Difference Between Deer, Venison and Reindeer

Deer, deer and reindeer

It should be noted that the names deer and deer refer to the same species. That is, the only difference is the name. In fact, both forms are correct to refer to the same animal. When we talk about deer or deer, we are not referring to any type of species or subspecies, but to a family.

Instead, the reindeer belongs to one of those subfamilies. It is important to highlight that these subfamilies have more than 50 species of ruminant mammals. Deer or deer and reindeer are very similar. They have long, thin legs, with a long neck and short fur. On the other hand, these ruminants have the same digestion process, regardless of the subfamily to which they belong.

Digestion is generally divided into two parts: the first is eating the food and the second is regurgitating it, hence the term ruminant. All this long and difficult process is known as rumination.

Specific differences between deer, deer and reindeer

deer or deer

There are 27 species of deer in the world. The best known is the Cervus canadensis. The most important differences that we can find between the 27 subspecies are related to the size of the antlers, the color of the fur and the size of the animals. Most females are almost always smaller than males.

Another important distinction is that the males have a large horn that begins to develop from the first year of life. Over time, the horns increase in size, as well as their complexity and shape. In addition, the males also have hair on the entire neck area and on the back. These ruminant mammals are herbivores and feed mainly on grasse

Therefore, they need large pastures to survive. As for their place of origin, deer can be found in different parts of the world: North Africa, Europe, America, Asia and in some parts of the Arctic.

Reindeer

The reindeer, also known as caribou, is a subspecies belonging to the capreoline family. This animal resides in the northern hemisphere and its initial habitat is the tundra and taiga regions. It now lives in the global Arctic, including Greenland. This link of the reindeer with the cold areas of the Earth is what influenced to include them in the famous legend of Santa Claus.

Regarding reindeer hunting, it is a permitted activity. Some say that hunting is necessary to maintain the balance in these cold ecosystems. As with other subspecies, the male is larger than the female. The weight of females ranges between 60 and 170 kilos. However, males can become much larger and weigh more than 300 kilos.

One of the most suggestive differences between reindeer and other species of this family is that both sexes have antlers. Males are usually larger than females and females also develop more branches. Between the branches of the antlers, bony membranes may develop. Also, vision is another important feature.

Researchers say this feature can help them distinguish food and predators in the Arctic winter. Deer / deer and reindeer have many differences and at the same time are very similar, it is no coincidence that they belong to the same family. These ruminant mammals are distributed in more than 50 subspecies, and each of them has different characteristics that make them unique and peculiar.