Karoku (English spelling) Formosan deer

Japanese: カロク(花鹿) - カロク（英語表記）Formosan deer

Also known as the Formosan Sika Deer or Nosed Sika Deer. A mammal of the Cervidae family of the even-toed ungulate order, endemic to Taiwan, with prominent white spots. It stands 85-90cm tall at the shoulder, is about 150cm long, and weighs 40-90kg. It is similar to the Sika Deer, but has a longer body and slightly shorter limbs. Its base color is chestnut brown with numerous white spots on its body, which do not disappear even in winter fur. Its antlers are 45-50cm long, and like the Sika Deer, are three-pronged (four-pointed) in adults, but the lowest branch (first branch) is unusually short. It once inhabited the plains of Taiwan in great numbers, but due to overhunting, its population gradually decreased, and by the 1930s, it was said that only the virgin forests around Dazhuang and Fenglin on the east coast remained.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

タイワンジカ，ハナジカともいう。台湾特産の白斑の顕著な偶蹄目シカ科の哺乳類。肩高85～90cm，体長150cm前後，体重40～90kg。ニホンジカに似るが胴が長く，四肢がやや短く，体の地色は栗色で胴に多数の白斑があり，冬毛でも白斑は消失しない。角は長さ45～50cm，ニホンジカ同様成獣では3叉（さ）(4尖（せん）)であるが，最下位の枝(第1枝)が異様に短い。かつては台湾の平地に多数生息したが，乱獲のためしだいに減少し，1930年代には，東海岸の大庄と鳳林付近の原生林に残存するのみといわれるに至った。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

<<: Family fortune - Kaloku

>>: Kalokagathia (English spelling)