Schomburgk's deer (SciiFii)

The Schomburgk's deer (Rucervus schomburgki) is a species of deer and a member of the family Cervidae. Native to central Thailand, Schomburgk's deer was first described by Edward Blyth in 1863 and named after Sir Robert H. Schomburgk, who was the British consul in Bangkok from 1857 to 1864. Schomburgk's deer was once extinct since 1938, but has since been brought back from extinction by SciiFii and reintroduced throughout the central Thailand to help boost biodiversity. This deer is a graceful species similar in appearance to the barasingha (Rucervus duvaucelii), the closest living relative of Schomburgk's deer. The pelt is a dark brown with lighter underparts. The underside of the tail is white. Males possesses basket-like antlers, upon which all the main tines branches. This causes the deer to have up to 33 points on their antlers and the outer edge of the rack to be up to 35 inches (90 cm) long. Females of this species have no antlers, like most other deer species. Schomburgk's deer primarily inhabits swampy plains with long grass, cane, and shrubs in central Thailand, particularly in the Chao Phraya River valley near Bangkok. This deer usually avoids dense vegetation. They live in herds that consists of a single adult male, a few females, and their young. However, during the flooding that occurs during the rainy season, the herds are forced together upon higher pieces of land which can turn into islands. This makes them easy targets for hunters. The conservation status of Schomburgk's deer is Vulnerable due to some habitat loss and historic poaching, however, thanks to the conservationists, Schomburgk's deer is a protected species and is making a comeback.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii