Perception Channels: tactile ; chemical
According to a team studying in the Tibetan Plateau, numbers of Przewalskium albirostris may be increasing. This team assessed population sizes during the periods of 1990-1992 and 1997. They observed 80-89 deer during September of 1997, compared to only 16 (no more than 50) in early 1990's. This species is otherwise thought to be extremely endangered and rare.
US Federal List: threatened
CITES: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: vulnerable
There are no known negative effects of white-lipped deer.
Aside from being hunted as a food source by Chinese and Tibetan peoples, Przewalskium albirostris are poached for their enormous antlers. The antlers and other body parts are used as a source of oriental medicine.
Positive Impacts: food ; source of medicine or drug
White-lipped deer play an important role as prey animals for large predators. They also limit vegetation growth and determine vegetative structure through their grazing.
White-lipped deer are exclusively herbivorous. They graze mainly on grasses but will also eat other foliage. Foods eaten include: grasses mainly Stipa, Kobresia, and Carex spp., sedges and herbs.
Plant Foods: leaves; wood, bark, or stems
Primary Diet: herbivore (Folivore )
White-lipped deer are native to the Tibetan Plateau region of west central China.
Biogeographic Regions: palearctic (Native )
Przewalskium albirostris inhabit the high altitude rhododendron and coniferous forests and alpine meadows of the Tibetan Plateau. Rough terrain and areas of high hunting pressure result in a patchy distribution of these deer throughout their preferred habitats.
Range elevation: 3500 to 5000 m.
Habitat Regions: temperate ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; mountains
White-lipped deer have been recorded living 19 years in captivity. Many people in China are raising these deer on farms and they are kept in zoos for public display. Those in the wild may for 16 to 18 years.
Range lifespan
Status: wild: 18 (high) years.
Range lifespan
Status: captivity: 19 (high) years.
Average lifespan
Status: wild: 18.0 years.
White-lipped deer, as their name implies, have a characteristic pure white marking around their mouth and on the underside of the throat. The inner side of the legs and the underside of the body is also a whitish color. The overall coloration is dark brown during the summer and lightens during the winter. The fur, which lacks the typical undercoat hairs, is thick and course. A saddle-like appearance is created on the center of the deer's back, which is caused by the hair lying in the opposite direction. The fur coat is twice as long in the winter as it is during the summer.
Przewalskium albirostris are one of the largest members of the deer family. Unlike other members of the family, P. albirostris have broad rounded hooves much like those of a cow. These hooves are specialized for climbing on steep, rough terrain. Females have a tuft of hair between their narrow, lance shaped ears. The 5 to 6 pointed antler rack of males protrudes forward and is flattened, like those of caribou. The white colored (rarely light brown) rack can weigh up to 7 kilograms and reach l.3 meters.
Range mass: 130 to 140 kg.
Range length: 190 to 200 cm.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry
Sexual Dimorphism: male larger; ornamentation
White-lipped deer are herd animals and, therefore, rely upon the vigilance of every herd member in detecting predators. They are fast and agile runners and can defend themselves with their sharp hooves. Female white-lipped deer will attempt to distract predators from their young by causing a disturbance and running away from where the fawn is hidden.
Known Predators:
Przewalskium albirostris is known as "shor" by the Tibetan people. The species was discovered and named by Przewalski during the later 1870's. W. G. Thorold later described the same deer, not knowing that it had already been described, he named it Thorold's deer, Cervus thoroldi, in 1891.
Most of the year, males and females travel in separate herds. During the breeding season, or rut, around October through November, males intermingle with female herds. Mixed herds at the peak of the mating season have been reported to range between 50 and 300 deer. Males expend large amounts of energy during the breeding season in mating and in male-male aggressive encounters. Most males lose weight during this period. Males compete amongst themselves for access to females.
Mating System: polygynous
White-lipped deer are born from May through late June. The well developed baby stays with its mother and is not weaned for at least 10 months.
Breeding interval: White-lipped deer breed once yearly.
Breeding season: White-lipped deer breed in October and November.
Range number of offspring: 1 to 2.
Average number of offspring: 1.
Range gestation period: 7.67 to 8.33 months.
