The hair is coarse and longest on the flanks. There is no mane on the throat or neck. Coloration varies not only between the species but also from season to season. The general color is a bright rufous fawn or is yellowish brown to brownish. During part of the year the upper parts of A. axis are beautifully marked with small white spots.
All species have a dark dorsal stripe, white underparts, and a whitish tail undersurface.
Albino strains have been developed in captivity. The species A. axis is slender, graceful, and of medium body build, whereas the other three species are stocky and have shorter legs. The antlers are carried on pedicels and are three-tined, the brow tine nearly forming a right angle with the beam. Upper canine teeth are usually absent, and the tail is usually relatively long and slender. Axis deer frequent grasslands and open forest, seldom penetrating into heavy jungles.