''Rusa'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of deer from southern Asia. They have traditionally been included in ''

Cervus ''Cervus'' is a genus of deer that primarily are native to Eurasia, although one species occurs in northern Africa and another in North America. In addition to the species presently placed in this genus, it has included a whole range of other s ...

'', and genetic evidence suggests this may be more appropriate than their present placement in a separate genus. Three of the four species have relatively small distributions in the Philippines and Indonesia, but the sambar is more widespread, ranging from India east and north to China and south to the Greater Sundas. All are threatened by

habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss or habitat reduction) occurs when a natural habitat is no longer able to support its native species. The organisms once living there have either moved elsewhere, or are dead, leading to a decrease ...

and hunting in their native ranges, but three of the species have also been introduced elsewhere. The genus name derives from Malay meaning "deer."

Species

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q754038 Cervines Mammal genera Taxa named by Charles Hamilton Smith