Sika deer

Sika deer

Sika deer (Cervus nippon) are originally from Asia and were introduced to the North Island of New Zealand at the start of the century. They are smaller in size than a red deer but larger than a fallow with a typical trophy deer having 8 points. They are a very popular animal to hunt due to their elusiveness. Their roar or rut occurs between early April and June and fawning is from December to February.

Physical size and morphology

Sika deer have a relatively short and neat head, with shorter and rounder ears than red deer. They have a relatively long (20-25 cm), narrow tail in comparison with red deer.

The frontal and parietofrontal skull sutures (bone joint lines) are a diagnostic feature. They lie between the antler pedicles in stags and in the corresponding position in hinds. In sika deer the sutures form a "T".

Sika deer have a conspicuous metatarsal gland on the outer edge of the rear legs (just below the "knee" joint). It is oval in shape and about 3-4 cm in diameter. Its colour varies from cream to tan, and it is partly surrounded by a tuft of longer hairs (usually grey or tan) that are swept backwards.

Coat colour

The summer coat of sika deer is typically a sleek bright chestnut colour which grades to a creamy white on the belly. The coat usually has white spots along the back and flanks.

The winter coat of sika deer is a uniform, dull grey with the spots faint or absent (usually more noticeable on younger animals). During winter the belly hair is usually cream in hinds and yearling stags. However, during and following the roar the belly hair in stags is dull grey to black from being stained with urine.

Sika deer typically have a distinctive black dorsal stripe which extends from the ears to a patch at the base of the tail. This stripe is visible on both summer and winter coats, but is more defined in summer.

Sika deer have a relatively large white to dark cream rump patch which flares out when the animal is alarmed or disturbed. This patch has a dark margin near the base of the tail which fades to the colour of the body hair as it extends down the hind legs.

Antlers

Mature sika stag typically has antlers with 8 points. The antler beams of sika stags are smaller and thinner than those of red stags. In cross-section the bone component of the antler is thicker in sika deer than for red deer, and there is a comparatively smaller porous core.

The brow tines (antler spikes) usually branch from the main antler beam 2-3 cm or more above the coronet, point upwards and slightly outwards, and are gently curved. In red deer the brow tines usually branch closer to the coronet and are at right angles to the main antler beam.

Sika do not have bez tines whereas these are present in red deer. In sika deer the trez tines are relatively high up on the antler and typically small. The two top tines are forked and the outer top tine is typically longer with a considerable length of white smooth antler. The main beam of sika deer antlers has a characteristic reinforcing ridge between the brow and trez tines.

Vocalisations

In sika deer both sexes have a shrill, high-pitched whistle which they use when disturbed or alarmed. Sika hinds are generally more vocal than stags, except in the month (usually November) before fawning. Sika deer often whistle repeatedly while making their escape from disturbance. During the roar, sika stags have a call that can best be described as being similar to a donkey "hee-haw".

Behaviour

During the roar, sika stags dig shallow scrapes usually around the margins of their rutting territory. These scrapes are typically about 0.5 m in diameter and the stag regularly visits and urinates in them. Both sika deer and red deer make use of larger wallows, both during the roar and at other times of the year.

back to top