sambar

Female sambar (<em>Cervus unicolor</em>).Hazaribag Wildlife Sanctuary was once home to a large population of sambar deer.

sambar, (Cervus unicolor), widely distributed deer, family Cervidae (order Artiodactyla), found from India and Nepal eastward through Southeast Asia. The sambar live in forests, alone or in small groups. A large, relatively long-tailed deer, it stands 1.2–1.4 m (47–55 inches) at the shoulder. The coat forms a ruff around its neck and is an unspotted, dark brown in colour. The male sambar bears long, three-tined antlers. Several races of sambar are recognized, among them the large Indian sambar (C. u. niger) and the smaller Malayan sambar (C. u. equinus).

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.
Citation Information
Article Title: sambar
Website Name: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published: 12 January 2018
Access Date: November 14, 2026