# Chital (*Axis axis*) Chitals, also known as spotted deer, are graceful animals with beautiful spots on their fur. They live in herds and are very good at jumping through the forest! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Spotted Deer ![Chital](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Spotted_deer_%28Axis_axis%29_female.jpg&width=800) Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spotted_deer_%28Axis_axis%29_female.jpg) ## Appearance The Chital has a stunning rufous-fawn coat covered in bright white spots, contrasting with a pure white belly and throat. Males grow impressive, lyre-shaped antlers that are shed annually. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Artiodactyla - **Family:** Cervidae - **Genus:** Axis ## Interesting facts - A male Chital's loud roar during mating season can travel far through the forest! Wow! - Chital antlers are shed and regrown completely every single year! Wow! - Chital are one of the few deer species that can give birth at any time of year! Wow! - They often hang out with monkeys, sharing alarm calls and dropped fruits! Wow! ## Special abilities - **Spotlight Camouflage:** Chital has white spots that help them blend perfectly into the dappled sunlight of forest floors. - **Alerting Senses:** Chital can hear and smell predators from far away that helps them react quickly to danger. - **Leap into Safety:** Chital can leap gracefully over obstacles because of strong legs that help them escape predators. - **Alarm Call Network:** Chital uses distinct barks because of vocal cords that help warn other animals of danger. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 140-170 cm - **Weight:** 25-75 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 65 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-2 - **Gestation:** 210-220 days ## Diet & Feeding Chital are plant-eaters, munching on tasty grasses, leaves, and fruits found in their forest homes. - **Primary Foods:** grasses, leaves, shoots, fruits, forbs - **Foraging Method:** Grazing ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Bengal Tiger (*Panthera tigris*) — Primary predator in their native range. - **Eaten by:** Indian Leopard (*Panthera pardus*) — Opportunistic hunter of Chital. - **Eaten by:** [Dhole](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dhole) (*Cuon alpinus*) — Hunts in packs, preying on Chital. - **Symbiotic with:** Northern Plains Gray Langur (*Semnopithecus entellus*) — Share alarm calls and food. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [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. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch from a distance and be quiet so you don't scare them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Chital? 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 Chital? 140-170 cm ### How much does Chital weigh? 25-75 kg ### How long does Chital live? 10-15 years ### How fast can Chital move? 65 km/h ### What does Chital eat? Chital are plant-eaters, munching on tasty grasses, leaves, and fruits found in their forest homes. ### Where is Chital usually found? Forests ### How does Chital hunt? Grazing ## Where to spot - [Natur- und Tierpark Brüggen](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/natur-und-tierpark-bruggen) — Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE · Zoo ## 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: [Chital: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/chital)