Central Asian Red Deer
Encyclopedia
The Central Asian Red Deer is a primordial
group of Red deer
subspecies, which live in central Asia
from the Caspian Sea
to western China
.
Recent DNA studies conducted on hundreds samples from Red Deer and Elk subspecies determined that Red deer and Elk
(Wapiti) represent two distinct species.
The central Asiatic red deer form a basal group, which is more related to the Western Red deer than to the other monophyletic group, composed of Wapiti, Sika deer
and Thorold's deer
. Two closely related forms, the Yarkand Deer
and the Bactrian deer
belong to these group. However, the Kashmir stag
another traditionally distinguished subspecies of red deer from Central Asia was not sampled in this study.
All subspecies have short tails similar to the short tails of Wapitis. Central Asian Red deer calves are generally born spotted much like European Red Deer calves, and most individuals lose their spots by adulthood. However, adult Bactrian Deer may possess a few spots on the backs of their summer coats. This phenomenon has also been observed in summer coats of the distantly related Manchurian Wapiti (Cervus canadensis xanthopygus) and many other subspecies of Red Deer (Cervus elaphus).
(Cervus elaphus bactrianus) and Yarkand deer
(Cervus elaphus yarkandensis) both live in lowland riparian corridors of mixed deciduous (willow
/poplar
) vegetation surrounded by deserts. The Bactrian Deer, also known as Bukhara Deer or Bactrian Wapiti, lives in Russian Turkestan
(West Turkestan) and adjacent areas in Northern Afghanistan
to the west of the Tianshan
Mountains. The Yarkand Deer, also known as Tarim Deer or Lop Nor Stag, lives in the Tarim Basin Deciduous Forests and Steppe Ecoregion in the Tarim Basin
of China's Xinjiang
Province (East Turkestan).
The Bactrian and Yarkand Deer which are dependent on the lowland riparian corridors for food and shelter do not migrate but may disperse into adjacent desert areas at night or at times of cooler temperatures.
is probably the most dangerous of predators that most Central Asian Red Deer encounter. Occasionally, the Brown bear
and Asiatic black bear
will prey on these deer as well. Other possible predators are dhole
s and snow leopards. Eurasian Lynx
and wild boars sometimes prey on the calves. In the past they were also hunted by the now extinct Caspian tiger
.
Primordial
Primordial may refer to:* Primordial sea . See abiogenesis* Primordial nuclide, nuclides, a few radioactive, that formed before the Earth existed and are stable enough to still occur on Earth...
group of Red deer
Red Deer
The red deer is one of the largest deer species. Depending on taxonomy, the red deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Asia Minor, parts of western Asia, and central Asia. It also inhabits the Atlas Mountains region between Morocco and Tunisia in northwestern Africa, being...
subspecies, which live in central Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
from the Caspian Sea
Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. The sea has a surface area of and a volume of...
to western China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
.
Recent DNA studies conducted on hundreds samples from Red Deer and Elk subspecies determined that Red deer and Elk
Elk
The Elk is the large deer, also called Cervus canadensis or wapiti, of North America and eastern Asia.Elk may also refer to:Other antlered mammals:...
(Wapiti) represent two distinct species.
The central Asiatic red deer form a basal group, which is more related to the Western Red deer than to the other monophyletic group, composed of Wapiti, Sika deer
Sika Deer
The Sika Deer, Cervus nippon, also known as the Spotted Deer or the Japanese Deer, is a species of deer native to much of East Asia and introduced to various other parts of the world...
and Thorold's deer
Thorold's Deer
Thorold's deer is a threatened species of deer found in grassland, shrubland and forest at high altitudes in the eastern Tibetan Plateau...
. Two closely related forms, the Yarkand Deer
Yarkand deer
The Yarkand deer is a subspecies of Red Deer that is native to central Asia. It is similar in ecology to the Bactrian deer in occupying lowland riparian corridors surrounded by deserts...
and the Bactrian deer
Bactrian deer
The Bactrian deer , also called the Bukhara deer, Bokhara deer or Bactrian wapiti, is a lowland subspecies of Red Deer that is native to central Asia. It is similar in ecology to the Yarkand deer in occupying riparian corridors surrounded by deserts...
belong to these group. However, the Kashmir stag
Kashmir stag
The Kashmir stag , also called hangul, is a subspecies of Red Deer native to northern Pakistan and India, especially in Jammu and Kashmir where it is the state animal.-Description:...
another traditionally distinguished subspecies of red deer from Central Asia was not sampled in this study.
