Marsh deer

Marsh deer

The marsh deer ( Blastocerus dichotomus ) is a common in South America on riverbanks deer.

Features

With a body length 153-195 cm, a shoulder height of 110-127 centimeters and a weight of 80 to 150 kilograms, the marsh deer is the largest deer of South America. The coat is reddish brown vigorously during the mating season, at other times a bit paler. The legs are dark brown to black. The antlers are branched dichotomously and has four ends per rod. As an adaptation to life on swampy ground, the hooves are strongly broadened. The ears are greatly enlarged as in the distantly related white -tailed deer of North America.

Dissemination

The habitat of swamp deer are river and lake shore with dense reed beds and wet savannas subject to frequent flooding. Such habitats are found in northern Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, and in southeastern Brazil. In the Amazon rainforest, there is no marsh deer.

The largest deposits are found today in the catchment areas of the rivers Río Paraguay and Paraná. Three quarters of the population live in the Pantanal.

Way of life

Marsh deer are crepuscular and live as loners or in small groups of no more than five animals. Unlike other deer was never seen in this species, that males fight for a female. In general, male swamp deer seem to have a very low potential for aggression among themselves. The diet consists of aquatic plants of all kinds, including water lilies and reeds.

Threat and protection

Uncontrolled hunting of marsh deer has become rare. In some areas of its range as in Uruguay and the coastal regions of Brazil, he appears to have been quite eradicated. The IUCN classifies the marsh deer as endangered.