Fallow Deer (Dama
dama)
Native to the Mediterranean region of Europe and Asia Minor, the fallow deer has become the most widely kept deer in the world, having been introduced into all inhabited continents. The fallow deer is a medium-sized deer, whose adult males have large palmate antlers measuring 3 to 10 inches in width and up to 15 inches in length. Their appearance varies greatly, with color ranging from white to tan to rust to black. They often have white spots on their backs along with a brown or black dorsal line. Males weigh between 180 and 200 lbs., while females are somewhat smaller. They feed mostly in grassy areas, but also graze on forest undergrowth. The fallow deer’s average life span is 11 to 15 years.
