Chital (Spotted Deer)
Scientific Name: Axis axis
Physical Features: Chital have a reddish-brown coat adorned with white spots throughout their lives, making them easily recognizable. Males possess antlers that can grow up to 1 meter long, while females are antlerless. They stand around 90 cm tall at the shoulder and weigh between 40 to 50 kg.
Habitat: Chital are found in a wide range of habitats, including deciduous forests, grasslands, and scrub forests, particularly in national parks like Ranthambore and Bandhavgarh.
Behavior: Chital are social animals, living in herds of up to 30 individuals. They are primarily grazers, feeding on grasses, but also browse on fruits, leaves, and bark. They are highly alert and use their keen senses to detect predators.
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Unique Traits: Chital have a symbiotic relationship with langur monkeys, where the monkeys drop fruits from trees, and in return, the deer warn them of predators.
Communication: Chital communicate through vocalizations, including alarm calls when they sense predators, and use body language such as tail flicking to signal danger.
Breeding and Reproduction: Chital breed throughout the year, and females give birth to a single fawn after a gestation period of about six to eight months.
Ecological Importance: As prey species, Chital play a critical role in the food chain, supporting large carnivores like tigers and leopards. Their grazing habits also help maintain the grassland ecosystem.