# Barbary stag (*Cervus elaphus barbarus*) The Barbary stag is a beautiful deer with long antlers. They live in forests and are known for their graceful movements. These stags are a special part of nature and are not often seen. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Barbary stag](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cervus_elaphus_barbarus%252C_Tierpark_Berlin%252C_523-629.jpg&width=800) Photo: Lotse, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cervus_elaphus_barbarus%252C_Tierpark_Berlin%252C_523-629.jpg) ## Appearance The Barbary stag has a reddish-brown coat that often darkens to a greyish-brown during winter. Males sport impressive, multi-tined antlers that are shed annually. It is visibly smaller and more compact than its European red deer cousins. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Artiodactyla - **Family:** Cervidae - **Genus:** Cervus ## Interesting facts - Barbary stag fawns are born with spotted coats that help them hide in the dappled sunlight. - Barbary stags are the only native deer species found on the African continent! - During breeding season, male stags roar loudly to attract mates and challenge rivals. - They shed their impressive antlers every year, only to grow new, bigger ones! ## Special abilities - **Super Sniffer:** Barbary stag can detect distant predators with its amazing sense of smell, helping them stay safe in dense forests. - **Sound Sentinel:** Barbary stag has excellent hearing that helps them pick up faint sounds, alerting them to approaching dangers quickly. - **Antler Armor:** Barbary stag can grow magnificent antlers which help them spar with rival stags for mates and defend against threats. - **Fleet-footed Escape:** Barbary stag has powerful legs that help them run incredibly fast, allowing for quick escapes from predators. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 140-200 cm - **Weight:** 100-220 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-20 years - **Speed:** 70 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 240-262 days ## Diet & Feeding They are plant-eaters, munching on a variety of leaves, grasses, and tree shoots found in their habitat. - **Age differences:** Young fawns drink milk from their mother before gradually switching to solid plant foods. - **Primary Foods:** Grasses, Leaves, Shoots, Bark, Fruits, Acorns - **Foraging Method:** Grazing ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Golden jackal (*Canis aureus*) — Jackals may predate on vulnerable Barbary stag fawns. - **Eats:** [Holm oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/holm-oak) (*Quercus ilex*) — Barbary stags browse on the leaves and acorns of this tree. - **Eats:** [Aleppo pine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/aleppo-pine) (*Pinus halepensis*) — They forage on young shoots and bark from this common conifer. - **Depends on:** [Wild boar](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wild-boar) (*Sus scrofa*) — They share forest habitats and may compete for similar plant foods. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Antlered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/antlered): Antlered describes animals possessing antlers, which are bony, branching growths found predominantly on male deer and related species. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low If you see a deer in the wild, it's best to observe from a distance and not approach. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Barbary stag? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Barbary stag? 140-200 cm ### How much does Barbary stag weigh? 100-220 kg ### How long does Barbary stag live? 10-20 years ### How fast can Barbary stag move? 70 km/h ### What does Barbary stag eat? They are plant-eaters, munching on a variety of leaves, grasses, and tree shoots found in their habitat. ### Where is Barbary stag usually found? Forests ### How does Barbary stag hunt? Grazing ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Barbary stag: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/barbary-stag)