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Why are deer absent from Australia and Antarctica as native animals?

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male white-tailed deer — deer Male white-tailed deer (*Odocoileus virginianus*).

Deer are not native to Australia or Antarctica primarily due to geographic isolation and specific ecological requirements.

Australia

Australia has been geographically isolated for millions of years, preventing the natural migration of many land mammal groups, including deer. Furthermore, deer have high nutritional demands due to the energy required for annual antler growth. They require nutrient-rich, dicotyledonous plants and are generally excluded from geologically old, nutrient-leached landscapes like much of Australia. While various species were introduced by humans, they have not established themselves as part of the native fauna.12

Antarctica

Antarctica lacks native land mammals, including deer, because it has been isolated by vast oceans for 40 to 60 million years. This separation, combined with an extremely harsh climate and extensive ice cover, has prevented the colonization of terrestrial mammals. While humans have introduced species such as reindeer to some subantarctic islands, these are not native to the region.3