The chital, Axis axis, also called the spotted deer or axis deer, is a deer native to the Indian subcontinent that was first described by Johann Christian Polycarp Erxleben in 1777. It is a moderately sized deer: males reach about 90 centimetres at the shoulder and weigh 70 to 90 kilograms, and females reach 70 centimetres and weigh 40 to 60 kilograms. Only males carry antlers, which are three-pronged and nearly a metre long. The upper parts are golden to rufous and completely covered in white spots. The chital ranges over India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, in deciduous and semi-evergreen forests and open grasslands, and has been introduced to Australia, Indonesia and other countries. The name comes from the Hindi cital, meaning spotted.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) ThreatsBiological Resource Use 2 Relationship to People Relationship to PeopleInvasive or Introduced Species 1 Living or Extinct Conservation Status Body Size Band Activity Pattern Comparison
NatureServe Rank CITES Appendix Connections
Child Taxon Of
In Biome
Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Axis axis (Animal Diversity Web)
Additional Source Chital (Wikipedia)Distribution and habitat, habitat
In Ecosystem
Source Chital (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Chital (Wikipedia)Distribution and habitat, range (bangladesh)Quote, Distribution and habitat, range (bangladesh)
The chital ranges over 8–30°N in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Chital (Wikipedia)Distribution and habitat, range (bhutan)Quote, Distribution and habitat, range (bhutan)
The chital ranges over 8–30°N in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Chital (Wikipedia)Distribution and habitat, range (india)Quote, Distribution and habitat, range (india)
The chital ranges over 8–30°N in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Chital (Wikipedia)Distribution and habitat, range (nepal)Quote, Distribution and habitat, range (nepal)
The chital ranges over 8–30°N in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Chital (Wikipedia)Distribution and habitat, range (sri-lanka)Quote, Distribution and habitat, range (sri-lanka)
The chital ranges over 8–30°N in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Sources
1. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Axis axis (Animal Diversity Web)
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyPrimary Diet
Primary Diet herbivore herbivore
Key Behaviors
diurnal diurnal
Conservation Status, CITES
CITES No special status
Habitat, Terrestrial Biomes
Terrestrial Biomes savanna or grassland savanna or grassland
Lifespan/Longevity, captivity
Average lifespan Status: captivity 15.0 years
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Axis deer have become an important resource for hunting in the United States.
Conservation Status
The axis deer has been introduced into Texas and Hawaii with good results.
View the Source 2. Chital (Wikipedia)
Distribution and habitat, range (india)
The chital ranges over 8-30°N in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Distribution and habitat, range (nepal)
The chital ranges over 8-30°N in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Distribution and habitat, range (bhutan)
The chital ranges over 8-30°N in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Distribution and habitat, range (bangladesh)
The chital ranges over 8-30°N in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Distribution and habitat, range (sri-lanka)
The chital ranges over 8-30°N in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Lead
is a deer species native to the Indian subcontinent
Distribution
causing serious damage to agriculture and natural areas
Conservation section
Hunting for the deer's meat has caused substantial declines and local extinctions.
Child Taxon Of: Cervidae, Lead, family placement
is a deer species native to the Indian subcontinent
In Group: Even-Toed Ungulates (Artiodactyla), Lead, group placement
is a deer species native to the Indian subcontinent
In Biome: Grassland, Distribution and habitat, habitat
It inhabits deciduous and semi-evergreen forests and open grasslands throughout the Indian peninsula.
In Ecosystem: Sundarbans, Distribution and habitat, ecosystem
It also occurs in the Sundarbans and some eco parks around the Bay of Bengal
View the Source3. NatureServe Explorer: Axis axis (NatureServe Explorer)
NatureServe ExplorerGlobal conservation status rank, species recordQuote, Global conservation status rank, species record
"roundedGRank": "G4"
View the Source 4. GBIF: Axis axis
GBIFDistributions, IUCN Red List threat statusQuote, Distributions, IUCN Red List threat status
threatStatus: LEAST_CONCERN
View the Source 5. Ecological Archives E095-178 (Wilman et al. 2014): EltonTraits 1.0 mammal diet data
Ecological Archives E095-178 (Wilman et al. 2014)Row: axis axis, BodyMass-Value 67281.85 g (67.3 kg); band set by mass: medium from 1.2 kg to under 32 kg, large from 32 kg to under 1000 kgQuote, Row: axis axis, BodyMass-Value 67281.85 g (67.3 kg); band set by mass: medium from 1.2 kg to under 32 kg, large from 32 kg to under 1000 kg
5306 Axis axis Cervidae 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 90 Ref_1 ABC G A 1 1 0 Ref_1 ABC 67281.85 Ref_117 1
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