Neha Patil (Editor)

Javan rusa

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Kingdom
  
Animalia

Order
  
Artiodactyla

Subfamily
  
Cervinae

Scientific name
  
Rusa tinsis

Rank
  
Species

Phylum
  
Chordata

Family
  
Cervidae

Genus
  
Rusa

Higher classification
  
Rusa

Javan rusa cdn1arkiveorgmedia10101AB0F29DFA4F54A4237

Similar
  
Deer, Sambar deer, Bawean deer, Indian muntjac, Mammal

Deer timor javan rusa timor wild life animal planet hd


The Javan rusa or Sunda sambar (Rusa timorensis) is a deer native to the islands of Java, Bali and Timor (shared with East Timor) in Indonesia. It is also an introduced species in Irian Jaya, Borneo (Kalimantan), the Lesser Sunda Islands, Maluku, Sulawesi, Pohnpei, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Christmas Islands, Cocos Islands, Nauru, Australia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, New Britain and New Ireland.

Contents

Javan rusa Javan rusa photo Rusa timorensis G77990 ARKive

Javan rusa


Habitat

Javan rusa Javan rusa photo Rusa timorensis G79108 ARKive

It occupies a habitat similar to that of the Chital of India: open dry and mixed deciduous forests, parklands, and savannas. It is a close relative of the larger sambar deer. It is moderately hunted in eastern Australasia.

Javan rusa Javan rusa photo Rusa timorensis G79109 ARKive

Rusa deer have established populations in remote islands, probably brought there by Indonesian fishermen. They adapt well, living as comfortably in the dry Australian bush as they do in their tropical homelands. This trait is shown well in the more frequent encounters on the fringes of Wollongong and Sydney, and in particular in the Royal National Park, indicating steadily growing numbers and strong herds.

Description

Javan rusa Javan Rusa Rusa timorensis

Rusa deer are recognised by their large ears, the light tufts of hair above the eyebrows, the antlers appearing too large for their body size.

Behavior

Rusa deer are active mostly in the early morning and late afternoon. They are rarely seen in the open and are very difficult to approach due to their keen senses and cautious instincts.

When alarmed, a rusa stag lets out an extremely loud honk. This is an alarm call and will alert any other deer in the vicinity.

Rusa deer are very sociable and seldom found alone; even if one seems to be alone it probably is not. These animals are so well camouflaged they may sometimes let a person walk right past them.

Reproduction

Javan rusa breed around July and August in a period known as the rut. At this time stags battle for dominance and breeding rights, contesting them by calling in a loud shrill bark and physical contact with the antlers. Calves are born at the start of spring. Maturity is attained in three to five years, depending on conditions and habitat.

Subspecies

Seven subspecies of Rusa timorensis are recognised:

  • R. t. timorensis (Timor rusa deer) – Timor.
  • R. t. djonga – Muna and Butung Islands.
  • R. t. floresiensis (Flores rusa deer) – Flores and other islands.
  • R. t. macassaricus (Celebes rusa deer) – Celebes.
  • R. t. moluccensis (Moluccan rusa deer) – Molucca Islands.
  • R. t. renschi – Bali.
  • R. t. russa (Javan rusa deer) – Java.
  • References

    Javan rusa Wikipedia