Spotted Deer
The Chital
The
scientific name of the chital is Axis axis. "Axis" has several
possible origins: the Greek axōn, the Lithuanian ašis, or the Sanskrit Aksah.
The vernacular name chital is derived from the Hindi cītal or from the Sanskrit
citrala, both of which mean "variegated", in reference to the spotted
coat of the deer. Another possible origin is from the Sanskrit citra which means
"bright" or "spotted". The name of the cheetah has a
similar origin. Other names for the chital are cheetal, cheetul, Indian
spotted deer.
