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855 Featured Specimen
Sambar

Details

Sambar

Rusa unicolor

Size
1.6–2.7 m · 100–350 kg
Diet
Herbivore
Activity
Crepuscular
Sociality
Solitary
Lifespan

Sambar is a large Asian forest deer known for deep alarm calls and frequent use of wet areas. Hunting pressure and forest fragmentation have reduced populations in many regions.

Range

Habitat range map
Native range Occasional / Transient
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Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

Details

Habitat

It uses forests, grassland openings, stream edges, and wet lowlands from South to Southeast Asia. Main habitat types in this guide are forest, grassland, freshwater.

Appearance

Typical length 160-270 cm, weight 100 kg-350 kg. A heavy body, dark brown coat, neck mane, and stout three-tined antlers in males are conspicuous.

Behavior

It is most active around dawn and dusk and usually solitary. It uses water and wallows often and gives loud alarm calls when disturbed.

Feeding

It is herbivorous. Grasses, leaves, shoots, aquatic plants, and fruit are eaten.

Reproduction

Females bear single fawns that are hidden in dense vegetation at first.

Notes

Habitat loss and human pressure make conservation attention important. Hunting pressure and forest fragmentation have reduced populations in many regions.