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.

Axis Deer

Axis Deer

Understanding the Unique Characteristics of Axis Deer The Axis Deer, also known as Chital or Spotted Deer, is native to the Indian subcontinent (India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Bangladesh). Today the Axis Deer can

Read More »
Barasingha Deer

Barasingha Deer

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 northern India, and there

Read More »
Bawean Deer

Bawean Deer

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 island in Indonesia.

Read More »
Bornean Yellow Muntjac

Bornean Yellow Muntjac

Introduction to the Bornean Yellow Muntjac Have you ever heard of the Bornean Yellow Muntjac? It’s a fascinating deer species that calls the dense rainforests of Borneo its home. This elusive creature is known for

Read More »
Brocket Deer

Brocket Deer

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 Trinidad, there are 10

Read More »
Calamian Deer

Calamian Deer

The Calamian Deer: A Treasure of the Philippine Islands If you’re curious about the Calamian deer, you’ve come to the right place. This unique species, also known as the Calamian hog deer or the Philippine

Read More »
Chinese Water Deer

Chinese Water Deer

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 of Korea and in

Read More »
Coues Deer

Coues Deer

Ever been to a state park in the American Southwest or Mexico? If so, maybe you’ve seen a Coues deer. They’re a subspecies of the well-known American white-tailed deer. These deer are smaller than regular

Read More »
Eld's Deer

Eld’s Deer

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 southern Asia is certainly

Read More »
Elk

Elk

Like the white-tailed deer, the North American Elk (also known as the Wapiti) is a cervid. In fact, it’s the second-largest species in the deer family, making it an impressive animal. The North American elk

Read More »
Fallow Deer

Fallow Deer

The Fallow Deer (Dama dama) is a European native species of deer with an impressive rack of antlers (males) and striking appearance. Its name is derived from the pale brown coloration of its body, although

Read More »
Fea's Muntjac

Fea’s Muntjac

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.

Read More »
Indian Hog Deer

Indian Hog Deer

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 short, squat appearance, and

Read More »
Indian Muntjac

Indian Muntjac

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.

Read More »
Indian Sambar Deer

Indian Sambar Deer

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 hunting. It is a

Read More »
Irish Elk

Irish Elk

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 the 1600s, Irish elk

Read More »
Key Deer

Key Deer

Key deer are a subspecies of whitetail deer. They can only be found in the Florida Keys, which is where they got their name. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about this

Read More »
Marsh Deer

Marsh Deer

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 Deer inhabit the swamps

Read More »
Moose

Moose

The moose (Alces alces) is a massively large member of the deer family that lives in the colder, northern climates. In North America, moose are found primarily in the forests of Canada and Alaska, with

Read More »
Mule Deer

Mule Deer

Named for their large, mule-like ears, Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) are indigenous to western North America and can be grouped into two subspecies of black-tailed deer.

Read More »
Muntjac Deer

Muntjac Deer

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 noise they make when

Read More »
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.

Read More »
Pampas Deer

Pampas Deer

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, and is the beneficiary

Read More »
Pere David Deer

Pere David Deer

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

Read More »
Persian Fallow Deer

Persian Fallow Deer

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 most this deer is

Read More »
Philippine Deer

Philippine Deer

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.

Read More »
Philippine Spotted Deer

Philippine Spotted Deer

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 island chain. This deer

Read More »
Red Deer

Red Deer

One of the largest deer species in the world, the Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) is a majestic animal that inhabits most of Europe, and Caucausus mountain range, parts of Asia, Iran, and Northwestern Africa (where

Read More »
Reeves Muntjac

Reeves Muntjac

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.

Read More »
Reindeer

Reindeer

Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) are species of deer found at high latitudes and a number of longitudes around the world. They inhabit cool climates, and are native to the arctic, sub-arctic, tundra, boreal, and mountain ranges

Read More »
Roe Deer

Roe Deer

A small but distinctive species, Capreolus capreolus (or the European Roe Deer) is sometimes referred to as the Western Roe Deer or simply “Roe.” You’ll find them on the UK mainland, particularly in southern England

Read More »
Rusa Deer

Rusa Deer

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 a number of locations

Read More »
Sika Deer

Sika Deer

Cervus nippon or the Sika Deer is native to east Asia and is sometimes referred to as the Japanese Deer or the Spotted Deer. Years ago you could find many Sika Deer in northern Vietnam

Read More »
South Andean Deer

South Andean Deer

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 Guemal, this elegant deer

Read More »
Southern Pudu

Southern Pudu

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 as near-threatened.

Read More »
Taruca Deer

Taruca Deer

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 with white patches. Taruca

Read More »
Tufted Deer

Tufted Deer

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 its forehead. One of

Read More »
White Lipped Deer

White Lipped Deer

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) and rostrum (snout), and

Read More »
White Tailed Deer

White Tailed Deer

White Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is the most vigorous and well-distributed wild ungulate in North America. Sometimes referred to as Virginia Deer or simply Whitetail, this deer can be found throughout North, central, and south America,

Read More »

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)