Chital or the Spotted Deer

Description:

The chital's coat is pinkish fawn, marked with white spots, and its underparts are white. Its antlers, which it sheds annually, are usually three-pronged and curve in a lyre shape and may extend to 75 cm (2.5 ft). Compared to the hog deer, its close relative, the chital has a more cursorial build, its antler pedicles are proportionally short and its auditory bullae is smaller. It also has large nasals. It stands about 90 cm (3 ft) tall at the shoulder and masses about 85 kg (187 lb), although males tend to be larger than females. Its lifespan is around 8–14 years. Chital have well developed preorbital glands which protrude hairs like stiff little branches. They also have well developed metatarsal glands and pedal glands on the hind legs. Preorbital glands are larger in males than in females and are opened very often in response to stimuli.

Habitat:

Commonly inhabits wooded regions of Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and in small numbers in Pakistan.