Fallow deer refers to species in the genus Dama, under the subfamily Cervinae. There are two living species: the European fallow deer (Dama dama), native to Europe and Anatolia, and the larger Persian fallow deer (Dama mesopotamica), found in the Middle East.
European fallow deer have an average body mass of 35 to 80 kilograms (77 to 176 pounds), while Persian fallow deer weigh between 70 and 140 kilograms (150 to 310 pounds). Both species have distinctive flattened antlers, with the Persian’s palmate section being narrower.
In summer, European fallow deer sport a reddish coat with white spots, which shifts to a grey color in winter. Their diet is adaptable; in Britain, they primarily eat grass during summer and switch to acorns and shrubs in autumn and early winter.
