# Vietnamese sika deer (*Cervus nippon pseudaxis*) The Vietnamese sika deer is a beautiful animal with spots on its body. They are gentle and usually live in groups. These deer love to munch on grass and leaves in their forest homes. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Vietnamese sika deer](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/H%C6%B0%C6%A1u_sao.JPG&width=800) Photo: Nguyễn Thanh Quang, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:H%C6%B0%C6%A1u_sao.JPG) ## Appearance The Vietnamese sika deer has a reddish-brown coat, often with faint white spots visible in summer, which darkens in winter. Its distinctive feature is a large white rump patch that flares out when alarmed. Males grow impressive antlers that are shed annually. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Artiodactyla - **Family:** Cervidae - **Genus:** Cervus ## Interesting facts - At birth, baby sika deer are called fawns and are covered in white spots for camouflage. - Male sika deer grow new antlers every year, which can become larger as they age! - These deer communicate using a variety of barks, whistles, and even a 'meow' sound! - They were once thought extinct in the wild, making every sighting today extra special. ## Special abilities - **Spotty Camouflage:** Vietnamese sika deer have a spotted coat that helps them blend perfectly into dappled forest sunlight. - **Alarm Whistle:** Vietnamese sika deer can make loud, sharp whistles that warn other deer of nearby danger very quickly. - **Antler Defense:** Male Vietnamese sika deer grow strong antlers that help them defend territory and compete for mates. - **Agile Escapist:** This deer can jump and run swiftly through dense undergrowth, helping them escape from predators. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 110-150 cm - **Weight:** 40-90 kg - **Lifespan:** 8-10 years - **Speed:** 50 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-2 - **Gestation:** 210-220 days ## Diet & Feeding These deer are vegetarians, munching on a variety of plants found in their forest homes. - **Primary Foods:** Grasses, Leaves, Twigs, Shoots, Fungi, Bark - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Tiger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tiger) (*Panthera tigris*) — Top predator in its habitat. - **Eaten by:** [Leopard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/leopard) (*Panthera pardus*) — Another large cat that preys on deer. - **Eaten by:** [Dhole](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dhole) (*Cuon alpinus*) — Pack-hunting wild dog that targets deer. ## 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. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [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. - [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:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a deer in the wild, enjoy watching from a distance and don't try to approach it. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Vietnamese sika 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 Vietnamese sika deer? 110-150 cm ### How much does Vietnamese sika deer weigh? 40-90 kg ### How long does Vietnamese sika deer live? 8-10 years ### How fast can Vietnamese sika deer move? 50 km/h ### What does Vietnamese sika deer eat? These deer are vegetarians, munching on a variety of plants found in their forest homes. ### Where is Vietnamese sika deer usually found? Forests ### How does Vietnamese sika deer hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Schwarzwaldzoo Waldkirch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/schwarzwaldzoo-waldkirch) — Baden-Württemberg, 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: [Vietnamese sika deer: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/vietnamese-sika-deer)