Average weaning age: 10 months.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 15 months.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 15 months.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; viviparous
Young white-lipped deer, which are able to stand only a half hour after birth, stay and travel with their mothers in female herds. Two to three days after birth, the mother will take her fawn into a more sheltered area away from the birth place. The baby is left to rest at times but is never out of the mother's sight. If she sees that something is near the baby, the mother will attempt to cause a distraction by running in the opposite direction. After the fawn is weaned at about 10 months of age, it joins the sex-segregated herds. Young males move to the male herd, young females stay in the herd in which they were raised and travel with their mothers, though they are no longer dependent upon them.
Parental Investment: precocial ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female)
Der Weißlippenhirsch (Cervus albirostris, Syn.: Przewalskium albirostris) ist eine Säugetierart aus der Familie der Hirsche (Cervidae). Er lebt im Hochland von Tibet und ist damit die Hirschart mit der höchsten Höhenverbreitung. Er ist durch mehrere Merkmale an ein Leben in einem Lebensraum angepasst, in dem er zum Teil weniger als zwölf frostfreie Tage im Jahr erlebt.[1]
Der Weißlippenhirsch gehört zu den größten Hirscharten, er ist deutlich größer als beispielsweise der Rothirsch. Der Weißlippenhirsch erreicht eine Kopf-Rumpf-Länge von bis zu 2,30 Metern. Der Schwanz misst durchschnittlich 13 Zentimeter. Die Schulterhöhe der Männchen kann bis zu 1,30 Meter betragen und ihr Gewicht bis zu 204 Kilogramm. Der Sexualdimorphismus ist sehr ausgeprägt; die Weibchen sind deutlich kleiner und wiegen durchschnittlich 125 Kilogramm.[2]
Das Fell der Weißlippenhirsche ist im Sommer braun gefärbt und kurz, das Winterfell ist eher gräulich und deutlich länger. Die hellere Farbe des Winterhaarkleids ist möglicherweise darauf zurückzuführen, dass es länger getragen wird und deswegen stärker ausbleicht als das Sommerhaarkleid. Die Haare des Winterhaarkleids sind lang und wellig und weist dichte Wollhaare auf. Namensgebend sind die weißlichen Haare rund um die Nase und am Kinn. Mehrere Merkmale unterscheiden den Weißlippenhirsch von anderen Hirschen: Auffallend sind die Hufe, die hoch und breit sind und sich von denen aller anderen Hirsche deutlich abheben. Sie sind eine Adaption an den felsigen Lebensraum des Weißlippenhirsch und ermöglichen ihm, über Felsen zu klettern.[3] Weißlippenhirsche sind auch die einzigen Hirsche, bei denen die Haare auf dem Widerrist nach vorne weisen, was den Eindruck erweckt, diese Art hätte einen kleinen Buckel. Die Läufe sind außerdem kürzer und dicker als die der Hirsche, die in tieferen und ebeneren Regionen leben.[4] Das große Geweih, das wie bei fast allen Hirschen nur die Männchen tragen, weist fünf Enden auf. Die Geweihstangen können eine Länge von 1,4 Meter erreichen. Da es in ihrem Lebensraum meist an Pflanzen fehlt, an dem sie ihre Geweihe fegen können, sind diese zum Teil nicht durch Pflanzensäfte dunkel gefärbt wie dies beispielsweise beim Rothirsch der Fall ist. Typischerweise ist das Geweih bei dieser Art sehr hell und an den Spitzen fast weißlich.
Weißlippenhirsche sind in der Lage, bis zu 56 km/h schnell zu galoppieren. Sie halten diese Geschwindigkeit jedoch nicht lange durch. Gewöhnlich ziehen sie langsam zu ihren Äsungsplätzen. Der Gesichtssinn spielt bei ihnen bei der Erkennung von Gefahren eine größere Rolle als der Hörsinn; In ihrem Lebensraum ist das Geräusch fallender Steine zu häufig als das dieses ihnen Gefahr signalisieren könnte. Sie reagieren daher auf solche Geräusche kaum.[5] In der innerartlichen Kommunikation spielen Lautäußerungen dagegen eine große Rolle. Die Männchen lassen während der Brunft ein weit zu vernehmendes Röhren hören. Der Schrecklaut der Weibchen ist ein hohes Bellen. Kälber rufen hell gellend nach ihren Muttertieren.
