Identification of pleistocene deer (Cervidae) in Java, Indonesia based on antlers characteristics

Abstract

The Pleistocene in Java, Indonesia unearthed numerous fragment fossil of deer. Most of the fossils found were cranium, teeth, antlers, and limb bones. Species identification of deer species in Pleistocene of Java, Indonesia mainly were based on its cranium and teeth. Fossil of deer antlers were abundant. Some traits/characters on antlers morphology show unique characteristics. The purpose of this research is to determine the deer species found in Pleistocene of Java, Indonesia based on antlers’ morphological characteristics. Methods used were (1) morphological comparison of diagnostic characters from recent deer antlers to the fossils i.e.: visual observation on morphology with binary data and morphometry based on Boone and Crockett Club; (2) Principal Component Analysis (PCA), to show the difference based on morphological characters of each species. The result showed that each species has their own antlers characteristic, therefore antlers characteristic can be used to distinguish each species. There were eight species group which can be determine using antlers characteristics, i.e.: Cervus (Rusa) hippelaphus, Cervus (Rusa) hippelaphus of BPSMPS which probably different species, Cervus (Axis) javanicus, Cervus oppenoorthi, Cervus stehlini, Axis lydekkeri, Cervus zwaani, and Muntiacus muntjak.