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Marsh Deer
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Walking on a wooden bridge through the swamp, suddenly I stood eye-in-eye with a Marsh Deer. (Blastocerus dichotomus ).
Habitat
The Marsh Deer lives only in marsh areas, Pantanal and Chaco, usually with the water level reaching half a meter deep. They are swift swimmers. The marshes with their high vegetation density protect them from predators and provide them with food.
Description
They possess very large ears lined with white hairs, reddish brown colored body and long dark legs. The hair turns darker during winter. The legs are black below the tarsal as is the muzzle. The tail is of a paler reddish tone than the rest of the body on its upper part and black on the under part. It has a length of 10 to 15 cm in adults.
The claw, which is large in relation to the body, has elastic interdigital membranes which are useful for swimming and walking on marshy surfaces. Only the males possess antlers which are ramified and reach a length of 60 cm. An adult can reach a weight of 150 kg.
They are solitary animals or living in groups with less than 6 individuals with only an adult male. Their main predators are the jaguar and the puma.
Behavior
It is predominantly nocturnal but its behaviour can change with the seasons and the specific conditions of the surroundings. It doesn't form herds though the offspring remain with the females until mature. Occasionally small groups of up to 5 individuals have been observed. It is not territorial and roams along all of its range searching for food. During the dry season, if it happens, it reduces its mobility to remain near water.
It is herbivorous and eats grasses, fruits and tender roots. Occasionally it invades farmed land when forced to.
Usually the rutting season coincides with summer but can change from animal to animal. Pregnancy lasts about 200 days. The offspring (normally one per female, though occasionally twins are born) are born between October and November. The infant deers are whitish which becomes more adult-like after a year.
Conservation
The natural predators of the Marsh Deer – the Jaguar (locally called onça-pintada or yaguaraté) (Panthera onca) and the Puma (Puma concolor)— have almost completely disappeared from its habitat. The former major threat was poaching for its antlers, but this is now under control. Destruction of its habitat presents nowadays the major threat to marsh deers.
Source: Wikipedia |
XOTAELE, jaycee, nglen, fartash, kjpweb has marked this note useful
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Perfecto encuadre y bellos colores Peter.
Un cordial saludo, JL.
- jaycee
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1902 W: 8 N: 4957]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(16017) - [2007-09-25 13:22]
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Hi Peter,
A very handsome animal that you happened upon. I love the way he is looking at you. Beautiful colors in the nice natural setting. His antlers are wonderful.
Jane
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- nglen
(22516)
- [2007-09-25 13:31]
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Hi Peter. what a fine looking animal you have taken here. good rich colours in its wild seting. a nice pose with it looking at you. well done TFs. good notes too.
Nick..
Hello Peter
What a great shot of this Marsh Deer,
Perfect composition,lighting and BG,Welldone.
Regards
Fartash
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- Jamesp
(15138)
- [2007-09-25 23:00]
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Hi Peter
Lovely shot - nice pose and good illustration of habitat.
James
Sorry shot crit - jet-lagged!
Your encounter is well captured, I like the surprised look on the deers face.
Well composed and good sharpness.
Chris
bonjour peter
j'aime beaucoup le fait que l'animal regarde vers l'objectif,son pelage a l'air vraiment tres dense,ici les chervreuil ont le poil plus ras.
bien vu.
laurent
Magnifique prise, belle chasse, avec d'excellents détails et très belle pose.
Bravo
Marie
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- kjpweb
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 367 W: 86 N: 1084]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(4788) - [2007-09-27 13:44]
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You are one lucky guy! Like the exchange of views taking place here - and though not as sharp as one can wish for - it is a good one anyway! Bravo for the good reaction! Cheers, Klaus
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 1362 W: 56 N: 964]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-n.gif)
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