Das Verbreitungsgebiet der Weißlippenhirsche umfasst das östliche Tibet und Teile der angrenzenden chinesischen Provinzen von Gansu bis Sichuan. Ihr Lebensraum sind sowohl Nadelwälder als auch Gebiete oberhalb der Baumgrenze in Höhen von 3400 bis 5100 Metern.
Diese Hirsche sind ausgesprochen geschickte Kletterer. Sie leben in Gruppen, oft sind dies reine Männchen- beziehungsweise reine Weibchengruppen mit ihrem Nachwuchs. Während der Paarungszeit werden die Männchen aggressiver gegeneinander, sie führen dann eher ein einzelgängerisches Leben und kämpfen mit ihrem Geweih um das Paarungsvorrecht. Die Nahrung dieser Hirsche besteht hauptsächlich aus Gräsern. Sie suchen vor allem in der Morgen- und Abenddämmerung. Sie sind während der Nahrungssuche häufig mit dem Argali vergesellschaftet, der größten Art der Wildschafe. Während des Winterhalbjahrs wandern Weißlippenhirsche in niedrigere Höhenlagen oder halten sich an exponierten Hängen auf, wo der Wind die Bildung tiefer Schneelagen verhindert. Die Feistzeit vor der Brunft ist für diese Hirschart besonders bedeutsam, weil sie sich in dieser Zeit die Fettreserven anfressen, die sie benötigen, um über das Winterhalbjahr zu kommen.
Während der Brunftzeit forkeln die Männchen mit ihrem Geweih den Boden. Sie scharren außerdem in Brunftkuhlen, in die sie urinieren und in denen sie sich anschließend suhlen. Kämpfe zwischen den Männchen kommen verhältnismäßig selten vor; das Imponiergehabe der Hirsche ist bereits ausreichend, um eine Rangordnung zu etablieren.
Die Paarungszeit liegt im Oktober, nach rund 220- bis 230-tägiger Tragzeit bringt das Weibchen im Mai oder Juni meist ein einzelnes Jungtier zur Welt. Das Geburtsgewicht dieser Kälber liegt bei 8,1 bis 8,6 Kilogramm.[6] Die Kälber suchen gewöhnlich im Gras Deckung, wo sie eingerollt liegen. Das Muttertier bleibt in ihrer Nähe und steht gewöhnlich etwas höher am Hang. Drei bis vier Mal werden sie am Tag gesäugt. Im Alter von etwa zwei Wochen sind die Kälber in der Lage, dem Muttertier zu folgen. Das Muttertier schließt sich dann häufig mit anderen Kälber führenden Weibchen zusammen. Sie werden mit rund 10 Monaten entwöhnt und erreichen mit 1,5 bis 2,5 Jahren die Geschlechtsreife.
In Gefangenschaft gehaltene Weißlippenhirsche erreichten ein Alter von bis zu 19 Jahren. Weißlippenhirsche begegnen in ihrem Lebensraum nur wenigen Fressfeinden. Der Schneeleopard und der Wolf sind die einzigen Fressfeinde, die von Bedeutung sind. Diese beiden Arten sind jedoch im Lebensraum des Weißlippenhirsches selten.[7]
Der Weißlippenhirsch ist eine Art aus der Gattung der Edelhirsche (Cervus). Häufig wird er in die eigenständige Gattung Przewalskium gestellt. Molekulargenetische Untersuchungen ergaben aber, dass er tief in Cervus eingebettet ist. Als nähere Verwandte kommen der Sikahirsch (Cervus nippon) und der Wapiti (Cervus canadensis) in Betracht.[8][9]
Weißlippenhirsche werden wegen ihres Fleisches und wegen ihres Geweihs, das in der chinesischen Medizin eine Rolle spielt, gejagt. Dadurch wurden die Bestandszahlen stark vermindert, liegen aber wegen der Weitläufigkeit des Verbreitungsgebiets nach einer jüngeren Schätzung immer noch bei über 50.000 bis 100.000 Tieren. Die IUCN listet die Art als gefährdet (vulnerable). In China hat man auch begonnen, diese Hirschart in Farmen zu halten, um Fleisch und Bast zu gewinnen. Eine Übernutzung der Äsflächen durch Haustiere stellen eine weitere Gefährdung dieser Art dar, da sie sich negativ auf die Reproduktionsrate dieser Tierart auswirkt.[10]
Der Weißlippenhirsch (Cervus albirostris, Syn.: Przewalskium albirostris) ist eine Säugetierart aus der Familie der Hirsche (Cervidae). Er lebt im Hochland von Tibet und ist damit die Hirschart mit der höchsten Höhenverbreitung. Er ist durch mehrere Merkmale an ein Leben in einem Lebensraum angepasst, in dem er zum Teil weniger als zwölf frostfreie Tage im Jahr erlebt.
