lily-deer

[lily-deer]

i’m not intersex but this is so cool

(also would it be considered ableist if i identify as a doe w antlers since they’re intersex?)

Right, so:

Intersex Deer

and just some variations. Obviously not a comprehensive list, only a few examples of how it can present in deer across species. Some of these sources contain images of dead animals (labeled DA) or outdated language for intersex conditions (OL)! Please keep that in mind before clicking the links.

First up, antlered does:

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

So put incredibly simply, all cervids (except for water deer) are capable of antler growth, as the stem cells that generate them are present even in females. However, in those cervids (except reindeer/caribou), those cells only activate with heightened testosterone. Usually only males can produce enough, but rarely, so can a female. Their antlers tend to be spindly and narrow, if they grow larger than spikes, and remain covered in velvet year-round. They rarely, if ever drop them, unlike their male counterparts, which regrow their antlers annually.

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

This is most commonly documented in members of the Odocoileus genus, such as these whitetails, and in the Capreolus genus, namely western roe deer. Like the one above, these deer are typically capable of reproducing, and often behave like other females of their species, i.e. staying in female-only herds. Their heightened testosterone can be linked to hormonal imbalances, malformed or underdeveloped reproductive organs, or tumors/cysts on their ovaries. The former occurs most often in older individuals, and has also been documented in elk, red deer, and moose (like this cow, which was spotted with a calf near Nome, Alaska).

Alaskan moose (Alces alces gigas)

High testosterone has even been documented in the aforementioned water deer, causing does to grow elongated fangs (DA, OL). These does, like females of other species with permanent velvet antlers, were still capable of producing offspring. While they were expected to exceed the standard weight for does, they were actually smaller.

However, not all antlered does can reproduce, and not all have permanent velvet. In extremely rare cases, their antlers can harden and shed. This leads to the next set of conditions, which unfortunately I don't have pictures for: visibly intersex animals, externally, internally, or both.

A vast majority of visibly intersex deer are discovered via hunting; therefore, intersex whitetails and roe deer (DA) are (still) the best studied. These deer can have any combination of sex organs, such as an individual with a vulva, cervix, testes, and more (DA, OL). Their antlers can be velvet or hardened, though they're often malformed. They may exhibit behaviors of both sexes, including breeding behaviors; while I couldn't find much regarding their reproductive ability, most are likely infertile. There's still a lot to study regarding these guys, especially in poorly-researched species like muntjacs, brockets, and hog deer.

Finally, the most common form of intersex in deer: cryptorchidism. This is a condition where one or both testicles don't descend properly, or are otherwise malformed. It causes male deer to grow wonky antlers, referred to as "cactus antlers," "Devil's antlers," and, for moose, velericorn antlers (also used for antlered cow moose). They shed them at odd times, and, like for this individual, they might even crumble away rather than pop off cleanly.

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) (OL)

These deer may have little interest in mating, scraping, self-urinating or other breeding behaviors due to a lack of testosterone, or even prefer the company of females year-round. They may look more feminine, like this elk found in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, which I believe to be a bull with cryptorchidism or another hormonal imbalance.

But this is just the tip of the iceberg. Like many animals, including humans, deer have so much variation in appearance, behavior, and yes, sexual characteristics. Even with strong dimorphism, biology is never binary.

[lily-deer]

[lily-deer]

genuinely despise when someone verbatim describes themselves (identity, gender, etc.) as a specific label and then say “but i’m not that lol.” like… baby yes you are….

my best friend and i had a conversation abt this today. either people are afraid to admit they are something bc of ridicule and other negative factors associated w that description OR they have this dire need to be “different” or “special” (aka a constant desire to be the “main character”) idk if it’s bc im older (25; 26 in september) or what but it’s draining af to sit here and watch individuals talk in circles and gaslight themselves into believing or not believing in certain things. it all stems from perception and how you view yourself and how you want others to view you. the sooner you realize you have the power to control your own life and body, but not others’ perception of that life and body, the better off you’ll be

ie: stop obsessing over the small shit in your life and actually LIVE that life. stop seeking validation from 50 million people (online or irl) and focus on YOUR experience. stop wasting time and be yourself. thank you

[lily-deer]

hello!! we spin!! /pos

hmm…

yes…

mhm…

yeah i think that’s abt right. i believe i am borzoi. funny, interesting, ethereal beings that they are

[lily-deer]

hmm…

yes…

mhm…

yeah i think that’s abt right. i believe i am borzoi. funny, interesting, ethereal beings that they are

[lily-deer]

a lovely creature commented sighthounds and yeah 100% that’s the category but now i’m trying to figure out which one but i’m p sure it’s a borzoi

kinsidering a dog theriotype… i have no idea what breed yet, but definitely something loyal, passively protective, gentle, and not necessarily energetic. if y’all have any ideas pls shoot them my way. idk size but i think pointed ears?? but i could be wrong. i feel like ill just know when i know if that makes sense

[lily-deer]

does anycreature have any recommendations for therian masks, specifically a deer one? preferably not outrageously expensive and can be shipped reasonably to the US. idc if it’s premade or custom

[lily-deer]

kinsidering a dog theriotype… i have no idea what breed yet, but definitely something loyal, passively protective, gentle, and not necessarily energetic. if y’all have any ideas pls shoot them my way. idk size but i think pointed ears?? but i could be wrong. i feel like ill just know when i know if that makes sense

[lily-deer]

I think in another life I wanna be reborn as a deer.

I wanna be silly and frolick with my gay deer wife

I wanna stare at cars with me beady ass eyes

I wanna have ANTLERS bitch!

I wanna eat those little red poison berries

I wanna have a little deer family and just live. just live as ✨️ d e e r ✨️

[lily-deer]

lets stare judgmentally with mama

Photo by Caleb Jack.

[lily-deer]

i gotta say, being both non-human and a regressor, i love this whole “with mama” trend. yes, that is me and mama

[lily-deer]

me & also me

[lily-deer]

by Roelie Steinmann

[lily-deer]

wanna kiss and hold hands with another femme animal :(

is that too much to ask for???

[lily-deer]

Hi, I thought I would let you know that you are my favorite kind of dinosaur/vpos :3

hello!! that’s super awesome!! /pos *para noise*

[lily-deer]

stormy weather always connects me to my theriotypes, especially my parasaurolophus one. thunder sounds so primal and the way the clouds roll in feel so nostalgic

[lily-deer]

i bring a sort of "it doesnt matter if youre into porn or not, getting elitist and mad at people for being horny aligns you with the agenda of the alt right" vibe to the conversation that some ppl dont like