Eastern roe deer, Asian roe
The Siberian roe deer, eastern roe deer, or Asian roe (Capreolus pygargus ), is a species of roe deer found in northeastern Asia. In addition to Siberia and Mongolia, it is found in Kazakhstan, the Tian Shan Mountains of Kyrgyzstan, eastern Tibet, the Korean Peninsula, and northeastern China (Manchuria).
Its specific name pygargus, literally "white-rumped", is shared by the pygarg, an antelope known in the antiquity. The name was chosen by the German biologist Peter Simon Pallas in the late 18th century.The roe deer has long antlers.
The Siberian roe deer is a medium-sized deer well-adapted to severe weather extremes of northeastern Asia. It has a long neck, large ears, and large antlers. In winter the northern populations exhibit light gray coloring, but their southern counterparts are grayish brown and ochraceous. The belly is creamy and the caudal patch is white. In the summer, their coloring is reddish. Young have a spotted coat. Males are larger than females and have three-tined antlers, widely spaced and slanting upward, which are shed in the autumn or early winter and begin to regrow shortly thereafter.
Siberian roe deer are found in Siberia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, the Tian Shan Mountains of Kyrgyzstan, eastern Tibet, the Korean Peninsula, and northeastern China (Manchuria). They live in forest and steppe habitats, preferring tall-grass meadows and floodplains.
Siberian roe deer are shy animals and are most active at night. In summer they are typically solitary but during the winter they form mixed herds that may contain up to 20-30 individuals. Some Siberian roe deer perform mass migrations during which they may gather in herds of up to 500 individuals. Closer to rutting season, males become territorial and mark their territory with scents; they use secretion glands on the head skin, which they rub against trees, shrubs, and high grasses. They may also mark their territory with visual marks, by fraying trees with their antlers. Siberian roe deer communicate with each other using vocal signals. They have six signals: squeaking or whistling, rasping, barking, whining, screaming, and nonvocal sounds.
Siberian roe deer are herbivores and their diet consists of over 600 species of plants. In summer, they often visit natural salt licks, and water is usually obtained through moisture-rich foods.
Siberian roes deer breed in August and September. After the gestation period that lasts 280-300 days females usually give birth to 2 fawns at a time. The fawns remain hidden in long grass from predators and are suckled by their mother several times a day for around 4-5 months. Females reach reproductive maturity in their first year of age but usually do not breed until their second. Males usually mate in their third year of life.
The main threats to Siberian roe deer include illegal hunting for meat and antlers and deforestation. Severe weather and natural predation also pose a serious threat to some populations in certain areas of their range.
According to IUCN, the Siberian roe deer is common throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. However, it was estimated that in 2011, the total population size of the species in Siberia was 326,825 individuals. Currently, the Siberian roe deer is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.
