Chital
Sign in to saveThe chital (Axis axis; ), also called spotted deer and axis deer, is a deer species native to the Indian subcontinent. It was first described by Johann Christian Polycarp Erxleben in 1777. A moderate-sized deer, male chital reach and females at the shoulder. While males weigh , females weigh around . It is sexually dimorphic; males are larger than females, and antlers are present only on males. The upper parts are golden to rufous, completely covered in white spots. The abdomen, rump, throat, insides of legs, ears, and tail are all white. The antlers, three-pronged, are nearly long.
AI overview
The chital, also known as spotted deer or axis deer, is a moderately sized deer species native to the Indian subcontinent, recognizable by its golden-rufous coat covered in white spots and three-pronged antlers found only on males. While it was scientifically described in 1777, the chital remains notable as a distinctive deer species adapted to its native region, with visible differences between males and females in both size and the presence of antlers.
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Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- taxon
- Parent taxon
- Axis
- Image
- Chital in Sundarbans National Park July 2025 by Tisha Mukherjee 02.jpg
Show 3 more facts
- P105
- species
- P141
- Least Concern
- P5588
- Australia
via Wikidata · CC0
Article
15 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Taxonomy and phylogeny
- Description
- Distribution and habitat
- Australia
- United States
- Croatia
- Colombia
- Behaviour and ecology
- Diet
- Reproduction
- Conservation status
- See also
- References
- External links
The chital (Axis axis; ), also called spotted deer and axis deer, is a deer species native to the Indian subcontinent. It was first described by Johann Christian Polycarp Erxleben in 1777. A moderate-sized deer, male chital reach and females at the shoulder. While males weigh , females weigh around . It is sexually dimorphic; males are larger than females, and antlers are present only on males. The upper parts are golden to rufous, completely covered in white spots. The abdomen, rump, throat, insides of legs, ears, and tail are all white. The antlers, three-pronged, are nearly long.
==Etymology== The vernacular name "chital" (pronounced ) comes from cītal (), derived from the Sanskrit word '' (चित्रल), meaning "variegated" or "spotted". The name of the cheetah has a similar origin. Variations of "chital" include "cheetal" and "cheetul". Other common names for the chital are Indian spotted deer (or simply the spotted deer) and axis deer.