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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
Reeve's
muntjac, Chinese muntjac |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Mammalia |
| ORDER: |
Artiodactyla |
| FAMILY: |
Cervidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Muntiacus (Sunda language for muntjac) reevesi |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
The
Reeve's muntjac is a small brown deer with branched
antlers, and a longer nose than other deer. It
has a gray to reddish-brown coat with blackish
brown legs, and a white chin and throat with a
black stripe along the nape of the neck.
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| MALE |
Males
have small tusk-like canines, which can grow up
to 2.5 cm (1 in) long and small antlers, averaging
7-8 cm (2.75-3.2 in.) in length. |
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| SIZE: |
Approximately 40 cm (16 in.) tall at shoulder
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| FEMALE |
Females
are smaller than males |
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| WEIGHT: |
11-16
kg (24-35 lb.)
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| DIET: |
Includes
leaves, fruit, bark, fungi, and herbs
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| GESTATION: |
Approximately
7 months; 1 offspring (rarely 2) is born at a
time
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
Approximately 6 months |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
Up to 10 years |
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| RANGE: |
Southern China and Taiwan |
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| HABITAT: |
Deciduous forests |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
Exact numbers are not known; however, they are commonly
found in their native habitat |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Not
listed |
| CITES |
Not listed |
| USFWS |
Not listed; one subspecies is endangered |
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|
| 1. |
This
species is one of the smallest members of the
deer family.
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| 2. |
Reeve's muntjac is primarily crepuscular, active
at dawn and dusk. |
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| 3. |
They have a long tongue that is used to strip leaves
from bushes. |
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| 4. |
The
upper canine teeth of the males are elongated tusks
that serve as excellent defense weapons, capable
of causing serious injury to predators. Although
the antlers of males may be used in battle, the
sharp canines are more effective. |
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| 5. |
Muntjacs
are also referred to as "barking deer"
due to the deep bark-like sounds they are known
to make when on alert. This means of communication
is important for this forest dwelling species, which
is often found in areas of poor visibility. They
are also known to make barking sounds during their
mating season. |
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| 6. |
Human
introduction has actually produced a wild population
of Reeve's muntjac subspecies in the southern half
of England. |
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| 7. |
Both
sexes defend small, solitary territories. These
areas are scent marked with preorbital gland secretions. |
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Muntjacs are hunted for their meat and skin.
Due
to their habit of destroying trees by ripping
off the bark for food, they are considered a pest
in some regions.
Overall,
their numbers are decreasing because of uncontrolled
hunting and habitat destruction.
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| Estes,
Richard D. The Safari Companion. Post Mills,
Vermont: Chelsea Green Publishing Co., 1993. |
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MacDonald, David. The Encyclopedia of Mammals:
2. London: George Allen & Unwin Co., 1985. |
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Nowak, Ronald M. Walker's Mammals of the World.
Fifth edition. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University
Press, 1991.
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| http://www.ultimateungulate.com/muntreeves.html |
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