sika deer (Cervus nippon)

One of six species of deer in Britain. Sika deer are similar in size to fallow deer but are darker and have branched antlers like red deer. They are closely related to red deer and readily interbreed with them, threatening the integrity of both species. They are native to the Far East.



This definition is abridged from A – Z of tree terms: A companion to British arboriculture.
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