Javan deer (The Russian Javan), (Sunda sambar) or (Rusa timorensis). Deer native to the islands of Indonesia and East Timor , inhabit open dry and mixed deciduous forests, parks and savannas.
Summary
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- 1 Features
- 2 Distribution
- 3 Behavior
- 4 Predators
- 5 Playback
- 6 Source
Features
They are distinguished by their large ears, tufts of light hair above the eyebrows, and antlers that appear large in relation to their body size. The antlers are lyre-shaped and have three points.
Males are larger than females; The length from head to body ranges from 142 to 185 cm (4.66 to 6.07 ft), with a tail of 20 cm (7.9 in). Males weigh 152-160 kg, females around 74 kg.
The coat is grayish-brown in color and often appears rough. Unlike most other species of deer, newborn fawns do not have spots.
Distribution
It can be found natively on the Islands of Java , Bali, and Timor in Indonesia . They have been introduced to Irian Jaya , Borneo (Kalimantan), the Lesser Sunda Islands , Maluku , Sulawesi , Pohnpei , Mauritius , Fiji , Tonga , Samoa , Vanuatu , the Solomon Islands , the Christmas Islands , the Cocos Islands , Nauru , Australia ,New Caledonia , New Zealand , Papua New Guinea , New Britain and New Ireland .
Their habitat preferences are similar to the chital of India : mixed dry and deciduous open forests, parks, and savannas. They have established populations on remote islands, probably brought there by Indonesian fishermen. They adapt well, living as comfortably in the dry Australian bush as they do in their tropical lands
Behavior
They are active mainly in the early morning and late afternoon. They are rarely seen out in the open and are very difficult to get close to due to their keen senses and wary instincts.
The species is very sociable and individuals are rarely found alone. When alarmed, a Russian deer lets out an extremely loud honk. This is an alarm call and alerts any other deer in the vicinity. As with other species of deer, it mainly feeds on fallen grass, leaves and fruit. They do not drink water and get all the necessary liquid from their food.
Predators
The main predators of the species include the Javanese leopard , the dhole , crocodiles , pythons, and the Komodo dragon .
Reproduction
They mate around July and August, when deer compete by calling with a loud, shrill bark and dueling their antlers.
The female gives birth to one or two calves after a gestation period of 8 months, in early spring.
Calves are weaned at 6-8 months and sexual maturity is reached at 3-5 years, depending on habitat conditions. Russian Javanese live 15-20 years both in the wild and in captivity.
