Chital (Axis axis) 11 February 2016. Ranthambhore, Rajasthan, IN
![]() ![]() I believe this is a female. Males are larger and have antlers. This species is a great example of neoteny, an evolutionary mechanism where juvenile characters are retained into adulthood. The Chital is the only deer which keeps the typical juvenile spotted coat as an adult. This species is endemic to the Indian subcontinent but has been rather widely introduced. There used to be a population established at Point Reyes in California, but I believe that introduction has been eliminated. Another name for this species is "Axis Deer" which is what we used to call them at Point Reyes. Canon PowerShot SX50 HS. Reference: Wikipedia contributors, "Chital," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chital&oldid=717768211 (accessed April 29, 2016). |