Red deer

Red deer
File:Cervus elaphus Luc Viatour 5.jpg
Male (stag)
File:Zoo-Dortmund-IMG 5549-a.jpg
Female (hind)
Conservation status
File:Status iucn3.1 LC.svg Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Suborder:	Ruminantia
Family:	Cervidae
Subfamily:	Cervinae
Genus:	Cervus
Binomial name
Cervus elaphus Linnaeus, 1758
File:Range Map Cervus elaphus.png
Range of Cervus elaphus

The red deer (Cervus elaphus) is one of the largest deer species. The red deer lives in most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Asia Minor and parts of western and central Asia, in Kashmir as the state animal. They can also be found in the Atlas Mountains region between Algeria and Tunisia in northwestern Africa. They are the only species of deer in Africa. Red deer have been introduced to other areas including Australia, New Zealand and Argentina. In many parts of the world the meat (venison) from red deer is widely used as a food source.