Deer vs. Reindeer
Main DifferenceThe main difference between Deer and Reindeer is that Deer have adaptations for moderate climate ecosystem and only males of deer species grow antlers whereas, Reindeers have adaptations for cold climate, and both male and female of reindeer grow antlers.
Difference Between Deer and Reindeer
Deer vs. Reindeer
Deers are adapted to moderate climate whereas reindeers are adapted to cold climate.
Deer vs. Reindeer
Only male deers grow antlers while both sexes of reindeers grow antlers.
Deer vs. Reindeer
Deers have almost 90 species on the other hand reindeer have 10 subspecies.
Deer vs. Reindeer
Deers live in savannas, meadows and various type of forests on the flip side reindeers live in the tundra and boreal forests.
Deer vs. Reindeer
Deers have long, slim legs with pointed hooves conversely reindeer have long, stumpy legs with wide, split hooves.
Deer vs. Reindeer
Deers have less dense fur while reindeer have more dense fur.
Deer vs. Reindeer
The fur color of deer varies according to the species whereas fur color of reindeer varies according to habitat.
Deer vs. Reindeer
Deers are distributed all over the world except Antarctica, and Australia wheres reindeer are present in the Arctic, Subarctic regions, Northern Europe, Siberia, and North America.
Deer vs. Reindeer
Deer is small to medium size animal while reindeer is medium to the large size of deer.
Deer vs. Reindeer
Deers have long, pointed, forked antlers whereas reindeers have large antlers as compared to their body size with upper and lower points organized into separate groups.
Deer vs. Reindeer
The predators of deer are bears, wolves, cougars, vultures, and humans while the predators of reindeer are beers and humans.
Deer vs. Reindeer
Deer consumes leaves, grass, fruit, lichens, and twigs while reindeer usually eat willow leaves, moss, lichens, birch, mushroom and also small rodents, eggs and fish during food scarcity.
Deernoun
A ruminant mammal with antlers and hooves of the family Cervidae, or one of several similar animals from related families of the order Artiodactyla.
Reindeernoun
An Arctic and subarctic-dwelling deer of the species Rangifer tarandus, with a number of subspecies.
Deernoun
(in particular) One of the smaller animals of this family, distinguished from a moose or elk.
I wrecked my car after a deer ran across the road.Reindeernoun
arctic deer with large antlers in both sexes; called reindeer in Eurasia and caribou in North America
Deernoun
The meat of such an animal; venison.
Oh, I've never had deer before.Deernoun
An animal, especially a quadrupedal mammal, as opposed to a bird, fish, etc.
Deernoun
distinguished from Bovidae by the male's having solid deciduous antlers
Comparison Chart
| Deer | Reindeer |
| A deer is a hoofed, browsing animal with bony, branched antlers carried by males. | A reindeer is a large type of deer with large antlers carried by both males and females. |
| Species | |
| 90 species | 10 subspecies |
| Habitat | |
| Meadows, savannas, forests | Tundra, boreal forests |
| Climate Adaptation | |
| Moderate climate | Cold climate |
| Hooves | |
| Pointed hooves | Wide, split hooves |
| Size | |
Small to large size
20 to 1000 pounds |
Medium to small size
180 to 400 pounds |
| Fur | |
| Less fur density | High fur Density |
| Legs | |
| Long, thin legs | Long, stumpy legs |
| Color of Fur | |
| Reddish brown to greyish brown | Dark brown to white |
| Antlers | |
| In males | In males, females |
Deer vs. Reindeer
The deer is a term that indicates a family, whereas reindeer is a particular specie. Deer is an habitant of savannas, meadows, mixed forests while reindeer is an habitant of tundra and boreal forests. Deers have distribution all over the world, excluding Australia and Antarctica whereas reindeers are present in the Arctic, Subarctic regions, Northern Europe, Siberia, and North America. Deers have adaptations towards moderate climate and reindeer have adaptations towards the cold climate. Deers are large to small-sized animals; The smallest species of deer is Pudu that weighs 20 pounds, while the largest species of deer is Moose that have 1000 pounds of weight while reindeer is medium to large-sized deer that have 180 to 401 pounds of weight. The only male of deer species grow antlers, but both of the sexes of reindeer grow antlers. Deer have long, sharp and forked antlers while reindeer have larger antlers as compared to their body size with upper and lower points organized in two separate groups. Deer have about 60 extant species whereas reindeer have almost ten subspecies. Deer have long, slim legs whereas reindeer have stumpy legs. Deer have less thick fur with the same color in all geographic locations while reindeer have denser fur whose color depends on geographic locations.
What is Deer?
A deer is a member of the Cervidae family that is a hoofed, grazing animal with bony, branched antlers. It is a medium-sized animal that has almost 90 different species of mammals. Their distribution is on all continents excluding Australia and Antarctica. They survive in forests, savannas, riverbed lands, and meadows. The most common species of deer is whitetail. Buck is the male deer while the dose is a female. The smallest species of deer is pudu that weighs 20 pounds, and the largest type of deer is moose that have 1000 pounds of weight. As they are ruminants, their stomach is four-chambered that digest and absorb the nutrients better. Only males have antlers that are long, forked, and pointed. The buck sheds off the velvet on its antlers yearly. The legs of deer are long and thin with pointed hooves. Deer have less dense fur, and its color is the same in all geographic location. The reproduction rate of deers is high. Humans benefit from deer in many ways, including game, meat hunting, traditional medicine, farming, and horns.
What is Reindeer?
Reindeer is a large type of deer with large horns, also known as caribou. Reindeer have about 10 subspecies that lives in the Arctic, Subarctic regions, Northern Europe, Siberia, and North America. Reindeer inhabits boreal forests and tundra. The weight of reindeer is 180 to 401 pounds. Both sexes of reindeer have antlers, and they are larger as compared to their body size with velvety fur covering. They also shed the velvet of antlers yearly. Their nasal cavity consists of special turbinal bones that warm the cold air during inhaling. They have split, wide hooves that help them move easily across the snow. Their long, stumpy legs click whenever they stop and is audible far away.
The color of fur varies according to the geographical area. Arctic region population has whiter fur, and Southern populations are darker comparatively. They can benefit humans by assisting in transportation, providing a source of milk, fur, meat on the farms. Reindeer eat lichens, moss, leaves of willow, birch, mushroom, small rodents, eggs, and fish.
ConclusionAlthough the term deer refers to a family, whereas reindeer is a particular specie of deer, deers have adaptations of moderate climate, but reindeer have adaptations for cold climate. Deers have pointed hooves and less dense fur while reindeer that have wider hooves and denser fur.
