# European Fallow Deer (*Dama dama*) The European Fallow Deer is a gentle animal with beautiful spotted fur. They are known for their graceful movements and can often be seen in groups, munching on grass and leaves in the forest. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests ![European Fallow Deer](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Fallow_deer_in_field.jpg&width=800) Photo: Johann-Nikolaus Andreae, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fallow_deer_in_field.jpg) ## Appearance The European Fallow Deer has a reddish-brown summer coat distinctly marked with white spots on its back, setting it apart from other unspotted deer species. Its winter coat is typically darker, uniform grey-brown. Males are easily identified by their large, flattened, shovel-shaped (palmate) antlers. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Artiodactyla - **Family:** Cervidae - **Genus:** Dama ## Interesting facts - Ancient Romans introduced these beautiful deer to many new countries across Europe! - Some fallow deer are naturally white like ghosts, while others have coats almost black! - They communicate using barks when scared, and males make loud groans during mating season! - Wow! Male fallow deer grow a brand new, impressive set of antlers every single year! ## Special abilities - **Keen Senses:** European Fallow Deer can detect distant threats with their excellent hearing and sense of smell, helping them avoid predators. - **Spotty Camouflage:** European Fallow Deer has a dappled summer coat that helps them blend perfectly with forest shadows, hiding from danger. - **Leaping Escape:** European Fallow Deer can jump surprisingly high and far, allowing them to clear obstacles and escape quickly from predators. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 130-190 cm - **Weight:** 30-94 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 50 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-2 - **Gestation:** 229-245 days ## Diet & Feeding Fallow deer are plant-eaters, munching on a variety of grasses, leaves, and tasty acorns! - **Age differences:** Fawns drink their mother's milk, then slowly transition to an adult diet of plants. - **Primary Foods:** grasses, leaves, shoots, herbs, acorns, berries - **Foraging Method:** Grazing ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Gray Wolf](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gray-wolf) (*Canis lupus*) — Wolves are significant predators of fallow deer in some regions. - **Eaten by:** Eurasian Lynx (*Lynx lynx*) — Lynxes are agile hunters that prey on deer. - **Eaten by:** [Brown Bear](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-bear) (*Ursus arctos*) — Brown bears prey on deer, especially vulnerable fawns. ## 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. - [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. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [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. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Threatened](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/threatened): Threatened status denotes a species likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future without effective conservation interventions. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low If you see a deer, watch quietly from a distance and don't try to get too close. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify European Fallow Deer? 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 European Fallow Deer? 130-190 cm ### How much does European Fallow Deer weigh? 30-94 kg ### How long does European Fallow Deer live? 10-15 years ### How fast can European Fallow Deer move? 50 km/h ### What does European Fallow Deer eat? Fallow deer are plant-eaters, munching on a variety of grasses, leaves, and tasty acorns! ### Where is European Fallow Deer usually found? Forests ### How does European Fallow Deer hunt? Grazing ## Where to spot - [Tierpark Weeze](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-weeze) — Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE · Zoo - [Wild- und Erlebnispark Daun](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wildpark-daun) — Rheinland-Pfalz, DE · Zoo - [Eifelpark Gondorf](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/eifelpark-gondorf) — Rheinland-Pfalz, DE · Zoo - [Thüringer Waldzoo Gera](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/thuringer-waldzoo-gera) — Thüringen, DE · Zoo - [Tiergarten Eisenberg](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tiergarten-eisenberg) — Thüringen, DE · Zoo - [Wildpark Christianental Wernigerode](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wildpark-christianental-wernigerode) — Sachsen-Anhalt, DE · Zoo [View all places to see European Fallow Deer](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/european-fallow-deer) ## 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: [European Fallow Deer: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-fallow-deer)