# Visayan spotted deer (*Rusa alfredi*) The Visayan spotted deer is a beautiful animal with spots on its fur. They live in forests and are very shy, often hiding from people. These deer are special because they are found only in the Philippines! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Visayan spotted deer](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Rusa_alfredi_Wien.jpg&width=800) Photo: Altaipanther, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rusa_alfredi_Wien.jpg) ## Appearance The Visayan spotted deer is a medium-sized deer known for its striking reddish-brown coat adorned with creamy-white spots arranged in distinct lines. Males grow short, rugged antlers. Its unique spotted pattern makes it look different from other plain-coated deer. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Artiodactyla - **Family:** Cervidae - **Genus:** Rusa ## Interesting facts - A baby Visayan spotted deer can stand and walk within hours of being born! - Male deer grow small antlers each year and then shed them off! - These deer are among the rarest and most endangered deer on Earth! - They are sometimes called 'Prince Alfred's deer' after a royal visitor! ## Special abilities - **Master of Disguise:** Visayan spotted deer has a coat with creamy-white spots that helps them disappear into the dappled light of the forest, hiding from danger. - **Forest Navigator:** Visayan spotted deer can leap over fallen logs and dense undergrowth with ease, helping them move quickly through their tricky habitat. - **Nighttime Feeder:** Visayan spotted deer can search for plants and fruits during the evening, which helps them avoid daytime predators and heat. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 125-130 cm - **Weight:** 40-60 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 45 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-2 - **Gestation:** 230-240 days ## Diet & Feeding These deer are herbivores, munching on a variety of plants, fruits, and grasses found in their forest home. - **Age differences:** Young fawns drink their mother's milk, slowly transitioning to a plant-based diet as they grow older. - **Primary Foods:** leaves, young shoots, grasses, wild fruits, flowers - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Reticulated python](https://www.snappit.app/explore/reticulated-python) (*Malayopython reticulatus*) — Large pythons are known predators of deer, especially fawns. - **Eaten by:** [Human](https://www.snappit.app/explore/human) (*Homo sapiens*) — Poaching and habitat loss by humans are major threats. - **Eaten by:** Feral dog (*Canis familiaris*) — Feral dogs sometimes hunt deer, impacting wild populations. ## 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. - [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. - [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. - [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 Always watch wildlife from a distance and do not try to touch or feed them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Visayan spotted 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 Visayan spotted deer? 125-130 cm ### How much does Visayan spotted deer weigh? 40-60 kg ### How long does Visayan spotted deer live? 10-15 years ### How fast can Visayan spotted deer move? 45 km/h ### What does Visayan spotted deer eat? These deer are herbivores, munching on a variety of plants, fruits, and grasses found in their forest home. ### Where is Visayan spotted deer usually found? Forests ### How does Visayan spotted deer hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Wingster Waldzoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wingster-waldzoo) — Niedersachsen, DE · Zoo - [Tierpark Chemnitz](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-chemnitz) — Sachsen, DE · Zoo - [Zoo Landau in der Pfalz](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-landau-in-der-pfalz) — Rheinland-Pfalz, DE · Zoo [View all places to see Visayan spotted deer](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/visayan-spotted-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: [Visayan spotted deer: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/visayan-spotted-deer)