Order Artiodactyla Rank Subspecies | Phylum Chordata Family Cervidae Genus Cervus Higher classification Sika deer | |
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Similar Deer, Sakhalin fox, Sika deer, Sciurus vulgaris orientis, Steller's sea eagle | ||
The Yezo sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis) is one of the many subspecies of the sika deer. The sika that inhabit the island of Hokkaido are indigenous, although it is not known whether they originated there or migrated from the main island of Japan. Is it thought they may have traveled across the strait between the islands. The indigenous Ainu people of Hokkaido have hunted them for centuries and relied on them as a major food source.
The Hokkaido sika one is the largest of the sika species with large stags approaching and sometimes exceeding 200 kg in the fall. They also sport the largest antlers with lengths often over 35 inches with the longest recorded specimen being 44 inches. By SCI measurement the Hokkaido sika produces the highest scores, although very few have been listed.