鹿科 Cervidae (Sub-family of Artiodactyla)

鹿科（Cervidae）,源自拉丁文 cervus（"鹿"）,意指该科的所有成员都是与鹿有关的动物.

Cervidae, from Latin cervus (“deer”), in reference to the fact that all the members of this family are deer-related animals.

種的俗名 Common names of members

鹿,加拿大马鹿,駝鹿,馴鹿,麂.

Deers, elks, mooses, reindeers, muntjacs.

分佈 Distribution

除澳大利亚、南极洲和一些大洋岛屿外的所有大陆.

All continents except Australia, Antarctica and some oceanic islands.

體型 Size

牠们属于中型到大型动物,体型从肩高 32-35 公分、体重 3.3-6 公斤到 2.6 米、800 公斤不等.

They are medium to large animals, varying in size from 32–35 cm at the shoulder height and 3.3–6 kg in weight to 2.6 m and 800 kg.

形態描述 Morphology

牠们的头很长,脖子也相对较长.牠们的腿很长,有两个有蹄的脚趾.其他典型特征包括长而有力的腿、小巧的尾巴和长耳朵.性二型现象非常明显--在大多数物种中,雄性往往比雌性大,而且一般只有雄性才有鹿角.毛色一般在红色和棕色之间.几乎所有鹿的每只眼睛前面都有一个面部腺体.该腺体含有一种气味强烈的信息素,用于标记其家园范围.

They have a long head and relatively long neck. Their legs are long with hoofed 2 toes. Other typical characteristics include long, powerful legs, a diminutive tail and long ears. Sexual dimorphism is quite pronounced – in most species males tend to be larger than females, and, generally, only males have antlers. Coat color generally varies between red and brown. Nearly all deer have a facial gland in front of each eye. The gland contains a strongly scented pheromone, used to mark its home range.

生態與棲息地 Ecology & Habitat

鹿栖息在从热带雨林到苔原等多种生物群落中.尽管鹿经常与森林联系在一起,但许多鹿都是生态过渡物种,这意味着牠们栖息在两者之间的空间,例如草原和热带稀树草原（开阔空间）以及灌丛和森林（遮蔽物）之间的过渡地带.在世界各地,大多数大型鹿类生活在热带稀树草原生态系统、热带季节性/干燥森林、山地针叶混交林和温带落叶混交林中.

Deer inhabit a wide range of biomes, from the tropical rainforest to the tundra. Despite being frequently linked to forests, many deer are ecotone species, meaning they inhabit the spaces in between, such as the transitions between prairie and savanna (open space) and thickets and forests (for cover). Around the world, the majority of large deer species live in savanna ecosystems, tropical seasonal/dry forests, mountain mixed coniferous forests, and temperate mixed deciduous forests.

食性 Diet

作为草食性食草动物,牠们主要吃草、莎草、牧草、灌木和树木的叶子；冬季,在北纬地区,牠们也吃地衣.

As herbivorous browsers, they eat mostly the leaves of grasses, sedges, forbs, shrubs, and trees; in the winter, at northern latitudes, they also eat lichens.

繁殖 Reproduction

大多数都是一雄多雌（一只雄性与多只雌性交配）.雄性会用鹿角争夺雌性和保护自己.只有雌性负责养育.雌性会产下多只幼崽,但通常只有一只能存活.大多数雌性小鹿会和母亲呆在一起,直到成熟和怀孕.

Most are polygynous (one male mating with multiple females). Males will use their antlers to fight for females and for protection. Only females are responsible for parenting care. Females give birth to multiple young but usually only one can survive. Mostly female young cervids will stay with their mother until they are mature and pregnant.