Deer is a hood ruminant mammal that forms the Cervidae family. Deer is divided into two main categories of service and capreolinae. The cervinae include elk, muntjac, chital, and fallow deer, where capreolinae has moose, reindeer, and roe deer. All male deer species and female reindeer grow antlers and shed annually, unlike Chinese water deer. Deer live in different biomes, from tropical forests to tundra. They often live in open savanna, transitional areas of forest, prairie, and thickets. Deer appeared during the late Stone Age period, and man used to paint a picture of deer on the cave. This animal played a major role in religion, literature, heraldry, and mythology in the entire history. Deer also played a role in economic include meat, soft skin, buckskin, and antlers made handles. In addition, clearing of the forest will benefit the deer population by allowing the growth of weed, grass, and herbs that deer love.
1. Deer has long legs
Deer have four longs legs used for running and walking. The legs measure from 12 to 15 inches and have a width of 3 to 4 inches. They have hooves at the end of legs, unlike foot, which has pads or toes. These hooves are for running fast and climbing. These long legs enable them to run at a high speed up to 40km per hour. In addition, deer is able to swim up to 13km in one hour.
2. Deer Sheds antlers
Whitetail deer and mule deer usually she antlers one in a year. The process of shedding occurs for at least three weeks, but the antler takes 24 to 48hrs to fall off. New antlers begin to form in the entire summer from January up to April. These antlers are made up of honeycomb and a bone-like tissue. They consist of testosterone that reduces the rate of growth and flow of blood to the velvet cut. The velvet falls off with deer rubbing its antler on trees. Deer shed antlers because they are weakened by specialized cells that are activated by a drop of testosterone. Other deer shed their antlers depending on factors like injured antlers that activate the cells.
3. Has four stomachs
Deer are classified as ruminants, that means they have four stomachs. The first stomach is known as rumen and is used for storage. It allows the animal to eat a high amount of food and digest it later. It brings food in the mouth and chews the second time. The second chamber is reticulum and its house microorganisms. These tiny organisms attack the food chewed. The food chewed moves to the third chamber called omasum. Lastly, the final cud enters the last chamber called the abomasum.
4. Deer has a diverse diet
According to research done by national geographic, deer are herbivores. They are not limited to the type of plants they graze. Deer feeds on twigs, nuts, fruit, fungi, ornamental trees, flowers, vegetables, grass, and alfalfa. Its favorite fruits include persimmons, blueberries, and blackberries. Other common meals are sedges, wild crap apple, clover leaves, and sumac foliage and dogwood fruit. The diet does not remain the same throughout the year. Hence they eat what is accessible.
5. Deer uses antlers to fight during mating
Male deer use strategies in order to get females. They fight a territory that overlaps female deer. Other deer hold females while others defend one doe from males. The doe assembles in rutting areas, and males join them hence compete for doe by fighting with antlers, roaring, and splashing urine. s
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