Red Deer - Jawbone

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The majestic red stag is one of the largest deer species found globally. It roams freely across most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Asia Minor, Iran, western and central Asia, and even stretches into northwestern Africa, where it's the only deer species to inhabit the continent. Red stags have been introduced to other areas, including Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, Peru, Uruguay, Chile, and Argentina, making them a global phenomenon. Red deer are ruminants with a unique four-chambered stomach that sets them apart from other deer species. Genetic evidence suggests that the red deer as we know it is actually a group of species rather than a single species, but the exact number of species within this group remains disputed. The American elk or wapiti, which is closely related to and slightly larger than the red deer, was once considered a subspecies but is now recognized as a distinct species. It's likely that the ancestor of all red deer, including the wapiti, originated in central Asia and resembled the sika deer. While red deer were once rare in certain parts of Europe, they have never been on the brink of extinction. Thanks to reintroduction and conservation efforts, such as those in the United Kingdom and Portugal, red deer populations have increased significantly, while other areas like North Africa continue to experience a decline. Fossils discovered in Shropshire provide valuable insights into the history of this incredible species.