Pench Tiger reserve, Nagpur, Maharashtra is 25th Tiger reserve of India, having 71 mammal species, including Indian spotted deer (Axis axis axis: Erxleben). The Indian spotted deer (Axis axis axis: Erxleben) is a general feeder, feeding on more than 160 plant species consisting grasses, forbs and leaves of woody plants. Osteophagia term denotes about gnawing on bones, antlers by ungulates mainly due to the phosphorus and Calcium deficiency. Ungulates show such behaviour for fulfilment of nutrition requirements in particular periods as antler growth and lactation. This observation is first reporting of osteophagia behavior by free ranging Indian spotted deer (Axis axis axis: Erxleben) in wild.
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Journal of Animal Health and Behavioural Science received 38 citations as per Google Scholar report