Thorold's deer (Cervus albirostris)[2] is a threatened species of deer found in grassland, shrubland, and forest at high altitudes in the eastern Tibetan Plateau.[3] It is also known as the white-lipped deer (Baichunlu, 白唇鹿, in Simplified Chinese, ཤྭ་བ་མཆུ་དཀར།་ in Standard Tibetan) for the white patches around its muzzle.[4]
This deer fills an ecological niche similar to the Tibetan red deer (shou, the subspecies wallichi of the red deer species group). It was first scientifically described by Nikolai Przhevalsky in 1883.[1] As of early 2011, more than 100 Thorold's deer are kept in Species360-registered zoos,[5] and in 1998 it was estimated that about 7000 remain in the wild.[1]
Although the species was first described by Przhevalsky in 1883, it is also known as "Thorold's deer" because the specimens was procured by G. W. Thorold in 1892 and was described by W. T. Blanford as Cervus thoroldi in 1893.[3] The former genus, however, is named after Przhevalsky (Przewalskium) and the species name (albirostris) comes from the Latin albus (white) and rostrum (snout), referring to the white muzzle and lips. The name also came from the Chinese word baichunlu (白唇鹿, simplified Chinese), meaning "white-lipped".[6] For this reason, Thorold's deer is also commonly known as the white-lipped deer.[7]
Thorold's deer has traditionally been included in the genus Cervus, and genetic evidence suggests this is more appropriate than its erstwhile placement in the monotypic genus Przewalskium.[2]
No subspecies are recognized.[1]
Thorold's deer is one of the largest deer species, with a shoulder height around 115 to 140 cm (45 to 55 in). Males, which typically weigh from 180 to 230 kg (400 to 510 lb), are significantly larger than females, at 90 to 160 kg (200 to 350 lb) in weight. The hair is coarse and grey-brown over most of the body, fading to yellowish buff on the underparts, with a distinct reddish-brown patch on the rump, and a ridge of darker hair running down the spine. During winter, the coat is paler, and about twice as thick as during the summer, being thicker even that of a moose. The head is darker than the rest of the body, especially in males, and contrasts with pure white markings on the lips, around the nose, and the throat just below the chin.[3]
Adult male Thorold's deer have antlers, measuring up to 110 cm (43 in) in beam length, and weighing up to 4 kg (8.8 lb). Compared with those of wapiti or red deer, the antlers are flattened with the first and second ("bez") tines noticeably far apart. The antlers can have up to seven tines, which all lie in the same plane. They are shed annually in March, reaching their full length by late summer. Other distinctive features include longer ears than most other deer, lined with white hair, and large metatarsal and preorbital glands. The hooves are broad and heavy, with unusually long dewclaws. The tail is short, at 12 to 13 cm (4.7 to 5.1 in) in length.[3]
Thorold's deer has a number of physical and physiological adaptations to its high altitude environment. The short legs and broad hooves make it an agile climber, able to use steep mountainous terrain to escape predators. Their nasal cavities are unusually large, allowing them to breathe in rarified high altitude air, while the thick hair protects against the cold. The red blood cells in this species are smaller than average for similarly sized mammals, and are very numerous, both features that increase its ability to take up limited amounts of oxygen.[3]
Thorold's deer inhabit the Chinese provinces of Tibet, Sichuan, Qinghai, Gansu, and far northwestern Yunnan.[3][8] Today, they are found only in scattered populations across these regions, apparently being most numerous in eastern Sichuan. They prefer mosaics of grassland, shrubland, and forest, and are often seen above the treeline.[3] It is found at elevations of 3,500 to 5,100 metres (11,500 to 16,700 ft), among the highest of any deer species along with the south american taruca, and migrates seasonally from high summer pastures to lower terrain in winter.[9]
