The Common Red Deer (Cervus elaphus hippelaphus) is an ungulate (hoofed) ruminant mammal. It is also known as the Central European Red Deer. 

The Common Red Deer is reddish-brown. The male has a short neck mane. The male has antlers, made from bone and covered with velvet. It is an even-toed ungulate with two toes on each hoof, like camels, goats, and cattle. 

It grows to 160-250 centimetres (63-98 inches) tall. Its tail measures 12-19 centimetres (5-8 inches) long. The male’s antlers measure about 71 centimetres (28 inches). 

The Common Red Deer is native to Central Europe, in countries such as France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and Denmark. It is a sub-species of the Red Deer (Cervus elaphus), which is found in most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains, and parts of Asia. 

It prefers woodlands. In winter, it migrates from the upper mountain slopes to the warmer bottom slopes. 

It is a ruminant, grazing on grass. 

The male is called a stag and the female is called a hind. Adult males stay in all-male groups for most of the year, except in the breeding season. The female is pregnant for 240-262 days, before giving birth to one live young, called a calf. 

The calf is born with white spots on its reddish-brown fur. It remains with its mother for almost a year. 

The Common Red Deer lives, on average, for 10-13 years.

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM