Cervus nippon; sika; Japanese deer

Japanese: ニホンジカ（英語表記）Cervus nippon; sika; Japanese deer

It is an even-toed ungulate deer of the Cervidae family. Its body length is 1-1.7m, and its height is about 0.8-1m, with the size varying depending on the subspecies. In summer, its body is reddish brown with white spots, but in winter, these spots disappear and the body becomes grayish brown. The velvet antlers begin to grow in April-May, and are fully developed in September. Adults usually have four-pointed antlers, but the yakushika subspecies often has three antlers. However, the number of antlers can change depending on the nutritional state. In spring and summer, males and females live separately, and from autumn to winter, they form herds of about 10 individuals. They live in forest areas and are mainly active in the early morning and evening. They are herbivorous. They are divided into subspecies such as the yakushika, the Yezo deer C. n. yesoensis , the Kyushu deer C. n. nippon , and the Kerama deer C. n. keramae . The Kerama deer in particular are few in number and, along with the Japanese deer of Nara, have been designated a natural monument.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

偶蹄目シカ科。体長1～1.7m，体高 0.8～1m内外で，亜種により大きさが異なる。体色は，夏は赤褐色に白色斑があるが，冬にはこの白色斑は消失し，灰褐色がかった体色になる。角は4～5月頃袋角が生えはじめ，9月頃完成される。成獣の角は普通4尖であるが，亜種のヤクシカは3尖のものが多い。しかし，枝の数は栄養状態でも変ることがある。春，夏には雌雄別々で生活し，秋から冬は 10頭内外の群れをつくる。森林地帯にすみ，おもに早朝，夕刻に活動する。草食性。ヤクシカ，エゾシカ C. n. yesoensis，キュウシュウシカ C. n. nippon，ケラマジカ C. n. keramaeなどの亜種に分けられている。特にケラマジカはその数も少く，奈良のニホンジカとともに，天然記念物に指定されている。

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