Elaphurus davidianus Milne-Edwards, 1866

Adult Body Length and Shoulder Height

Adult Père David's deer have a head-and-body length between 1.9 and 2.2 meters (6.2–7.2 ft), and stand about 1.2 meters (3.9 ft) tall at the shoulder.

Tail Length

Their tail is relatively long for a deer, measuring 50–66 centimeters (20–26 in) when straightened.

Adult Body Weight

Adult body weight ranges between 135 and 200 kilograms (300–440 lb).

Head and Facial Features

They have long, slender heads with large eyes, very large preorbital glands, a naked nose pad, and small, pointed ears.

Antler Structure

Their branched antlers are unique: long tines point backward, while the main beam extends almost directly upward.

Antler Growth Cycle

Deer may grow two pairs of antlers per year. The larger summer antler set is dropped in November, after the summer rut. If a second set appears, it is fully grown by January and falls off a few weeks later.

Seasonal Coat Color

Their coat is reddish tan in summer, and changes to a dull gray in winter.

Coat Hair Characteristics

Long wavy guard hairs are present in the coat year-round, and the coat becomes woolier during winter.

Distinctive Body Markings

They have a mane on the neck and throat, and a black dorsal stripe running along the cervicothoracic spine.

Tail Tip Feature

The tail has a dark tuft at its end.

Hoove Characteristics

Their large, spreading hooves make clicking sounds when the animal moves, just like reindeer hooves.

Semiaquatic Behavior

Père David's deer is a semiaquatic species that swims well, and often spends long periods standing in water up to its shoulders.

Diet

While it is predominantly a grazer, it supplements its grass-based diet with aquatic plants during the summer.