Thorold's deer is a crepuscular animal, normally living in herds of at least 10 individuals. Outside of the breeding season, males and females usually travel separately. Historically, herds containing hundreds of such deer were reported, but today, herds of over 100 individuals are rare.[9] Like wapiti, they are predominantly grazers; they feed on a wide range of available plants, especially grasses and sedges, but including some larger plants such as rhododendrons and willows. They have few natural predators, although wolves and snow leopards have been known to eat Thorold's deer on occasion.[3][10]
The species has a range of vocalisations, including loud alarm calls, which are audible over 500 m (1,600 ft) away, growling sounds made by males in rut, and quieter grunts or mews made by females and young. Like reindeer, they can also make unusual, loud snapping sounds from their carpal bones, the function of which is unclear.[3] Thorold's deer rarely run, but they can gallop at up to 35 miles (56 km) per hour.[10]
The rut occurs between September and November, when herds containing both males and females become more common. Such herds consist of several males, each maintaining a small harem of females that they protect from other males. Males compete with one another in a manner similar to other deer - wrestling with antlers, scent marking, visual displays, and grunting warning sounds. Mating consists of a single rapid thrust.[3]
The female gives birth to a single young after a gestation period of 220 to 250 days, typically in either May and June. Shortly before giving birth, the mother locates a secluded den, often in bushes or shrubby cover. The calves are born with white spots, and able to stand within about 40 minutes of birth. Initially, the mother protects them by moving them between a number of different locations, only visiting them twice a day to allow them to suckle. After about two weeks, they rejoin the herd.[3]
The calves' spots begin to fade after around six weeks, and they attain the full adult colour by the end of their first year. They become sexually mature during their second or third year, although males are rarely successful in the rut until they are at least five years old. Thorold's deer have been reported to live up to 21 years in captivity, but probably do not survive for more than 12 years in the wild.[3]
Thorold's deer is found only in scattered populations across its former range, although the remoteness of its preferred habitat makes it difficult to study in detail. It faces threats from advancing human agriculture, including competition from domestic animals such as sheep, goats, and yaks. It is also hunted, for meat, antlers, and other body parts (such as the velvet) used in traditional Chinese medicine. The species is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN and is a Class I protected species in China.
The species has been farmed for its antlers in China and New Zealand, and is also found in numerous zoos worldwide. It appears able to adapt to being kept at low altitudes without much difficulty.[1]
Thorold's deer (Cervus albirostris) is a threatened species of deer found in grassland, shrubland, and forest at high altitudes in the eastern Tibetan Plateau. It is also known as the white-lipped deer (Baichunlu, 白唇鹿, in Simplified Chinese, ཤྭ་བ་མཆུ་དཀར།་ in Standard Tibetan) for the white patches around its muzzle.
This deer fills an ecological niche similar to the Tibetan red deer (shou, the subspecies wallichi of the red deer species group). It was first scientifically described by Nikolai Przhevalsky in 1883. As of early 2011, more than 100 Thorold's deer are kept in Species360-registered zoos, and in 1998 it was estimated that about 7000 remain in the wild.
El ciervo de hocico blanco o ciervo de Thorold (Przewalskium albirostris) es una especie de cérvido asiático autóctono de las montañas del Tíbet y Qinghai, en China.[3]
El ciervo de hocico blanco o ciervo de Thorold (Przewalskium albirostris) es una especie de cérvido asiático autóctono de las montañas del Tíbet y Qinghai, en China.
