

Sambar Deer

  • Sambar Deer
Photo Credits Prasad Tharanga

Sambar Deer is a large deer that inhabits much of Southern Asia and can be found in a variety of forest habitats. These hardy species are seen congregating in large herds in the national parks and reserves of Sri Lanka, India and Thailand. The Sambar deer found in Sri Lanka is a sub-species found only in the island nation known as Rusa unicolor unicolor. This sub-species is one of the largest found in the world, and has the largest antlers both in body and in size.

Scientific Classification

Rusa unicolor
  • Scientific Name :
  • Rusa unicolor
Animals
  • Kingdom :
  • Animals
Mammalia
  • Class :
  • Mammalia
Cetartiodactyla
  • Order :
  • Cetartiodactyla
Cervidae
  • Family :
  • Cervidae
Rusa
  • Genus :
  • Rusa
Unicolor
  • Species :
  • Unicolor

Quick Facts

130 - 300 kg
  • Weight:
  • 130 - 300 kg
Head and body: 1.5-2.5 m; Tail: 25-35 cm; Shoulder height: 1-1.4 m
  • Size:
  • Head and body: 1.5-2.5 m; Tail: 25-35 cm; Shoulder height: 1-1.4 m
Herbivore
  • Diet:
  • Herbivore
Australia,Bangladesh,Bhutan,Brunei Darussalam,Cambodia,China,India,Indonesia,Lao People's Democratic Republic,Malaysia,Myanmar,Nepal,New Zealand,South Africa,Sri Lanka,Taiwan, Province Of China,Thailand,United States,Viet Nam
  • Locations:
  • Australia,Bangladesh,Bhutan,Brunei Darussalam,Cambodia,China,India,Indonesia,Lao People's Democratic Republic,Malaysia,Myanmar,Nepal,New Zealand,South Africa,Sri Lanka,Taiwan, Province Of China,Thailand,United States,Viet Nam
Decreasing
  • Population Trend:
  • Decreasing
Near Threatened
  • Conservation Status:
  • Near Threatened

  • Physical Description

    These are large-sized deer whose pelage is largely brown with the upper parts darker in hue. The fur is rather coarse, leading to a shaggy appearance overall. The neck and throat hairs of all sambar are elongated and erect when in an excited state. In older males, these hairs can become very long and mane-like. Only the male deer have antlers and in adults, the antlers are three-tined, about 80 cm in length (main beam), 18 cm or so in basal girth, and carried on short pedicles

  • Biology

    Sambar Deer graze and browse on a range of plant species depending on forage availability, and also eat fallen fruit. These animals usually forage during the late evening, night and early in the morning. They rest during the hot hours of the day by standing or lying down in the shade deep in the jungle. Older stags like to wallow in mud pools just like wild buffalos and wild boar.

  • Habitat and Distribution

    Sambar deer in Sri Lanka prefer forest-grassland ecotones. They are native to several countries including Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, and were introduced to Australia, New Zealand, United States and South Africa.

    In Sri Lanka, they used to be found throughout the country, but now they are mostly confined to national parks

  • Threats and Conservation

    Habitat shrinkage is the main threat faced by sambar deer in Sri Lanka, but in other parts of its range, hunting is also a significant factor. The species is now judged to be ‘Vulnerable’ in the Global Red List and ‘Near Threatened’ in the National Red List by the IUCN

  • References

    Yapa, A. and Ratnavira, G. (2013). The Mammals of Sri Lanka. Colombo 3, Sri Lanka: Field Ornithology Group. pp 464-469