Rusa timorensis (Blainville, 1822)
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6514377 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6514481 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03A087C4-FFCF-FFCF-FAB4-F8EDE779FD39 |
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treatment provided by |
Conny |
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scientific name |
Rusa timorensis |
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Javan Deer
French: Cerf de Timor / German: Mahnenhirsch / Spanish: Sambar de Java
Other common names: Maned Sambar, Rusa Deer, Sunda Sambar, Timor Deer
Taxonomy. Cervus timorensis de Blainville, 1822 View in CoL ,
Timor Island.
Seven subspecies are usually recognized, but their legitimacy is debatable.
Subspecies and Distribution.
R.t.timorensisdeBlainville,1822—TimorI.
R.t.djongaVanBemmel,1949-MunaandButonIs.
R.t.flovesiensisHeude,1897—Flores1.
R.t.macassaricaHeude,1896—Sulawesi.
R.t.moluccensisQuoy&Gaimard,1830—MoluccanIs.
R. t. russa Muller & Schlegel, 1845 — Java.
Possibly it is native only to Java and Bali islands, introduced into Lombok, Flores, Sumbawa, Sumba, Timor, Sulawesi, and Moluccan Islands in ancient times. It was introduced during the last centuries in many locations, including New Guinea, Aru Islands, New Britain Is, Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Mauritius, and Comoro Is. The map represents the native range and the oldest introductions. View Figure
Descriptive notes. Head-body 150-180 cm (males) and 140-170 (females), tail 25 cm, shoulder height 95-110 cm (males) and 85-100 (females); weight of males 70-135 kg and of females 50-90 kg. Males are 40-70% heavier than females. Medium-sized deer with relatively long and narrow tail; males have relatively slender and less rugose antlers, with a brow tine pointing forward and a trez tine in a median position. Males develop a conspicuous neck mane. The coat is dark brown to graybrown. Underparts are paler than back. Females are paler than males. Newborn fawns are unspotted. Adult antlers are 50-80 cm long, with records of 95 cm. Antler casting peaks in December—January, velvet shedding in May-June. Pedicles begin to grow at about 5-9 months of age. The first antler set begins to develop at 7-11 months of age.
Habitat. It is basically a tropical grassland species, but very adaptable, with populations living in forests, shrubs, and marshes, from sea level to 900 m above sea level.
Food and Feeding. It has an extensive diet, feeding on grasses, herbs, leaves, and bark.
Breeding. Females attain puberty at 7-15 months of age. Males are able to reproduce at about 24 months of age. Hinds are polyestrous, with a mean estrous length of 18 days. Javan Deer seems to breed at any time of the year, with a rutting peak from June to September. After a gestation of 249-253 days hinds give birth to a single calf weighing 3-5 kg. The Leopard (Panthera pardus) is the main predator.
Activity patterns. It is primarily diurnal.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. It is a gregarious species, with males and females forming distinct groups except during the rutting season. Herds may comprise up to 25 individuals.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. It may be locally common, but the global trend in its native range is negative, due to habitat loss, habitat degradation, and poaching.
Bibliography. de Garine-Wichatitsky et al. (2005), Hedges et al. (2008), Van Mourik (1986), Woodford & Dunning (1992).
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
