Elk is a large herbivore, with a body length of 150 to 200 cm and a tail length of 60 to 75 cm. The shoulder height of male is 122 ~ 137cm, and that of female is 70-75 cm, which is slightly smaller than that of male. The average body weight is 120 ~ 180 kg, which can reach 250 kg for adult males and 12 kg for newborns. In summer, the body hair is red rust color, with black longitudinal stripes on the back of the neck, and the abdomen and buttocks are brown and white. After September, body hair was replaced by long and thick gray winter hair.

Elk has a thick neck and back, a big head, a long and narrow nose and mouth, a wide exposed nose, small eyes and prominent infraorbital glands. The limbs are thick, the main hoof is wide and separable, and the meat is fleshy. There is a skin aponeurosis between the two main hoofs to avoid falling into the swamp; In addition, hanging hooves are also very developed. Elk, like reindeer and white-lipped deer, will make a loud knocking sound when walking. Hair is reddish brown in summer and brownish yellow after depilation in winter; Newborn cubs are orange with white spots. Elk is one of the deer with the longest tail; The tail is fluffy, gray-black, the belly is yellow-white, and the end is dark brown; The main function of the long tail is to drive away mosquitoes and flies to adapt to the swamp environment.

The female elk has no horns and is smaller. Bucks have horns, up to 80 cm long. Standing on three legs when standing upside down is very unique among deer. And the shape is special, the shape is just the opposite of the general antlers-the front fork is divided into small forks, and some smaller forks grow on each small fork separated by the front fork; Then the fork straightened backwards, almost without separation. In fact, this is because the horn stem of elk horn does not grow obliquely backward, but vertically upward, without eyebrow branches. After a short distance from the head, the horn stems are divided into two branches, the front branch is the main branch, and the very long back branch is called the secondary branch. The front main branch then branches again to form two long branches in series. Generally, elk horns fall off from 1 1 to 12 every year, and then new horns begin to grow until May and June of the following year. Strangely, some individuals shed their horns twice a year: 1 1 or so, shedding large horns, and then growing small horns, from 1 to February of the following year, and then shedding again a few weeks later. The male deer bifurcated at the age of two, and the bifurcated horns didn't grow until the age of six.

habitat

According to the analysis of the broad hoof and the skin aponeurosis between the hoofs of elk, it is suitable for activities in swamp; A long hairy tail is good for driving away flying insects; Judging from the habit of raising elk in water and mud bath, they once lived in warm and humid land. Like plains, swamps and waters, the Yangtze River Delta plain wetland is obviously its ideal habitat.

Living habits

Elk is a gentle deer. Elk can't run as fast as sika deer and roe deer. During lactation, when people call their ears and measure their cubs, their cries can only attract the doe to watch from a distance, unlike other deer who attack people to protect their cubs. The struggle between male elk for their spouses is also mild, without fierce collision and large-scale exercise. The fighting time is generally less than 10 minutes. The loser turns around and leaves, and the winner stops chasing. After the male deer occupied the herd, when other male deer peeped at the female deer, the male deer occupied the herd only drove each other away by yelling and chasing.

Elk is a gregarious animal and is good at swimming. It mainly feeds on grass, moss and other tender grass and leaves. The variety of artificially raised feed consists of three parts: "flour rice" includes wheat bran, barley, corn and bean cake; Soybean straw is a kind of "coarse grain" with high degree of fibrosis. Respectively pulverizing "flour rice" and "coarse grains", mixing with water in a certain proportion, and stirring and fermenting. At the same time, fresh and delicious carrots, wheat green and other "fruits and vegetables" are used to supplement vitamins.