Red deer

The red deer (Cervus elaphus) is a large deer species found in most of Europe, western Asia, and parts of northern Africa. They are ruminants, characterized a a four-chambered stomach. Genetic evidence indicates that red deer is a species group and not a ingle species, though exactly how many species are in the group is disputed. The closely related American elk found in North America and eastern parts of Asia was regarded a subspecies of red deer but is a distinct species recently. Although one time that red deer were rare in parts of Europe, they are never close to extinction, reintroduction and conversation efforts have increased the population. It is the fourth largest deer species, behind the sambar, elk, and moose. They have a long tail compared to North American and Asian deer. Subtle differences in size and appearance are noticed in various subspecies, with the largest being the Caspian red deer, and the smallest being the Corsican red deer. Central and western Europe populations vary greatly in size, with some of the largest individuals being found in the Carpathian Mountains.