Rucervus

Rucervus
Barasinga stag
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Cervidae
Subfamily: Cervinae
Genus: Rucervus
Hodgson, 1838
species

See text

Rucervus is a genus of deer from India, Nepal, Indochina, and the Chinese island Hainan. They are threatened by habitat loss and hunting, and one species has already gone extinct.

They were previously thought to be members of the genus Cervus, but were moved to Rucervus based mainly on morphological differences. Based on genetic evidence, the Eld's Deer should be moved back to Cervus, while the two last species remain in Rucervus or –less likely– could be moved to Axis.[1][2]

Species

Following the third edition of Mammal Species of the World from 2005, three species are placed in Rucervus,[3] but it has been suggested that the Eld's Deer should be split into two species.[4]

Furthermore, it has also been suggested that the Eld's Deer should have its own genus, Panolia, and is closer to Père David's Deer.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Pitraa, Fickela, Meijaard, Groves (2004). Evolution and phylogeny of old world deer. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 33: 880–895.
  2. ^ Groves (2006). The genus Cervus in eastern Eurasia. European Journal of Wildlife Research 52: 14–22
  3. ^ Wilson, Don E.; Reeder, DeeAnn M., eds (2005). Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2 vols. (2142 pp.). ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3/browse.asp?id=14200428. 
  4. ^ Groves (2006). The genus Cervus in eastern Eurasia. European Journal of Wildlife Research 52: 14-22.