|
The barasingha (''Rucervus duvaucelii'' syn. ''Cervus duvaucelii''), also called swamp deer, is a deer species distributed in the Indian subcontinent. Populations in northern and central India are fragmented, and two isolated populations occur in southwestern Nepal. It is extinct in Pakistan and in Bangladesh. The specific name commemorates the French naturalist Alfred Duvaucel.〔Cuvier, G. (1823). (''Recherches sur les ossemens fossiles de quadrupèdes'' ). Nouvelle édition, Tome Quatrième. Dufour & d'Ocagne, Paris, Amsterdam.〕 The swamp deer differs from all the Indian deer species in that the antlers carry more than three tines. Because of this distinctive character it is designated barasingha, meaning "twelve-tined."〔Lydekker, R. (1888–1890). (''The new natural history'' Volume 2 ). Printed by order of the Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History), London.〕 Mature stags have 10 to 14 tines, and some have been known to have up to 20.〔Prater, S. H. (1948). ''The book of Indian animals''. Oxford University Press. (10th ed.)〕 In Assamese, ''barasingha'' is called ''dolhorina''; ''dol'' meaning swamp. In central India, it is called ''goinjak'' (stags) or ''gaoni'' (hinds). ==Characteristics== The barasingha is a large deer with a shoulder height of and a head-to-body length of nearly . Its hair is rather woolly and yellowish brown above but paler below, with white spots along the spine. The throat, belly, inside of the thighs and beneath the tail is white. In summer the coat becomes bright rufous-brown. The neck is maned. Females are paler than males. Young are spotted. Average antlers measure round the curve with a girth of at mid beam.〔Blanford, W. T. (1888–1891). (''The fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Mammalia'' ). Taylor and Francis, London.〕 A record antler measured round the curve.〔 Stags weigh . Females are less heavy, weighing about .〔 Large stags have weighed from .〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Barasingha」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|