Marsh Deer

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Marsh Deer
Conservation status
Vulnerable (VU)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Cervidae Genus: Blastocerus Species: B. dichotomus
Binomial name
Blastocerus dichotomus (Illiger, 1815)

The Marsh Deer, Blastocerus dichotomus, is the largest deer species from South America. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay.

Marsh deers live only in marsh areas, pantanal and chaco, usually with the water level reaching half a meter deep. They possess very large ears lined with white hairs, reddish brown colored body and long dark legs. They are solitary animals or living in groups with less than 6 individuals with only an adult male.

It's considered to be a vulnerable species, according to CITES, appendix I.

[edit] References

• Varela et al (2002). Blastocerus dichotomus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is vulnerable