Description
In contrast to the Yarkand Deer, which has a light sandy coat, the Bactrian Deer has a darker, grayish-brown coat pattern with darker legs, head, and neck (most noticeable in males) that resembles the coat of the American Elk or Wapitis, which is why this subspecies is sometimes called the Bactrian Wapiti. These deer do not have neck manes, but do have stronger and thicker neck muscles than female deer that may give the appearance of a neck mane. Female deer are slightly smaller than male deer, but the difference in size is not as pronounced as it is in the European Red Deer subspecies.All subspecies have short tails similar to the short tails of Wapitis. Central Asian Red deer calves are generally born spotted much like European Red Deer calves, and most individuals lose their spots by adulthood. However, adult Bactrian Deer may possess a few spots on the backs of their summer coats. This phenomenon has also been observed in summer coats of the distantly related Manchurian Wapiti (Cervus canadensis xanthopygus) and many other subspecies of Red Deer (Cervus elaphus).
Distribution and habitat
Bactrian deerBactrian deer
The Bactrian deer , also called the Bukhara deer, Bokhara deer or Bactrian wapiti, is a lowland subspecies of Red Deer that is native to central Asia. It is similar in ecology to the Yarkand deer in occupying riparian corridors surrounded by deserts...
(Cervus elaphus bactrianus) and Yarkand deer
Yarkand deer
The Yarkand deer is a subspecies of Red Deer that is native to central Asia. It is similar in ecology to the Bactrian deer in occupying lowland riparian corridors surrounded by deserts...
(Cervus elaphus yarkandensis) both live in lowland riparian corridors of mixed deciduous (willow
Willow
Willows, sallows, and osiers form the genus Salix, around 400 species of deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist soils in cold and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere...
/poplar
Poplar
Populus is a genus of 25–35 species of deciduous flowering plants in the family Salicaceae, native to most of the Northern Hemisphere. English names variously applied to different species include poplar , aspen, and cottonwood....
) vegetation surrounded by deserts. The Bactrian Deer, also known as Bukhara Deer or Bactrian Wapiti, lives in Russian Turkestan
Turkestan
Turkestan, spelled also as Turkistan, literally means "Land of the Turks".The term Turkestan is of Persian origin and has never been in use to denote a single nation. It was first used by Persian geographers to describe the place of Turkish peoples...
(West Turkestan) and adjacent areas in Northern Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
to the west of the Tianshan
Tianshan
Tianshan may refer to:*Tian Shan, a mountain range in Central Asia*Tianshan District, Ürümqi, Xinjiang, China*Tianshan Subdistrict, Ar Horqin Banner, Inner Mongolia, China*Tianshan Town, Ar Horqin Banner, in Ar Horqin Banner, Inner Mongolia, China...
Mountains. The Yarkand Deer, also known as Tarim Deer or Lop Nor Stag, lives in the Tarim Basin Deciduous Forests and Steppe Ecoregion in the Tarim Basin
Tarim Basin
The Tarim Basin is a large endorheic basin occupying an area of about . It is located in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China's far west. Its northern boundary is the Tian Shan mountain range and its southern is the Kunlun Mountains on the northern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. The...
of China's Xinjiang
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...
Province (East Turkestan).
The Bactrian and Yarkand Deer which are dependent on the lowland riparian corridors for food and shelter do not migrate but may disperse into adjacent desert areas at night or at times of cooler temperatures.
Predators
Aside from man, the WolfGray Wolf
The gray wolf , also known as the wolf, is the largest extant wild member of the Canidae family...
is probably the most dangerous of predators that most Central Asian Red Deer encounter. Occasionally, the Brown bear
Brown Bear
The brown bear is a large bear distributed across much of northern Eurasia and North America. It can weigh from and its largest subspecies, the Kodiak Bear, rivals the polar bear as the largest member of the bear family and as the largest land-based predator.There are several recognized...
and Asiatic black bear
Asiatic Black Bear
The Asian black bear , also known as the moon bear or white-chested bear is a medium-sized species of bear, largely adapted for arboreal life, which occurs through much of southern Asia, Korea, northeastern China, the Russian far east and Honshū and Shikoku islands of Japan...
will prey on these deer as well. Other possible predators are dhole
Dhole
The dhole is a species of canid native to South and Southeast Asia. It is the only extant member of the genus Cuon, which differs from Canis by the reduced number of molars and greater number of teats...
s and snow leopards. Eurasian Lynx
Eurasian Lynx
The Eurasian lynx is a medium-sized cat native to European and Siberian forests, South Asia and East Asia. It is also known as the European lynx, common lynx, the northern lynx, and the Siberian or Russian lynx...
and wild boars sometimes prey on the calves. In the past they were also hunted by the now extinct Caspian tiger
Caspian Tiger
The Caspian tiger, also known as the Turan tiger and Hyrcanian tiger, is an extinct tiger subspecies that has been recorded in the wild until the early 1970s, and used to inhabit the sparse forest habitats and riverine corridors west and south of the Caspian Sea, from Turkey, Iran and west through...
.