Deer are a fascinating species that are fun to spot, especially with their elusive nature. Many people don’t realize how many different types of deer exist in the wild, and how much they vary.
Deer are ruminant mammals. Ruminant means that they are hoofed, herbivorous, and are grazing mammals that have special 4-chambered stomachs. Cattle, sheep, buffalo, goats, giraffes, and camels are also ruminant.
There are over 40 different species of deer, many of which have several different subspecies. However, you’ll most likely only encounter a handful of them in your lifetime.
Here’s a table that can help to identify and differentiate the most common types of deer.
| Type | Location | Lifespan | Size (Weight & shoulder height) | Speed | Unique Features | Scientific Name | Habitat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | Southern Canada, most of North America, Mexico | Around 4.5 years | Male: 150lbs Female: 100lbs 1.7 – 3.9 ft | 30 mph | White on the underside of the tail Only males have antlers, which they shed each year | Odocoileus virginianus | Wooded areas |
| Mule Deer | Western North America | 9-11 years | Male: 120-330 lbs Female: 95-200 lbs 3-3.5 ft | 45 mph | Large, mule-shaped ears | Odocoileus hemionus | Arid, rocky environments with diverse plant growth |
| Caribou (Reindeer) | Northern North America | About 15 years | Male: 350-400 lbs Female: 180-260 lbs 5.3-7 ft | 31 mph | Males and females grow antlers They’re the only deer with hair covering their nose | Rangifer tarandus | Tundra, boreal woodlands |
| Moose | North America (Alaska, New England), Canada | 15-25 years | Male: 840-1500 lbs Female: 440-790 lbs 4.6-6.9 ft | 35 mph | Heaviest species in the deer familyPalm-shaped antlers They are natural swimmers | Alces alces | Boreal and temperate broadleaf forests |
| Elk | North America, Central and East Asia | 10-13 years | Male: 710-730 lbs Female: 500-530 lbs 4.3-4.9 ft | 40 mph | Only males grow antlersBabies (calves) are spotted at birth, and spots disappear at the end of their first summer | Cervus canadensis | Rainforests, prairies, deciduous forests, Rocky Mountains, valleys, and more |
| Roe Deer | Europe | 7-10 years | 22-77 lbs 4 ft | 37 mph | Males have short, 3-tined antlers Very small tail | Capreolus capreolus | Open agricultural areas, dense coniferous woodlands |
| Red Deer | Most of Europe, Caucasus Mountains Region, Asia, Iran | About 16 years | Male: 350-530 lbs Female: 260-370 lbs About 4 ft | 40 mph | Reddish brown coat Live in herds of up to 400 deer, which are matriarchal and led by a single female | Cervus elaphus | Open woodlands, coniferous swamps and forests |
| Fallow Deer | Turkey, Italian Peninsula | 20-25 years | Male: 88-138 lbs Female: 68-97 lbs 3 ft | 30 mph | Wide range of coat colors, including red, black, brown, and white Fawns and adults all have white spotsMales have antlers | Dama Dama | Woodlands, deciduous forests, marshes, meadows, agricultural areas |
| Axis Deer (Chital) | India, parts of U.S., Australia | 20-30 years | Male: 200 lbs Female: 165 lbs 2-1/2 – 3 ft | 40 mph | Females give birth to fawns any time of the year Also known as spotted deer, keep their spots for lifeMales have antlers | Axis axis | Semi-open dry scrub forest |
Here are some useful guides that we’ve put together – about deer survival during the winter; about doe pregnancy; about baby deer; about feeding them; about deer feeders, etc.
Read also about other forest mammals – here are our guides about ermine, mongoose, sloth.