Oh Deer! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Moose

The moose is by far the largest member of the family Cervidae. A large male can weigh up to 1800 pounds! In some parts of Russia, the moose has been used to supply meat, milk, and transportation, both as a riding animal and a sled-puller. The elk can weigh up to 700 pounds, the caribou up to 700 pounds as well, and the sika deer up to 170 pounds.

Answer: Southern pudu

The southern pudu, a deer of South America, is the smallest member of the family Cervidae. These tiny deer weigh between 13 and 30 pounds.

Answer: Chinese water deer

The Chinese water deer lacks antlers in both sexes. However, the upper canines in both sexes, particularly males, are elongated into long, sharp, curved tusks. The scientific name of this deer translates as "unarmed water drinker", but perhaps a more accurate one would be "little fanged deer"!

Answer: Giant muntjac

The giant muntjac was not formally described until 1994. A new genus, Megamuntiacus, was formed for this species. This deer lives in forests of Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia.

Answer: Milu

The milu, or Pere David's deer, has several distinct characteristics, including a very long tail, long, coarse hair, broad hooves, and antlers which are branched in the front and unbranched in the back.

Answer: Visayan deer

The Visayan deer is arguably the rarest deer in the world and has been listed as an endangered species in both 1994 and from 1996 onwards. Hunting and de-forestation have both contributed to the decline in numbers although sightings in the early twenty-first century indicate that some animals still survive.

Answer: Chinese water deer

Unsurprisingly, the Chinese water deer is native to China, with a related species, the Korean water deer, living in that country. The animals are small and resemble the musk deer in appearance. Although water deer can produce as many as seven young, this is unusual with two or three being more common. They are still classed as being the most prolific of the deer family.

Answer: Tufted deer

Primarily found in China, the tufted deer lives in forests in mountainous areas over 4000 metres above sea level. As well as the distinctive crest, the males have canine teeth which protrude from the mouth and look like fangs.

Answer: Roe deer

The European roe deer (and most likely the Siberian roe deer as well) are the only ungulates known to exhibit a phenomenon known as embryonic diapause. In embryonic diapause, the male and female will mate and the female's egg(s) are fertilized by the male's sperm.

The fertilized egg then enters a kind of suspended animation, in which it will remain viable without becoming implanted into the uterus. It can remain this way for up to 4 months in the roe deer, after which time, it will implant and the pregnancy will progress normally.

Answer: Caribou

Both sexes of caribou (reindeer) have antlers. In all other deer, with the exception of the Chinese water deer, antlers occur only in males. Chinese water deer lack antlers entirely.