Yarkand deer

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Yarkand Deer
Conservation status
Endangered
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Suborder: Ruminantia Family: Cervidae Subfamily: Cervinae Genus: Cervus Species: C. elaphus Subspecies: C. e. yarkandenis
Trinomial name
Cervus elaphus yarkandenis

The Yarkand deer (Cervus elaphus yarkandenis) is a subspecies of Red Deer that is native to central Asia. It is similar in ecology to the Bactrian deer in occupying lowland riparian corridors surrounded by deserts. Both populations are isolated from one another by the Tianshan Mountains and probably form a primordial subgroup of Red Deer.

[edit] Description

This deer is light rufous in color with a large light-colored patch, including the tail. Its antlers usually have five tines with a terminal fork pointing forward. The fifth tine is usually larger than the fourth and is inclined inward.

[edit] Range

This deer is found in eastern Turkestan.