Javan Rusa

About the Javan Rusa

The Javan rusa or Sunda sambar (Rusa timorensis) is a large deer species native to Indonesia and Timor-Leste. Introduced populations exist in a wide variety of locations in the Southern Hemisphere. Rusa is the Malay word for "deer" in general as well as lending the name to its own genus.

Seven subspecies of the Javan rusa are recognised: R. t. timorensis (Timor rusa deer) – Timor. R. t. djonga – Muna and Butung Islands. R. t. floresiensis (Flores rusa deer) – Flores and other islands. R. t. macassaricus (Celebes rusa deer) – Sulawesi.

R. t. moluccensis (Moluccan rusa deer) – Maluku Islands. R. t. renschi – Bali. R. t. russa (Javan rusa deer) – Java. The Javan rusa is dark blackish brown and has a gray forehead. Its back is almost black, the underparts and inner thighs are yellowish brown. The abdomen is lighter brown, and the tail tuft is dark blackish brown. The hair is coarse and longer on the chest than on the remaining body. Its ears are wide and a little shorter than the head. The antlers are medium long and rather wide, the upper branch points forward. Fawns are born without spots. Males are bigger than females; head-to-body length varies... Wikipedia →