Sika Deer

Sika Deer
ニホンジカ
Character Data
AKA		Spotted Deer, Japanese Deer
Romaji		Nihon Jika
Debut		Kemono Friends (2015 Game)
Animal Data
Scientific Name		Cervus nippon
Distribution		East Asia
Diet		Herbivore
Avg. Lifespan		12-25 years
Read More		Sika Deer
Conservation

Sika Deer

Anime

Festival

KF3

Nexon Game

Gallery

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Series Appearances

Appearances In Kemono Friends Media

Media		Role

In Real Life

The Sika deer also known as the spotted deer or the Japanese deer, is a species of deer native to much of East Asia, and introduced to various other parts of the world. Sika deer are either small or medium sized, depending on where they live. They all have a very small head and short legs. The males' antlers generally have three or four points on them, though some with a more dominant role have more. Females have two black bumps on their head instead. Sika deer are yellow brown to reddish-brown, and they have a dark dorsal stripe which is surrounded in the summer by white spots. During winter, their color is dark gray to black with no spots or just very faint ones.

Sika deer are natives of Eastern Asia and Japan, and have also been introduced to other regions of the world, including Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand and Philippines. They are mainly a forest-dwelling deer and they prefer forested areas that have a dense understory. However, they can adapt well to a range of other habitats like freshwater marshes (in Maryland State, Eastern US) and grasslands (in New Zealand).

Primarily crepuscular or nocturnal, sika deer sometimes forage during the day, either singly or in small groups. In addition, these deer are not especially gregarious. Adult males remain solitary most of the year though they sometimes group together, while females with their fawns form groups of 2 or 3 only during the birthing season. Males mark their territorial boundaries by digging holes using their forefeet and antlers. When territorial disputes between males occur, hooves and antlers are used as the main weapons. Sika deer are excellent swimmers and will readily enter the water in order to escape from predators or for other reasons.

Sika deer is herbivores and can eat any of the following: trees, fallen leaves, marsh grasses, brushy vegetation, herbs, fungi, ground ferns, bamboo, poison ivy, corn and soy beans.

Sika deer are polygynous and a male can successfully gather up to 12 females within his territory during the mating season, which is in autumn (September and October). A single fawn is born in May or June following a gestation period of about 30 weeks. When a fawn is born, the mother hides her baby in thick undergrowth. The fawn stays very quiet and still while it waits for the mother to return. Surprisingly, fawns have almost no smell, and even hunting dogs cannot detect their scent. When fawns are a few weeks old they venture out to play with the other fawns. Newborn are nursed up to 10 months with increasingly fatty milk. The mother cares for her fawn for as long as a year after birth. Fawns reach sexual maturity at the age of 16-18 months.

The main threats to Sika deer include water pollution, habitat loss, and hunting for their meat, as well as their antler velvet, which has a use in traditional medicines. Loss of genetic diversity due to fragmentation of their habitat is also a cause for concern, as well as competition with goats and other feral animals. Another threat is collisions with vehicles. Hybridization with native red deer in places like the United Kingdom is a conservation risk, threatening the genetic integrity of both species.

Trivia

• Sika deer’s name comes from "shika", the Japanese word for "deer". In Japan the species is known as the nihonjika, meaning "Japan deer" or "Japanese Deer"

• Sika deer can reach up to 1.7 m in height when jumping over something.

• Sika deer's eyes are on the sides of their head, allowing them to see further than we can to each side. This is a useful defense against predators, as all they can do is run away.