Deer Species

Learn about the many different types of deer. Photos, facts, and information on the habits and habitat of many deer species.

Types of Deer

Read our updated articles about some of the fascinating types of deer found in locations around the world. Learn about their habitat, biology, appearance, reproductive cycle and more. Here you’ll discover just how diverse the many species of deer are.

Create an image of an Anhui Musk Deer. The setting should be traditional to the Musk Deer's natural habitat - dense mountainous forest. The musk deer itself should be a central figure, portrayed in its typical posture, with its characteristic small stature, backward-curving tusks and large mule-like ears. Make sure the fur is properly depicted with its inherent variations in color from yellow-brown to dark brown. No text, people, or brands should be included in the image. The image should purely capture the essence of the musk deer in its natural surroundings.

Anhui Musk Deer (Moschus anhuiensis)

Home / Deer Species Understanding the Anhui Musk Deer The Anhui Musk Deer, scientifically known as Moschus anhuiensis, is a fascinating species belonging to the Moschidae family. This deer is known for its distinct musk

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Axis Deer

Axis Deer

Home / Deer Species Updated on September 7, 2026. The axis deer, or chital (Axis axis), is a medium-sized spotted deer native to the Indian subcontinent. Adults keep white spots and a black dorsal stripe

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Illustrate a serene forest scenery where an Axis deer, also known as a Chital, can be seen exploring. The deer bears its distinctively sleek, golden-brown coat dotted with white spots bringing elegance to its movements. It's outdoors during daytime, parading amidst a thick grove of trees draped in greenery, and clusters of wildflowers blooming vibrantly under the warm sunlight. A distant brook quietly murmurs, completing the tranquil wilderness, and no people or human-made items like brand names and logos are present. Capture this moment of undisturbed wildlife.

Axis Deer vs Whitetail Deer

Home / Deer Species Updated on September 7, 2026. Adult axis deer (chital) keep white spots. Adult white-tailed deer do not. That is the ID. The hunt split is legal and calendar: Texas treats axis

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Barasingha Deer

Barasingha Deer

Home / Deer Species The Barasingha deer (Rucervus Duvaucelii) is also called the swamp deer and it’s one of the most famed deer of the Indian subcontinent. You’ll find fragmented populations in both central and

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Bawean Deer

Bawean Deer

Home / Deer Species The Bawean Deer (Hyelaphus kuhlii) is also commonly referred to as Kuhl’s Deer or the Bawean Hog Deer. This species is very threatened, and can only be found on a single

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Produce an image capturing professional wildlife photography representative of a Columbia Blacktail Deer in its natural habitat. The scene should depict the deer in a lush forest environment, illustrating why it is often considered the ultimate wildlife hunt. The deer should be the focal point, embodying intricate details from its spotted coat to its branching antlers. Portray a serene, untouched wilderness without human intervention, including no text items, brand names, or logos. Make it feel as though the viewer is looking directly into the untouched, beautiful world of the deer.

Blacktail Deer vs Whitetail Deer

Home / Deer Species Updated on September 7, 2026. Blacktail deer White-tailed deer Size Columbian blacktail bucks commonly 100–200 lb live; Sitka often 100–150. NDA: adult bucks average up to about 140 lb. Compact, built

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Brocket Deer

Brocket Deer

Home / Deer Species There are several different types of unique Brocket Deer which together fall under the genus Mazama. Found on the Yucatan Peninsula, Central and South America, and on the beautiful island of

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Chinese Water Deer

Chinese Water Deer

Home / Deer Species The Chinese water deer is a small deer of Asian origin, part of the Cervidae (order Artiodactyla) family. It can be found in the wild dwelling in the lush river bottoms

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Coues Deer

Coues Deer

Home / Deer Species Updated on September 7, 2026. Numbers in the facts table wear an official source. Hunt dates and tags live on the Arizona and New Mexico pages, not here. Coues deer are

