The Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) is among the largest deer species. Males are called stags or harts, and females are known as does or hinds. They are found across Europe, the Caucasus, Anatolia, Iran, and parts of western Asia, as well as in the Atlas Mountains of Northern Africa, making them the only deer species in Africa. Red deer have also been introduced to places like Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and several South American countries. Their meat, known as venison, is commonly consumed.
As ruminants with a four-chambered stomach, red deer share traits with camels and goats. Genetic studies suggest that red deer represent a species group rather than a single species. Once rare in Europe, conservation efforts have helped increase populations, although some areas, like North Africa, see declines.
Red deer are the fourth-largest extant deer species, smaller than moose, elk, and sambar deer. They exhibit variations in size and antlers across different subspecies, with the Corsican red deer being the smallest and the Caspian red deer the largest. In central and western Europe, deer may vary significantly in size, particularly in the Carpathian Mountains, where large stags can rival North American elk. Female red deer are notably smaller than males.