Cervus albirostris, Przewalskium albirostris, Przewalskium albirostre
Le Cerf de Thorold ou Cerf au museau blanc (Cervus albirostris, Przewalskium albirostris ou Przewalskium albirostre), Wylie : shawa chukar, est une espèce de mammifères herbivores de la famille des Cervidae.
L'espèce Przewalskium albirostris a été initialement décrite en 1883 par l'officier, explorateur et naturaliste russe Nikolaï Mikhaïlovitch Prjevalski (1839-1888) sous le protonyme de Cervus albirostris[1].
Cette espèce est classée selon les auteurs :
En effet, cette espèce est basale par rapport aux autres espèces du genre Cervus, ce qui fait du genre Przewalskium le groupe frère des Cervus. Toutefois, son articulation date d'environ 2,5 Ma ce qui peut être jugé insuffisant pour justifier une différentiation de genre (typiquement 5 Ma ou plus de divergence)[2].
Przewalskium albirostris est endémique à l'Est du plateau tibétain, entre 3 500 et 5 100 m d'altitude[3].
Les femelles se différencient des mâles par une masse plus faible, inférieure à 180 kg contre 180 à 230 kg pour les mâles qui sont les seuls à porter des bois[3].
Cervus albirostris, Przewalskium albirostris, Przewalskium albirostre
Le Cerf de Thorold ou Cerf au museau blanc (Cervus albirostris, Przewalskium albirostris ou Przewalskium albirostre), Wylie : shawa chukar, est une espèce de mammifères herbivores de la famille des Cervidae.
Il cervo a labbra bianche (Cervus albirostris[3] Przewalski, 1883) è una specie minacciata di cervo diffusa nelle praterie, nelle boscaglie e nelle foreste d'alta quota delle regioni orientali dell'Altopiano del Tibet[4]. Deve il nome comune (in cinese Baichunlu, 白唇鹿) alle chiazze bianche attorno al muso[1].
Questo cervo occupa una nicchia ecologica simile a quella dello shou (Cervus canadensis wallichii, una delle molte sottospecie del wapiti). Venne descritto scientificamente per la prima volta, nel 1883, da Nikolai Przewalski[2], ma i primi esemplari furono portati in Occidente da G. W. Thorold[4], al quale la specie deve il nome alternativo. Agli inizi del 2011, secondo l'ISIS, negli zoo di tutto il mondo erano presenti più di 100 cervi a labbra bianche[5], e nel 1998 venne stimato che in natura ne rimanessero circa 7000 capi[2].
Sebbene il cervo a labbra bianche sia stato descritto per la prima volta, nel 1883, da Nikolai Przewalski, è noto anche come cervo di Thorold dal nome dell'uomo che fece conoscere per la prima volta questa specie in Occidente[4]. L'appellativo specifico (albirostris) deriva dai termini latini albus («bianco») e rostrum («muso»), in riferimento al muso e alle labbra bianche. Questo nome è l'esatta traduzione del cinese Baichunlu (白唇鹿), che significa «labbra-bianche»[6]. Proprio per questo motivo, la specie è nota prevalentemente con questo nome[7].
In passato il cervo a labbra bianche è stato talvolta classificato in un genere a sé (Przewalskium), ma oggi la maggior parte degli studiosi tende a classificarlo nuovamente nel genere Cervus[3].
Non ne vengono riconosciute sottospecie[2].
Con un'altezza al garrese di 115–140 cm, il cervo a labbra bianche è uno dei cervi più grandi del mondo. I maschi, che pesano 180–230 kg, sono parecchio più grandi delle femmine, che pesano solo 90–160 kg. Il mantello, piuttosto folto, è di color grigio-marrone su quasi tutto il corpo, ma sulle regioni inferiori si fa fulvo-giallastro; sul posteriore è presente una caratteristica chiazza bruno-rossastra, mentre lungo la linea del dorso corre una serie di peli più scuri. Il mantello invernale, di colore più chiaro, è all'incirca il doppio più folto di quello estivo, più folto perfino di quello dell'alce. Il colore della testa è più scuro di quello del resto del corpo, soprattutto nei maschi, e contrasta nettamente con le macchie bianco candido presenti sulle labbra, attorno al naso e sulla gola, proprio sotto il mento[4].
