REPEATED FORMATION OF 2 ANTLER SETS PER YEAR IN A WILD RED-DEER STAG (CERVUS-ELAPHUS L)

Presented is the case of repeated extraseasonal antler formation by a red Jeer stag that died in November 1996 as the result of a traffic ac cident. From 1994 to 1996 the stag prematurely cast his antlers in Nov ember. In 1994 and 1995 this was followed by the development of an ext ra set of antlers, the velvet of which was shed in late January or bet ween February 16-18 of the following year, while the antlers were stil l immature. A few days after velvet shedding, the extra antlers were c ast. Thc subsequently grown regular antlers were shorter and lighter t han chose from previous years. The abnormal antler cycles as well as t he premature annual onset of rutting behaviour observed in the stag ar e hypothetically attributed to a shift in the annual variation of plas ma androgen levels.