Red Deer (mammal)

Red Deer (mammal), hoofed mammal found in Europe and Asia. It is 1.2 m (4 ft) at the shoulder, with a red-brown coat and a short tail. The male's branched antlers have at least ten tines and are shed annually; females lack antlers. The males live alone or in casual groups, but the females and their offspring live in highly organized herds. During breeding season, from early September to mid-October, a male will attach itself to a group of females and spend its days circling them to ward off rivals. The female usually bears a single fawn, and calves stay with their mothers for two to three years. The Eurasian red deer belongs to the same species as the North American wapiti. The North American wapiti is often called an elk, a term used for the moose in Europe and in Asia.

Scientific classification: The red deer belongs to the family Cervidae of the order Artiodactyla. It is classified as Cervus elaphus.