Chital deer

Chital Temporal range: Middle Pleistocene-Present
Stag
Doe Both in Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Missing taxonomy template (fix):	Axis
Species:	Template:Taxonomy/AxisA. axis
Binomial name
Template:Taxonomy/AxisAxis axis (Erxleben, 1777)
Distribution of chital (2011)
Synonyms
List Axis major Hodgson, 1842 A. minor Hodgson, 1842 Cervus axis ceylonensis (J. B. Fischer, 1829) C. a. indicus (J. B. Fischer, 1829) C. a. maculatus (Kerr, 1792) C. a. zeylanicus (Lydekker, 1905) C. nudipalpebra (Ogilby, 1831) Rusa axis zeylanicus (Lydekker, 1905)

The chital or cheetal (Axis axis; /tʃiːtəl/), also known as the spotted deer, chital deer and axis deer, is a deer species native to the Indian subcontinent. It was first described and given a binomial name by German naturalist Johann Christian Polycarp Erxleben in 1777. A moderate-sized deer, male chital reach 90 cm (35 in) and females 70 cm (28 in) at the shoulder. While males weigh 70–90 kg (150–200 lb), females weigh around 40–60 kg (88–132 lb). It is sexually dimorphic; males are larger than females, and antlers are present only on males. The upper parts are golden to rufous, completely covered in white spots. The abdomen, rump, throat, insides of legs, ears, and tail are all white. The antlers, three-pronged, are nearly 1 m (3 ft 3 in) long.

Etymology

The vernacular name "chital" (pronounced /tʃiːtəl/) comes from cītal (Hindi: चीतल), derived from the Sanskrit word citrala (चित्रल), meaning "variegated" or "spotted". The name of the cheetah has a similar origin. Variations of "chital" include "cheetal" and "cheetul". Other common names for the chital are Indian spotted deer (or simply the spotted deer) and axis deer.

Distribution and habitat

The chital ranges over 8–30°N in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The western limit of its range is eastern Rajasthan and Gujarat; its northern limit is throughout the Terai and northern West Bengal, Sikkim to western Assam and forested valleys in Bhutan below an elevation of 1,100 m (3,600 ft). It also occurs in the Sundarbans and some ecoparks around the Bay of Bengal, but is locally extinct in central and north-eastern Bangladesh. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Sri Lanka are the southern limits of its distribution. It sporadically occur in forested areas throughout the Indian peninsula.

Behaviour and ecology

Male feeding in Nagarhole

Female running in Mudumalai

Chital are active throughout the day. In the summer, time is spent in rest under shade, and the sun's glare is avoided if the temperature reaches 80 °F (27 °C); activity peaks as dusk approaches. As days grow cooler, foraging begins before sunrise and peaks by early morning. Activity slows down during midday, when the animals rest or loiter about slowly. Foraging recommences by late afternoon and continues till midnight. They fall asleep a few hours before sunrise, typically in the forest which is cooler than the glades. These deer typically move in a single file on specific tracks, with a distance of two to three times their width between them, when on a journey, typically in search of food and water sources. A study in the Gir National Park (Junagadh, Pakistan) showed that chital travel the most in summer of all seasons.

When cautiously inspecting its vicinity, the chital stands motionless and listens with rapt attention, facing the potential danger, if any. This stance may be adopted by nearby individuals, as well. As an antipredator measure, chital flee in groups (unlike the hog deer that disperse on alarm); sprints are often followed by hiding in dense undergrowth. The running chital has its tail raised, exposing the white underparts. The chital can leap and clear fences as high as 1.5 m (4.9 ft) but prefers to dive under them. It stays within 300 m (980 ft) of cover.

See also

• Sri Lankan axis deer
• Sambar deer
• Barasingha

External links

• Data related to Axis axis at Wikispecies

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