Barbary stag

Barbary stag
Male (stag) at Tierpark Berlin
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Artiodactyla
Family:Cervidae
Subfamily:Cervinae
Genus:Cervus
Species: C. elaphus
Subspecies: C. e. barbarus
Trinomial name
Cervus elaphus barbarus
Bennett, 1833[1]

The Barbary stag (Cervus elaphus barbarus) or Atlas deer is a subspecies of red deer that is native to North Africa.

Description

A female (doe) at Tierpark Berlin

The Barbary stag is smaller than the typical red deer. Its body is dark brown with some white spots on its flanks and back. The antlers lack the bez (second) tine.

Range/habitat

A herd at Feija National Park

The Atlas deer is the only member of the deer family that is native to Africa. It thrives in dense, humid forested areas of Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco.[2] It had initially been hunted to extinction in the latter, but specimens from the Tunisian population were reintroduced in the 1990s.[2] One population can be found in Tazekka National Park in the Middle Atlas Mountains.[3]

Nomenclature

Recent genetic studies indicate that the North African red deer population is practically indistinguishable from the Sardinian and Corsican populations, generally referred to as the Corsican red deer. This strongly argues for an ancient introduction of red deer from North Africa to these Mediterranean islands by humans. Further analysis suggests that the Barbary stag, including the Corsican red deer, belongs to a separate species, and should be grouped under the name Cervus corsicanus.[2]

Predators

The Barbary stag has or has had predators like the Barbary lion, the Atlas bear, and the Barbary leopard, but they have either become extinct or are endangered.

References

  1. ↑ Cervus elaphus barbarus, MSW3
  2. 1 2 3 Le programme d'espèces d'UICN et la Commission UICN de la sauvegarde des espèces et TRAFFIC. "Résumés des Analyses UICN/TRAFFIC des propositions d'amendement aux Annexes de la CITES pour la Quatorzième session de la Conférence des Parties", Retrieved on 2008-12-28.
  3. ↑ Flora and Fauna - Park National de Tazekka, (official web page of the National Park).
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