I maschi adulti possiedono palchi lunghi fino a 110 cm, che possono pesare anche 4 kg. Rispetto a quelli del wapiti o del cervo nobile, i palchi sono più appiattiti e hanno la prima e la seconda punta (il «bez») piuttosto distanziate. Possono essere presenti fino a sette punte, tutte situate sullo stesso piano. Essi cadono annualmente in marzo e raggiungono le loro massime dimensioni verso la fine dell'estate. Tra le altre caratteristiche proprie della specie ricordiamo orecchie più lunghe che in quasi tutti gli altri cervi, bordate di peli bianchi, e grandi ghiandole metatarsali e preorbitali. Gli zoccoli sono larghi e robusti, con punte insolitamente lunghe. La coda è breve e misura solo 12–13 cm di lunghezza[4].
Il cervo a labbra bianche ha sviluppato un certo numero di adattamenti fisici e fisiologici alla vita ad alta quota. Le zampe brevi e gli zoccoli larghi ne fanno un agile arrampicatore, in grado di rifugiarsi anche sugli impervi terreni montuosi per sfuggire ai predatori. Le cavità nasali sono piuttosto grandi e consentono al cervo di respirare l'aria rarefatta delle alte quote, mentre il folto mantello garantisce un'ottima protezione contro il freddo. Rispetto a mammiferi di simili dimensioni, in questa specie i globuli rossi sono più piccoli della media e molto numerosi; entrambe queste caratteristiche migliorano la capacità di trasportare quantitativi limitati di ossigeno[4].
Il cervo a labbra bianche vive nelle province cinesi di Tibet, Sichuan, Qinghai, Gansu e nell'estremità nord-occidentale dello Yunnan[4][8]. Attualmente, in tutto il suo areale, si trova solamente in popolazioni isolate, in apparenza più numerose nel Sichuan orientale. Predilige un mosaico di prateria, boscaglia e foresta, e viene spesso avvistato oltre la linea degli alberi[4]. Vive ad altitudini di 3500–5100 m, più in alto di ogni altra specie di cervo, e migra stagionalmente dagli elevati pascoli estivi ai terreni meno elevati in cui trascorre l'inverno[9].
Il cervo a labbra bianche è una creatura crepuscolare che vive generalmente in branchi composti da almeno dieci esemplari. Tranne che nella stagione degli amori, maschi e femmine vivono quasi sempre separati. In passato, erano noti anche branchi composti da varie centinaia di capi, ma attualmente è molto raro trovare una mandria formata da più di cento individui[9]. Come il wapiti, è un animale prevalentemente pascolatore; la sua dieta comprende una vasta gamma di vegetali disponibili, specialmente erba e carici, ma anche piante più grandi, come rododendri e salici. Ha pochi nemici naturali, ma ogni tanto qualche esemplare cade vittima di lupi o leopardi delle nevi[4].
Questo animale emette una vasta serie di vocalizzi, tra i quali ricordiamo un potente richiamo d'allarme, udibile a più di 500 m di distanza, una sorta di latrato emesso dai maschi in calore, e dei suoni meno rumorosi emessi da femmine e giovani. Come la renna, il cervo a labbra bianche emette inoltre un insolito e forte suono schioccante con le ossa carpali, la cui funzione è sconosciuta[4].
La stagione degli amori va da settembre a novembre; durante questo periodo, i branchi misti, composti sia da maschi che da femmine, divengono più frequenti. Nei branchi dove sono presenti più maschi, ognuno di essi mantiene un piccolo harem di femmine che protegge dagli altri maschi. I maschi competono tra loro in maniera simile agli altri cervi, con combattimenti, marcature odorose, manifestazioni visive e bramiti. L'accoppiamento è costituito da un'unica e rapida stoccata[4].
Dopo una gestazione di 220-250 giorni, la femmina dà alla luce un unico piccolo, generalmente in maggio o giugno. Poco prima della nascita, la madre individua un rifugio sicuro, spesso tra la boscaglia o sotto gli arbusti più fitti. Alla nascita il piccolo è ricoperto di macchie bianche ed è in grado di reggersi in piedi dopo circa 40 minuti di vita. All'inizio, la madre cerca di proteggerlo spostandolo da un rifugio all'altro, visitandolo solo due volte al giorno per allattarlo. Dopo circa due settimane, entrambi si ricongiungono alla mandria[4].