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Coues Deer

Coues Deer vs Mule Deer

Home / Deer Species Updated on September 7, 2026. Coues deer are a tiny desert subspecies of white-tailed deer. Mule deer are a different, larger western species. In Arizona and New Mexico they share the

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Eld's Deer

Eld’s Deer

Home / Deer Species Eld’s Deer (Panolia eldii) is a species that goes by many different names. These include Thamin Deer, Brow-Antlered Deer, and Cervus eldi. Though endangered, this elegant and graceful species native to

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Elk

Elk

Home / Deer Species Elk, or wapiti (Cervus canadensis), are the second-largest living deer after moose. A typical Yellowstone bull stands about five feet at the shoulder and weighs about 700 pounds. They are a

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Fallow Deer

Fallow Deer

Home / Deer Species Fallow deer (Dama dama) are medium-sized Old World deer. Mature bucks grow palmate, shovel-shaped antlers; adults keep a black-edged white rump and one of four coat colors. The only confirmed native

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Fea's Muntjac

Fea’s Muntjac

Home / Deer Species A rare species of deer native to Thailand and Southern Myanmar, Fea’s Muntjac Deer (Muntiacus feae) is similar in appearance to the common Muntjac deer, but has some unique differences.

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Indian Hog Deer

Indian Hog Deer

Home / Deer Species The Indian Hog Deer (Cervus porcinus) is a stocky species of deer native to India that now lives in India, Pakistan, and southeastern Asia. It gets its name due to its

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Indian Muntjac

Indian Muntjac

Home / Deer Species Indian Muntjac deer (Muntiacus muntjak) is native to Southeastern Asia. Also called the Southern Red Muntjac or Barking Deer, and is among the smallest deer species.

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Indian Sambar Deer

Indian Sambar Deer

Home / Deer Species The Indian Sambar Deer (Rusa unicolor) is an impressive deer which is native to India, South China, and Souteastern Asia. Its impressive size and unique coloring make it a target for

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Irish Elk

Irish Elk

Home / Deer Species Known worldwide for their incredible antlers, Irish elk are an extinct species that still holds a lot of fame because of their incredible size and beauty. With fossilized remains discovered in

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Key Deer

Key Deer

Home / Deer Species Updated on September 7, 2026. Key deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium) are the smallest North American white-tailed deer, endemic to the Lower Florida Keys. Adults stand 25–30 inches at the shoulder. They

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Marsh Deer

Marsh Deer

Home / Deer Species Marsh Deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) are the largest type of deer from South America. Though they originally thrived in tropical and subtropical environments in the rain forest, today small units of Marsh

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Moose

Moose

Home / Deer Species Updated on September 7, 2026. A moose (Alces alces) is the largest living deer: a solitary northern browser with palmate antlers, a shoulder hump, and a dewlap. Alaska–Yukon bulls reach about

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Mule Deer

Mule Deer

Home / Deer Species Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) are the big-eared deer of western North America, ranging from the Yukon and southeastern Alaska to central Mexico. Typical Rocky Mountain bucks stand 33–42 inches at the

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Muntjac Deer

Muntjac Deer

Home / Deer Species On this page we’ll share some information and facts about Muntjac Deer. You may know this type of deer by their other names, including “barking deer” (because of their short, loud

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Northern Pudu

Northern Pudu

The Northern Pudu (pudu mephistopheles) is the smallest type of deer in the world and typically weighs less than 13 pounds when mature. Learn more about this fascinating deer.

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Pampas Deer

Pampas Deer

Home / Deer Species The Pampas Deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus) inhabits the wet and grassy lowlands of its range in South America. This species is endangered due to a loss of its preferred habitat and over-hunting,

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Pere David Deer

Pere David Deer

Home / Deer Species Native to the river valleys of China, the Pere David Deer (Elaphurus davidianus) is sometimes referred to as the Milu or the Elaphur.

