Spotted Deer By: LM

| Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family | Genus Species| Fun Facts | Poem | References |

Animal Name: Spotted Deer

Kingdom: Animalia

• multicellular

• heterotroughs

• lack cell walls

• made of cells organized into tissues, organized to perform special functions

• cells of adults contain 2 copies of the genetic material

Phylum: Chordata

•  notochord

• bilateral symmetry

• segmented body

• 3 germ layers

• nerve chord with brain

• tail

• heart

• digestive system

• endoskeleton

Class: Mammalia

• 3 middle ear bones

• hair

• production of milk by mammary glands

• live birth

• teeth

Order: Artiodactyla

•  paraxonic -- symmetry of foot passes between 3rd and 4th toes

• 3rd and 4th toes bear most of its weight

• fast runners

• horns or antlers

• modified stomach

Family: Cervidae

• slender legs

• brown or gray

• young and adults are spotted

• antlers made of bone

• 4 toes on each foot

• four-chambered stomach

Genus and Species: Cervus nippon

• live mainly in the forest

• color -- brown to reddish yellow

• white spots

• hooves

• shaggy neck

• molts twice a year

• antlers only in males

• short skull

Fun Facts: 

• They are one of the only kinds of deer that have white spots in their adulthood.

• Their shaggy neck manes darken in the winter.

• They are mostly nocturnal.

• Adult males are solitary, while females and their young form small groups. 

Poem:

Spotted Deer can be timid and meek.

They are also quite unique.

They are the only kind of deer

That, in their adulthood, spots appear.

They only molt twice a year.

That's what's cool about Spotted Deer.

References: 

Animal Diversity Web. April 25, 2002. http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/cervus/c._nippon$narrative.html

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