Description of Brow antlered Deer – Sangai – Rucervus eldii eldii

Sangai (Rucervus eldii eldii) complete detail. Description of Brow antlered Deer – Sangai – Rucervus eldii eldii. Habit and habitat of Brow antlered Deer – Sangai. Distribution of Brow antlered Deer – Sangai. They prefer open scrub jungle, , areas of floating vegetation, or undulating land between rivers and hill ranges.

Rucervus eldii eldii is a beautiful medium sized deer. Head to body length measures about 140 to 160 cm. The length of tail about 10 to 20 cm. They are about 100 to 120 cm high at the shoulder. The antlers are replaced every year, and reach their largest size during the breeding season. 

They have a reddish brown to gray colored coat. The underparts are paler. They have dark brownish black nose, lips and mouth. The tail is short, and the ears are large. The upper tail feathers are reddish brown to gray, and under tail feathers are paler or dirty white in color. They have sharp eye sight, and have a paler white patch in front of eyes……………

Breeding season is between February and May. The age of sexual maturity is between 1.5 to 2.0 years. Males compete with each other to gain control of a harem of females that they can then mate with. Gestation period is between 7 .2 to 8.5 months.

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Distinctive Identification

Sangai is Schedule – I animal, according to wildlife (Protection) act, 1972 and classified as Endangered (EN) by the IUCN.

Rucervus eldii eldii is a beautiful medium sized deer, with uniquely distinctive antlers, length measures about 80 to 105 cm, and there is a lesser branch of the antler that is positioned directly off the pedicel that grows in the direction of the front of the head.

Head to body length measures about 140 to 160 cm. The length of tail about 10 to 20 cm. They are about 100 to 120 cm high at the shoulder. The weight of male Sangai is between 90 to 140 kg, and weight of female is between 70 to 120 kg.

They have a reddish brown to gray colored coat. They have slender body, and long and thin legs. The underparts are paler. They have dark brownish black nose, lips and mouth.

The tail is short, and the ears are large. The upper tail feathers are reddish brown to gray, and under tail feathers are paler or dirty white in color.

They have sharp eye sight, and have a paler white patch in front of eyes. The under paler or dirty white feathers on under neck and other underparts. They have paler white spots on hips and back upper side.

Males are darker in color, and possess a thick mane of long hair around the neck. Males are also larger than females.

The young are spotted at the time of birth, and these spots fade as the animal grows.

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Classification

Common Name – Brow antlered Deer

Local Name – Sangai

Zoological Name – Rucervus eldii eldii

Kingdom – Animalia

Phylum – Chordata

Class – Mammalia

Order – Artiodactyla

Family – Cervidae

Genus – Rucervus

Species – Rucervus eldii

Conservational Status – Schedule – I, according to wildlife (Protection) act, 1972 and classified as Endangered (EN) by the IUCN.

Distribution

Rucervus eldii eldii is found only in Manipur, India. Rucervus eldii eldii is endemic to Manipur. In Manipur, they found in southern parts of Loktak Lack and Keibul Lamjao National Park.

Habit and habitat

They prefer open scrub jungle, areas of floating vegetation, or undulating land between rivers and hill ranges. They inhabits areas of floating vegetation known as phumdi.

They are herbivores, and feed on grasses, herbaceous plants, water living plants, tree leaves, available fruits, and shoots.

They starts grazing usually early morning and continue up to 8 to 10 am, in the evening they starts at 3 to 4 pm and continue up to 6 to 7 pm. During day and night time it rests.

The Sangai are shy creatures. Males and females are generally solitary, or females occur in pairs with their young. In the mating season both males and females are found in large groups. Large groups are often formed when males join these groups of females before the breeding season begins.

The antlers are replaced every year, and reach their largest size during the breeding season. Their speed and sharp sight is their main protection.

Breeding season is between February and May. The age of sexual maturity is between 1.5 to 2.0 years.

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Males often use chemo-signaling through urine and feces to inform females that they are ready for mating. Males compete with each other to gain control of a harem of females that they can then mate with.

Gestation period is between 7 .2 to 8.5 months. Generally a single calf is born. The young are spotted at the time of birth, and these spots fade as the animal grows. The young are weaned at 7 to 8 months of age. The average lifespan of Rucervus eldii eldii is between 10 to 14 years.