The Antler Cycle and Fecal Testosterone of Male Sambar Deer Rusa unicolor unicolor at the Horton Plains National Park in Sri Lanka

Figure 2

Box and whisker plots for mean fecal testosterone levels in ng g^-1 during different antler stages of sambar deer (Rusa unicolor unicolor) monitored from January 2018 to June 2019 in the Horton Plains National Park. Testosterone was obtained and measured from radioimmunoassay using methanol. Fecal matter analyzed belongs to either of the antler stages: (a) cast, (b) growing 1—single spike, (c) growing 2—antler fork into a Y as the second tine appears, (d) growing 3—velvet begins to harden as the third tine appears, (e) growth completed—velvet shedding begins, (f) hard antler, and (g) casting.