Javan rusa are the largest Rusa species. They were previously known by the scientific name Cervus timorensis.
Javan rusa, like other deer species, use chemical and visual cues and sounds in communication around reproductive state.
Communication Channels: visual ; acoustic ; chemical
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
Javan rusa are not considered endangered currently.
US Migratory Bird Act: no special status
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: vulnerable
Javan rusa have a direct impact on farming through competition with domestic stocks. The competition for pasture, between the deer and domestic animals use for farming, seems to be a very important issue in Indonesia. Also, Javan rusa eat crops and sometimes spread weeds that are harmful to farming.
Negative Impacts: crop pest
Javan rusas shed their antlers between the months of October and February. These are collected and used primarily in Asian medicine. Also, the antlers can be used as jewelry. In Queensland, Australia, 50% of the deer farmed are Javan rusa. While economic by-products such as hides offer some income to rusa farmers in Australia, the major commercial activity from rusa deer farming is deer meat (venison) production. Venison is considered a lean and nutritious red meat.
Positive Impacts: food ; body parts are source of valuable material; source of medicine or drug
Javan rusa help disperse seeds in the forest.
Ecosystem Impact: disperses seeds
Like most deer, Javan rusa eat primarily grass and leaves. They hardly drink any water because they get their fluid from the grass and the leaves.
Plant Foods: leaves; wood, bark, or stems
Primary Diet: herbivore (Folivore )
Javan rusa are found on most of the islands of Southeast Asia. They occur from Malaysia in the west to New Zealand in the east.
Biogeographic Regions: oriental (Native ); australian (Native )
Javan rusa are principly found in deciduous forests, plantations and grasslands in the islands of Southeast Asia. They prefer the edges of the forest.
Habitat Regions: tropical ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; scrub forest
Javan rusa live between 15 to 20 years in the wild and in captivity. Rarely do they live for more than 20 years.
Range lifespan
Status: wild: 15 to 20 years.
Range lifespan
Status: captivity: 15 to 20 years.
Male Javan rusa are larger than females. Males usually weigh 152 kg, while females weigh about 74 kg. The males have a lyre-shaped, three-tined antlers, which weigh about 2.5 kg. Males and females have a rough grayish brown coat that is often coarse in appearance. Their ears are rounded and broad. The animals look short and stubby because they have relatively short legs.
Range mass: 74 to 160 kg.
Range length: 83 to 110 cm.
Sexual Dimorphism: male larger; ornamentation
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Although the Javan deer sometimes graze during the day, they are mostly nocturnal to avoid diurnal predators. Their primary predators are crocodiles, pythons, and Komodo dragons.
Known Predators:
Like other deer species, Javan rusa have a polygynous mating system, with males competing for access to receptive females.
Mating System: polygynous
The gestation period is 8 months. They give birth to 1 calf, rarely 2. Breeding occurs throughout the year but peaks during the months between of July and September.
Breeding interval: Javan rusa breed once yearly.
Breeding season: Breeding peaks from July to September.
Range number of offspring: 1 to 2.
Average number of offspring: 1.
Average gestation period: 8 months.
Range weaning age: 6 to 8 months.
Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 18 to 24 months.
Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 18 to 24 months.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; viviparous
Newly born calves stay with their mother. Weaning is from 6 to 8 months. These deer reach sexual maturity 18 to 24 months after birth.
Parental Investment: precocial ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female)
