Axis porcinus
(E. A. W. von Zimmermann, 1780)
Hog Deer
Distribution :
Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, China (Yunnan), N India, Laos, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka (introduced?), and S Vietnam; introduced to S Australia.
Image courtesy of the ASM Mammal Images Library · MIL ID: 1078
Taxonomy
| Subclass | : Theria |
| Infraclass | : Placentalia |
| Magnorder | : Boreoeutheria |
| Superorder | : Laurasiatheria |
| Order | : Artiodactyla |
| Suborder | : Ruminantia |
| Infraorder | : Pecora |
| Superfamily | : Cervoidea |
| Family | : Cervidae |
| Subfamily | : Cervinae |
| Tribe | : Cervini |
| Genus | : Axis |
| Subgenus | : Hyelaphus |
Species status
Authority citation
Zimmermann, E.A.W. von. 1780. Geographische Geschichte des Menschen, und der vierfüßigen Thiere. Zweiter Band. Weygandsche Buchhandlung, Leipzig, 432 pp.
Authority publication link
Original name as described
Cervus (Porcinus)
Type material
untraced (number not known)
Type kind
nonexistent
Type locality
West Bengal (India).
Biogeographic realm
Indomalaya
Country distribution
Bangladesh · Bhutan · Cambodia · India · Myanmar · Nepal · Pakistan · Sri Lanka · Thailand
Distribution notes
Regionally extinct from China, Laos, and Vietnam. Populations in Thailand were extirpated in the 1960s, but there are now some introduced populations of unknown origin. The population on Sri Lanka was likely introduced several centuries ago, if not earlier.
Distribution references
McCarthy, A.J. and Dissanayake, S.B. 1994. Status of the hog deer in Sri Lanka. Oryx 28(1):62-66. doi:10.1017/S0030605300028301 · Madhushanka, S. and Ranawana, K.B. 2025. Conservation status, crop damage and distribution of the Hog Deer (Axis porcinus Zimmermann, 1780) in Galle District, Sri Lanka. University of Colombo Review 6(1):4-23. doi:10.4038/ucr.v6i1.181 · Hussain, S.A., Tuboi, C., Ghazi, M.G., Basak, S., Gupta, S.K. and Badola, R. 2025. Hog Deer Axis porcinus (E. A. W. von Zimmermann, 1780). Pp. 275–287 in Melletti, M. and Focardi, S. (eds.). Deer of the World. Springer, Cham. doi:10.1007/978-3-031-17756-9_17
Taxonomy notes
includes annamiticus, which was listed as distinct by Groves & Grubb 2011; for additional information regarding the MDD's decision to not follow the Groves & Grubb 2011 Ungulate Taxonomy, see 'Subjective decisions' on the 'About' tab
Taxonomy notes citation
Groves, C.P. and Grubb, P. 2011. Ungulate Taxonomy. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 309 pp. doi:10.56021/9781421400938 · Gupta, S.K., Kumar, A., Angom, S., Singh, B., Ghazi, M.G.U., Tuboi, C. and Hussain, S.A. 2018. Genetic analysis of endangered hog deer (Axis porcinus) reveals two distinct lineages from the Indian subcontinent. Scientific Reports 8(1):16308. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-34482-9
IUCN Red List status
Endangered
Species Permalink
Country distribution map
The map below provides a general overview. Most species inhabit only specific regions within countries. Hover over the highlighted regions to see the country name.
Names and synonyms
Present and past (if available) associated names to the species. Click on a name to view its details.
Total: 20 names and synonyms.
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