The roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), also known as roe or western roe deer, is a small species of deer. Males are called roebucks.
Roe deer typically measure 95 to 135 cm (3 ft 1 inch to 4 ft 5 inches) in body length and stand 63 to 67 cm (2 ft 1 inch to 2 ft 2 in) tall at the shoulder, weighing between 15 and 35 kg (35 to 75 lb). In regions like the Urals and northern Kazakhstan, they can be larger, reaching up to 145 cm (4 ft 9 in) in length and 60 kg (130 lb) in weight, while populations in the far east tend to be smaller.
In healthy populations, bucks are usually larger than does, though conditions can lead to similar sizes. Bucks can grow antlers measuring 20 to 25 cm (8 to 10 in) long, typically with two to three points. These antlers first appear covered in velvet, which eventually sheds as blood flow decreases. Roe deer are unique in that they begin regrowing their antlers almost immediately after shedding. Rarely, some bucks may develop only one antler branch due to a genetic defect.
