(Cervus nippon mandarinus)
Common Name: Northern Mainland Sika Deer*
Scientific Name: Cervus nippon mandarinus
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Cervidae
Feeding Type: Herbivore
Description: There are 13 subspecies of sika. Although we call them ?deer? they are a small Asian elk and bugle like our N. American wapiti. The Mandarin sika is one of the larger subspecies. Their summer pelage (coat) is a reddish brown with a dark dorsal stripe and many white spots (Bambi!). They also have a white rump patch and a dark belly. Winter pelage is dark gray with the spots barely visible. The winter coat is also longer and thicker. Females do not grow antlers. The antlers of the males are more divergent (four tines) than other sika subspecies.
Currently at ZooMontana:
Rocket – Male
Rocket was our first born sika deer here at ZooMontana. He was actually a bit of a surprise as his mother was not ?supposed? to be pregnant when San Diego transferred her here. His birthday is May 23, 1997.
*These animals are now being called Northern Mainland Sika Deer as it is believed they may be hybrids of the larger northern sika species.