The ancestral fallow deer, the Mesopotamian fallow deer (Dama dama mesopotamica), originates from Iran. In Europe (Dama dama dama) it was originally native to Greece, but was brought to other European countries very early by the Romans.
Fallow deer is a medium sized species of real deer. It can reach shoulder heights of up to 110 cm with weights of up to 120 kg.
Old deer are usually loners, otherwise fallow deer live in herds separated by sex. This diurnal game is not particularly territory-loyal and rather insensitive to disturbances. During the rut, the herds of females moove to the rutting grounds. The strongest deer claim their rutting wallows there and wait for the females.
Fallow deer has better eyes than most other hoofed game species, but the hearing is worse.
The summer skin is reddish brown with white spots and a black dorsal stripe, the winter skin is darker and without spots. White and black animals are also occasionally found.
