European roe deer (Capreоlus capreоlus)
European roe deer видео
European roe deer is a medium-sized, graceful deer that has relatively short body, with the rear being somewhat higher and thicker than the front. The weigh of the males ranges from 22 to 32 kilograms, the body measures from 108 to 126 cm in length and the height at the shoulders is 66 to 81 cm. Females are usually smaller than males but sexual dimorphism is not pronounced. The roe deer has a fairly broad, short head with the snout narrowing at the nose, long (12-14 cm), elliptical pointed ears, large prominent eyes, long neck, and high slim legs. Extremely short tail measuring 2 to 3 centimeters is fully hidden in the surrounding hairs; the hooves are narrow and relatively short. Males have quite small lyre-shaped antlers with three tines. The roe deer is found throughout Europe and Asia Minor; it inhabits deciduous and mixed forests and steppe woodlands. Roe deer consume about 1,000 plant species but they prefer energy-rich foods containing large amounts of water, and tend to select young parts of the plants. The percentage breakdown of plant type is as follows: 54-55% herbaceous dicotyledons, 25% woody plants, 15% monocotyledons, and just 5% other plant species including moss, lichen, ferns, and mushrooms. These deer live in family groups in summer months (females and their offspring), but in winter almost all of them stay in large family herds. Roe deer are the only ungulates that have a latent period of pregnancy, where the development of the embryo does not occur for 4 to 5 months. Delayed development plays a role of adaptation to environment conditions, as otherwise roe deer offspring would be born in winter months. Gestation in roe deer females lasts from 264 to 318 дней, and fawns are born in the period from April through June. In about a month before the birth of her offspring, the female establishes her home territory (which she occupies during many years) driving away all other roe deer females. Usually two fawns (sometimes one or three) are born weighing 1-1.7 kg, that are furred and have their eyes opened. They are practically helpless during the first days of life and spend most of the time hiding in the shelters located at a distance of 200 to 300 meters from each other. Spotted coat and undeveloped skin glands that do not produce strong smell help little fawns to stay hidden from predators during the first 2.5 or 3 months of their life. During the first weeks, they are nursed five to nine times a day, two to four times from the third week, and one to two times afterward. The fawns start trying plant food at the age of 5 to 10 days and regularly feed on vegetation after they are two month old. By the start of rut season the fawns become quite independent and stay separately from their mothers joining them only when the breeding season is over. Social bonds between females and their older offspring break in 2 to 4 weeks prior to the birth of next offspring. Young roe deer females reach sexual maturity in the first year of life, but usually do not breed at this age.
