The Latin word dāma or damma, used for roe deer, gazelles, and antelopes, lies at the root of the modern scientific name, as well as the German Damhirsch, French daim, Dutch damhert, and Italian daino.

The Persian fallow deer is the larger of the two living species, with an average body mass of around 70–140 kilograms (150–310 lb),[4] and a shoulder height of around 80–110 centimetres (31–43 in)[5] with the European fallow deer having an average body mass of around 35–80 kilograms (77–176 lb).

Some taxonomists classify the Persian fallow deer as a subspecies (D. d. mesopotamica),[1] while others, such as the IUCN, treat it as a separate species (D.

[10] Based on genetic evidence, Dama is considered to be closest living relative of the extinct genus Megaloceros.

[4] The earliest species of Dama appeared around the Pliocene-Pleistocene boundary approximately 2.6 million years ago,[12] or around the beginning of the Middle Pleistocene approximately 0.8 million years ago,[13] depending on the species included in the genus.