ROE DEER

(Capreolus capreolus), Eurasian deer, family Cervidae (order Artiodactyla), found in small family groups in lightly forested regions. When alarmed, the roe deer barks like a dog. A nimble animal, it often tramples the underbrush during the mating season, leaving identifiable circular or figure eight tracks. The female bears one or two spotted young; the gestation period is usually extended to about 10 months by delayed implantation of the embryo in the wall of the uterus. A small, almost tailless deer, the roe deer stands 6686 centimetres (2634 inches) at the shoulder. Its coat is reddish brown in summer and grayish brown, with a conspicuous white rump patch, in winter. The male has short, usually three-tined antlers that are roughened at the base.