Here are five of the strangest and most unique deer species in the world, based on their appearance, behavior, or evolutionary traits:
1 Water Deer (Hydropotes inermis)
Native to: China and Korea
Why it’s strange:
- Has fangs instead of antlers!
- Males grow long, downward-pointing canine teeth that resemble vampire fangs.
- Also called the “vampire deer.”
- Excellent swimmers and often live near rivers or marshes.
2 Tufted Deer (Elaphodus cephalophus)
Native to: Central China
Why it’s strange:
- Also has fang-like canines in males.
- Named for the dark tuft of hair on its forehead, which gives it a punk-rock look.
- Shy and elusive forest-dweller.
3 Pudu (Pudu puda & Pudu mephistophiles)
Native to: South America (Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru)
Why it’s strange:
- World’s smallest deer – only about 10–15 inches tall at the shoulder.
- Looks like a tiny, wide-eyed deer-dog hybrid.
- Despite their size, pudus are surprisingly agile and can climb and jump.
4 Musk Deer (Moschus spp.)
Native to: The Himalayas, Siberia, and China
Why it’s strange:
- No antlers, but males have prominent saber-like teeth.
- Males produce musk, a valuable substance used in perfumes.
- More closely related to primitive deer ancestors than to modern deer species.
5 Pere David’s Deer (Elaphurus davidianus)
Native to: Originally from China (now extinct in the wild; survives in captivity)
Why it’s strange:
- Described as having “the neck of a camel, the hooves of a cow, the tail of a donkey, and antlers like a deer.“
- Extremely unusual body proportions and features.
- Rescued from extinction through captive breeding after vanishing from the wild in the early 1900s.
Would you like pictures of any of them or more detail about one species?