Animal Profiles
Mammals

Fallow deer

Dama dama

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

The fallow deer is a grazing and browsing deer often associated with woodland edges and open grass. Mature males carry broad, flattened antlers, while coat colours vary considerably.

Fallow deer (Dama dama) in a grassy field.

Fallow deer (Dama dama) in a grassy field.

Johann-Nikolaus Andreae · CC BY-SA

At a glance

Location
Fallow deer favour a mixture of woodland cover and grassy feeding areas. Their long history of human transport has established populations far beyond their Mediterranean and western Asian origins. The continent filters include introduced populations, rather than indicating a wholly native range.
Habitat
Temperate forest, Grassland
Diet
Herbivore
Food
Grasses, leaves, shoots, buds and other vegetation provide food as availability changes.

Classification

Common name
Fallow deer
Browse group
Mammals
Scientific name or taxon
Dama dama
Taxon rank
species
Order
Artiodactyla
Family
Cervidae
Genus
Dama
Source classification
Mammalia

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • Mature males have broad, flattened antlers.
  • Coats can be spotted, dark or unusually pale.
  • Its plant diet changes with the season.

Habitat and range

Fallow deer favour a mixture of woodland cover and grassy feeding areas. Their long history of human transport has established populations far beyond their Mediterranean and western Asian origins. The continent filters include introduced populations, rather than indicating a wholly native range.

Appearance and adaptations

Mature bucks develop flattened, branching antlers that are shed and regrown. Does usually lack antlers. Many animals have white-spotted brown summer coats, but darker and paler colour forms also occur; winter coats are thicker and generally darker.

Diet and behaviour

Grasses, leaves, shoots, buds and other vegetation provide food as availability changes. Feeding often peaks near dawn and dusk. Grouping also changes seasonally: females and young commonly form herds, while males join them during the breeding season.

Sources

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