Axis Gray, 1825

Randel, Charles J & Tomeček, John M, 2021, Axis axis (Artiodactyla: Cervidae), Mammalian Species 53 (1004), pp. 51-64 : 51-52

Axis Gray, 1825

Cervus: Erxleben, 1777:312 . Part.

Axis: Gray, 1825:342 . Described as a member of the tribe Cervina to contain Muntjaccus , Coassus , Capreolus , Axis , Cervus , Dama , Tarandus , and Alus ; (see “Nomenclatural Notes”).

Axis: Hamilton-Smith, 1827b:312 . Described as a subgenus of Cervus Linnaeus, 1758 , to contain C. axis , C. porcinus , and C. pumilio ; type species Cervus axis Erxleben, 1777 , by subsequent designation (Kretzoi and Kretzoi 2000a:42, 2000b:446).

Hippelaphi Sundevall, 1846:177. Part; incorrect subsequent spelling of Hippelaphus Bonaparte, 1837; described as a subgenus of Cervus Linnaeus, 1758 , to contain C. japonicus , C. duvaucelli , C. aristotelis , C. equinus , C. hippelaphus , C. moluccenis , C. peroni , C. kuhlii , C. philippinus , C. mariannus , C. lepidus , C. axis , C. pseudaxis , and C. nudipalpebra .

Hyelaphus Sundevall, 1846:180 . Described as subgenus of Cervus Linnaeus, 1758 , to contain C. porcinus .

Melanaxis Heude, 1888:8 . Type species Cervus alfredi Sclater, 1870 , by original designation.

Chital Griffith, 1928:206. Nomen dubuim.

CONTEXT AND CONTENT. Order Artiodactyla , suborder Ruminantia , infraorder Pecora , family Cervidae , subfamily Cervinae , tribe Cervini , genus Axis . There are five species of Axis (Groves and Grubb 2011) . Antler structure and development are similar among species and therefore not a useful characteristic for distinguishing species within Axis . In wild populations, geographical distributions can be used to differentiate A. kuhlii (Bawean Island, Indonesia) and A. calamianensis (Calamian Islands, Philippines) from each other and from other species of Axis (Groves and Grubb 2011) . Coat patterns and geographical distribution were used to develop the following general key.

1. Distinct dorsal stripe extending from shoulders to base of tail ......................................................................................... 2

Indistinct, or lacking, dorsal stripe ....................................... 3

2. Coat marked by distinct white spots............................ A. axis

Coat lacking distinct spotted pattern ........... A. calamianensis

3. Lips lighter in color than face; accentuated by dark band extending from the corner of the mouth up toward nose...................................................................... A. kuhlii

Lips and face similarly colored; lacking distinct facial markings ......................................................................... 4

4. Species found from Pakistan to Myanmar........... A. porcinus

Species found from Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.................................................................. A. annamiticus