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Persian Fallow Deer

Persian Fallow Deer

Home / Deer Species The Persian Fallow Deer (Dama mesopotamica), is a very rare middle-eastern deer. Today this deer has ranges in Iran and Israel. Sometimes, this deer is called the Mesopotamian Fallow Deer. By

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Philippine Deer

Philippine Deer

Home / Deer Species The Philippine Deer (Rusa marianna) goes by several different names. You may have heard it referred to as the Philippine Sambar or the Philippine Brown Deer.

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Philippine Spotted Deer

Philippine Spotted Deer

Home / Deer Species The Philippine Spotted Deer — also called the Visayan Spotted Deer (Rusa alfredi) or Alfred’s Deer — is an endangered species endemic to the Philippine Islands. It lives on the Visayan

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Red Deer

Red Deer

Home / Deer Species Red deer (Cervus elaphus) are Europe’s largest deer — not North American elk. Stags roar and fight for hinds from late September. They are native from Britain and the Atlas Mountains

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Reeves Muntjac

Reeves Muntjac

Home / Deer Species The Reeves Muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi) is a common species of deer in southern China and Taiwan, though it has been brought to Japan and several locations in Europe as well.

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Reindeer

Reindeer

Home / Deer Species Updated on September 7, 2026. Confirm every herd count and listing on the agency page linked in the table. This is a plain-English species profile, not a harvest proclamation. Reindeer and

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Roe Deer

Roe Deer

Home / Deer Species Updated on September 7, 2026. The European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) is Europe’s small native woodland deer: rusty-red in summer, grey in winter, almost no tail. It ruts in July, then

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Rusa Deer

Rusa Deer

Home / Deer Species The Javan Rusa Deer (Rusa timorensis), also known as the Sunda Sambar, is an impressive-looking species of deer native to the Indonesian isles and East Timor. It has been introduced in

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Sika Deer

Sika Deer

Home / Deer Species Updated on September 7, 2026. Numbers in the facts table wear an official or peer-reviewed source. Confirm Maryland dates and stamps on the DNR guide before you hunt. Sika deer (Cervus

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South Andean Deer

South Andean Deer

Home / Deer Species The South Andean Deer (Hippocamelus bisulcus) is a species of endangered deer native to the Andes mountain range in Argentina and Chile. Sometimes referred to as the Chilean Huemul or Southern

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Southern Pudu

Southern Pudu

Home / Deer Species The Southern Pudu (Pudu puda) is one of two species of Pudu Deer native to South America. Their native range is across southern Chile and south-western Argentina. This deer is classified

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Taruca Deer

Taruca Deer

Home / Deer Species The Taruca Deer (Hippocamelus antisensis), or North Andean Deer, is a native of South America. It’s a mid-sized deer with a heavy body, and it is characterized by sandy brown hair

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Tufted Deer

Tufted Deer

Home / Deer Species The Tufted Deer (Elaphodus cephalophus) is a species native to central China and Northeastern Myanmar. It is a small deer which earned its name from the tuft of black hair on

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White Lipped Deer

White Lipped Deer

Home / Deer Species White Lipped Deer (Cervus albirostris), also known as Thorold’s Deer, is a large and impressive species native to the Tibetan Plateau. The latin name, albirostris, comes from the latin albus (white)

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White Tailed Deer

White-Tailed Deer

Home / Deer Species White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are the most widespread wild ungulate in the Americas, ranging from southern Canada through Central America into northern South America. Typical adults stand 32–40 inches at the

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How Many Types of Deer Are There?

Most people already have a solid picture in their mind of what a deer looks like – generally associating the broad term “deer” with their local ungulate population.

Types of Deer

But if you are a hunter, or just a wildlife enthusiast, then you are well aware that there are many different types of deer all around the world.

Deer species can be broken up into various categories and distinctions depending on their location. Some are more popular in certain regions than in others, and some are on the brink of extinction

On this page we will be taking a deep dive into the different types of deer species, where they reside, and whether or not they are extinct. 

Deer Species in the USA and North America

Two of the most common deer species in North America include the Mule Deer and the White Tailed Deer. While you may stumble upon other species as you explore different regions within North America, these two are native species.