Le macchie cominciano a sbiadire dopo circa sei settimane, e i piccoli vengono ornati della colorazione adulta al termine del loro primo anno di vita. Essi raggiungono la maturità sessuale durante il secondo o il terzo anno, sebbene i maschi solo raramente vadano in calore prima di aver raggiunto i cinque anni. In cattività il cervo a labbra bianche può vivere fino a 21 anni, ma in natura probabilmente non sopravvive mai per più di dodici anni[4].
Il cervo a labbra bianche vive solamente in popolazioni sparse all'interno di quello che era il suo antico areale, sebbene l'isolamento dei suoi habitat prediletti renda difficile uno studio dettagliato. La sua sopravvivenza è minacciata dall'avanzare dei terreni agricoli, nonché dalla competizione con animali domestici come pecore, capre e yak. Viene inoltre cacciato per la corne, i palchi e altre parti del corpo (come il velluto), che trovano impiego nella medicina tradizionale cinese. La IUCN lo inserisce tra le specie vulnerabili, mentre in Cina è considerato una specie protetta di I Classe.
La specie viene anche allevata per i palchi in Cina e Nuova Zelanda, ed è inoltre presente in numerosi zoo di tutto il mondo. Sembra in grado di adattarsi facilmente anche alle basse quote[2].
Il cervo a labbra bianche (Cervus albirostris Przewalski, 1883) è una specie minacciata di cervo diffusa nelle praterie, nelle boscaglie e nelle foreste d'alta quota delle regioni orientali dell'Altopiano del Tibet. Deve il nome comune (in cinese Baichunlu, 白唇鹿) alle chiazze bianche attorno al muso.
Questo cervo occupa una nicchia ecologica simile a quella dello shou (Cervus canadensis wallichii, una delle molte sottospecie del wapiti). Venne descritto scientificamente per la prima volta, nel 1883, da Nikolai Przewalski, ma i primi esemplari furono portati in Occidente da G. W. Thorold, al quale la specie deve il nome alternativo. Agli inizi del 2011, secondo l'ISIS, negli zoo di tutto il mondo erano presenti più di 100 cervi a labbra bianche, e nel 1998 venne stimato che in natura ne rimanessero circa 7000 capi.
토롤드사슴(Thorold's deer, Cervus albirostris)[2]은 사슴의 일종으로 멸종위기종의 하나이다. 티베트 고원 동부 고지대의 초원과 관목 지대와 숲에서 발견된다.[3] 주둥이 주위의 흰 반점때문에 흰입술사슴(white-lipped deer, Baichunlu, 白唇鹿)으로도 알려져 있다.[4] 학명은 1883년에 니콜라이 프르제발스키가 처음 명명했으며,[1] 이름은 퍼음으로 표본을 수집한 토롤드(G. W. Thorold)의 이름을 따서 지었다.[3] 2011년 초반 현재, 국제 종(種) 정보시스템(ISIS, International Species Information System)에 등록된 동물원에만 100마리 이상이 사육중에 있고,[5] 1998년에 약 7000여 마리가 야생에서 서식하고 있다.[1]
토롤드사슴(Thorold's deer, Cervus albirostris)은 사슴의 일종으로 멸종위기종의 하나이다. 티베트 고원 동부 고지대의 초원과 관목 지대와 숲에서 발견된다. 주둥이 주위의 흰 반점때문에 흰입술사슴(white-lipped deer, Baichunlu, 白唇鹿)으로도 알려져 있다. 학명은 1883년에 니콜라이 프르제발스키가 처음 명명했으며, 이름은 퍼음으로 표본을 수집한 토롤드(G. W. Thorold)의 이름을 따서 지었다. 2011년 초반 현재, 국제 종(種) 정보시스템(ISIS, International Species Information System)에 등록된 동물원에만 100마리 이상이 사육중에 있고, 1998년에 약 7000여 마리가 야생에서 서식하고 있다.
