The marsh deer, Blastocerus dichotomus, is the largest living deer of South America and the only species in its genus. It resembles the North American mule deer, with very large ears lined with white hair, red-gold to tawny fur and long dark legs. Adult males weigh about 80 to 125 kilograms. Its large hooves have elastic membranes between the toes that help it walk and swim in marshy ground. The deer lives only in marsh areas, notably the Pantanal and the Chaco, where the water is less than 70 centimetres deep, and it feeds largely on aquatic plants. It once ranged widely east of the Andes and is now reduced to isolated marsh and lagoon populations in the Paraguay, Parana, Araguaia and Guapore river basins.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm)Terrestrial and Freshwater 2 ThreatsBiological Resource Use 3 Relationship to People Living or Extinct Conservation Status Body Size Band Activity Pattern Activity Pattern Comparison
CITES Appendix Connections
Child Taxon Of
In Biome
Source Marsh deer (Wikipedia)
Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Blastocerus dichotomus (Animal Diversity Web)
In Ecosystem
Source Marsh deer (Wikipedia)
Source Marsh deer (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Marsh deer (Wikipedia)Distribution, range (argentina)Quote, Distribution, range (argentina)
It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Marsh deer (Wikipedia)Distribution, range (bolivia)Quote, Distribution, range (bolivia)
It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Marsh deer (Wikipedia)Distribution, range (brazil)Quote, Distribution, range (brazil)
It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Marsh deer (Wikipedia)Distribution, range (paraguay)Quote, Distribution, range (paraguay)
It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Marsh deer (Wikipedia)Distribution, range (peru)Quote, Distribution, range (peru)
It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Marsh deer (Wikipedia)Distribution, range (uruguay)Quote, Distribution, range (uruguay)
It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay.
Sources
1. Ecological Archives E095-178 (Wilman et al. 2014): EltonTraits 1.0 mammal diet data
Ecological Archives E095-178 (Wilman et al. 2014)Row: blastocerus dichotomus, Diet columns (plant material 100%, fruit 0%, seed 0%)
5283 Blastocerus dichotomus Cervidae 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 100 Ref_1 ABC G A 1 1 0 Ref_1 ABC 86666.25 Ref_117 1
Row: blastocerus dichotomus, Activity columns (Nocturnal 1)
5283 Blastocerus dichotomus Cervidae 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 100 Ref_1 ABC G A 1 1 0 Ref_1 ABC 86666.25 Ref_117 1
Row: blastocerus dichotomus, Activity columns (Crepuscular 1)
5283 Blastocerus dichotomus Cervidae 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 100 Ref_1 ABC G A 1 1 0 Ref_1 ABC 86666.25 Ref_117 1
Row: blastocerus dichotomus, BodyMass-Value 86666.25 g (86.7 kg); band set by mass: medium from 1.2 kg to under 32 kg, large from 32 kg to under 1000 kg
5283 Blastocerus dichotomus Cervidae 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 100 Ref_1 ABC G A 1 1 0 Ref_1 ABC 86666.25 Ref_117 1
View the Source 2. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Blastocerus dichotomus (Animal Diversity Web)
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyConservation Status, CITES
CITES Appendix I
Habitat, Terrestrial Biomes
Terrestrial Biomes savanna or grassland savanna or grassland
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Marsh deer are valuable game animals, hunted for meat and sport (Roig 1991).
View the Source 3. Marsh deer (Wikipedia)
Distribution, range (argentina)
It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay.
Distribution, range (bolivia)
It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay.
Distribution, range (peru)
It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay.
Distribution, range (brazil)
It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay.
Distribution, range (uruguay)
It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay.
Distribution, range (paraguay)
It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay.
Lead
is a species of deer native to South America
Human interaction
The former major threat was poaching for its antlers, but this is somewhat under control.
Child Taxon Of: Cervidae, Lead, family placement
is a species of deer native to South America
In Group: Even-Toed Ungulates (Artiodactyla), Lead, group placement
is a species of deer native to South America
In Biome: Freshwater Marsh, Habitat, habitat
The marsh deer lives only in marsh areas, notably the Pantanal and Chaco
In Ecosystem: Pantanal, Habitat, ecosystem
notably the Pantanal and Chaco
In Ecosystem: Gran Chaco, Habitat, ecosystem
notably the Pantanal and Chaco
View the Source4. GBIF: Blastocerus dichotomus
GBIFDistributions, IUCN Red List threat statusQuote, Distributions, IUCN Red List threat status
threatStatus: VULNERABLE
5. Human Ageing Genomic Resources (AnAge): AnAge entry for Blastocerus dichotomus
Human Ageing Genomic Resources (AnAge)Observations, captive specimenQuote, Observations, captive specimen
one captive specimen lived 13.7 years
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.