roe deer - Physical appearance, Habitat and diet, Behaviour and life cycle, Reproduction

A small true deer (Capreolus capreolus) native to Europe and Asia; the smallest European deer (shoulder height, 75 cm/30 in); short upright antlers with three tines; virtually no tail; white rump; inhabits open woodland edges.

iRoe Deer
Conservation status
Least concern (LR/lc)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Cervidae Genus: Capreolus Gray, 1821 Species: C. capreolus
Binomial name
Capreolus capreolus (Linnaeus, 1758)

The European Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) is a deer species of Europe, Asia Minor, and Caspian coastal regions. The two species meet at the Caucasus Mountains, with the European species occupying the southern flank of the mountain ranges and adjacent Asia Minor and the Siberian species occupying the northern flank of the mountain ranges.

Physical appearance

The Roe Deer is a relatively small deer, with a body length of 95-135 cm, a shoulder height of 65-75 cm, and a weight of 15-30 kg.

Habitat and diet

The Roe Deer is primarily a crepuscular, very quick and graceful, living on high ground or mountains, although it may venture to grasslands and sparse forests. A pioneer species commonly associated with biotic communities at an early stage of succession, during the Neolithic period in Europe the Roe Deer was abundant, taking advantage of areas of forest or woodland cleared by Neolithic farmers (Boyle, 2006).

Behaviour and life cycle

The Roe Deer attains a maximum life span (in the wild) of three to ten years. The Roe Deer spends most of its life alone, preferring to live solitary except when mating during the breeding season.

Reproduction

The polygamous Roe Deer males clash over territory in early summer and mate in early fall.