Another common deer species in North America is the Black-Tailed Deer (a sub-species of Mule Deer).

Moose are also a common species of ungulate in North America that can be found in the Northern USA and Canada.

Deer Species in Europe

There are a few different types of deer that are native to Europe. Quite a few of these European deer species are present and common on different continents as well.

The three most common deer species that are native to Europe include the European Roe Deer, the Fallow Deer, and the Red Deer.

Types of Deer in Asia

Many of the different types of deer mentioned above can also be found in Asia.

However, there is an abundance of Asian deer species that will only be found here, unlike the others.

In Asia you’ll find deer species such as variations of Sambar Deer, Muntjac Deer, Tufted Deer, and Water Deer

Types of Deer in Central and South America

In comparison to North America, the deer species native to Central and South America vary greatly.

Here, you can find Marsh Deer, Pudú Deer, and the Taruca Deer scattered across the continent, residing in different habitats among the different countries in this diverse region. 

African Deer Species

There is only one known deer species that is native only to Africa and that is the Barbary Stag. Some may say: “What about antelope?”, but Antelope are actually different from deer.

About the Barbary Stag

This species is slightly smaller than those of the Red Deer species and sports darker spots around the neck, belly, head and legs. They have large antlers

Location

The Barbary Stag can be found in Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco. They inhabit humid and temperate forests with higher elevations. 

Population

Barbary Stag are an endangered deer species that were once hunted to extinction before being reintroduced several years later. They are often targets of hunting gangs and they also fall prey to jakals and hyena.

Deer Species List

Deer Species

Here is a list of all the world’s deer species in taxonomic order. Please click on a species name for more information about that species.

Subfamily Hydropotinae
Chinese Water Deer ( Hydroptes inermis)

Subfamily Muntiacinae
Bornean Yellow (Muntjac Muntiacus atherodes)

Black Muntjac (Muntiacus crinifrons)

Fea’s Muntjac (Muntiacus feae)

Gong Shan Muntjac (Muntiacus gongshanensis)

Indian Muntjac (Muntiacus muntjac)

Leaf Muntjac (Muntiacus putaoensis)

Reeves’ Muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi)

Truong Son Muntjac (Muntiacus trungsonensis)

Giant Muntjac (Muntiacus vuquangensis)

Tufted Deer (Elaphodus cephalophus)

Subfamily Cervinae
White-lipped or Thorold’s Deer (Cervus albirostris)

Philippine or Visayan Spotted Deer (Cervus alfredi)

Barasingha (Cervus duvaucelii)

Red Deer (Cervus elaphus)

Thamin (Cervus eldii)

Philippine Sambar or Philippine Brown Deer (Cervus mariannus)

Sika Deer (Cervus nippon)

Sunda Sambar or Rusa Deer (Cervus timorensis)

Indian Sambar (Cervus unicolor)

Chital (Axis axis)

Calamian Deer (Axis calamianensis)

Bawean Deer (Axis kuhlii)

Hog Deer (Axis porcinus)

Père David’s Deer (Elaphurus davidianus)

Fallow Deer (Dama dama)

Persian Fallow Deer (Dama mesopotamica)

Subfamily Odocoilinae
Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus)

Moose (Elk) (Alces alces)

Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus)

White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

Pampas Deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus)

Red Brocket (Mazama americana)

Merioa Brocket (Mazama bricenii)

Dwarf Brocket (Mazama chunyi)

Grey Brocket (Mazama gouazoupira)

Pygmy Brocket (Mazama nana)

Yucatan Brown Brocket (Mazama pandora)

Little Red Brocket (Mazama rufina)

Northern Pudu (Pudu mephistophiles)

Southern Pudu (Pudu pudu)

Marsh Deer (Blastocerus dichotomus)

Peruvian Guemal or North Andean Deer (Hippocamelus antisensis)

Chilean Guemal or South Andean Deer (Hippocamelus bisulcus)

Caribou/ Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)