Rusa unicolor unicolor, a subspecies of the sambar (Rusa unicolor), inhabits lowland dry forests, scrublands, and mountain forests in Sri Lanka. Males are larger than females, featuring a dense mane and antlers that are periodically shed and regrown. These herbivores feed on leaves, fruits, grasses, and tree bark, contributing significantly to seed dispersal. While they do not have a fixed breeding season, females typically give birth to a single fawn following copulation.