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Musk deer
Order : Artiodactyla
Family : Moschidae
Facts about the family Moschidae, the musk deer
Musk deer are among the smallest of hoofed mammals, weighing about 15-38 pounds.
The musk deer is found in the Himalayas, eastern Asia, and Siberia.
Populations of musk deer are declining throughout their distribution.
The Musk Deer is strongly territorial and reclusive, mostly traveling alone or in solitary pairs.
Threats: While habitat destruction poses a threat to musk deer populations, large-scale illegal hunting to meet commercial demand for the scent gland or "pod" of the male musk deer is believed to be responsible for dramatic declines in some musk deer populations at the end of this century.
The pygmy musk deer are chevrotains, as the kanchil and napu. (Full text)
But as human populations swell across Asia, demand for musk is increasing while available habitat for musk deer is decreasing. (Full text)
Musk deer are relatively small and antlerless, with a pair of protruding, tusklike teeth. (Full text)
Except for a female and her young, the musk deer is solitary outside of the rutting season. (Full text)
Musk deer are strongly territorial. (Full text)
A musk deer is about 60cm tall and has a shoulder height of about 20cm. (Full text)
The largest numbers of Musk deer are found in China, Russia and Mongolia. (Full text)
Hunting of musk deer is done with traps and guns, and as a result, it is estimated that three to five musk deer have to be killed to obtain a single male with approximately 25 grams of raw musk. (Full text)
Populations of Musk deer are declining in all countries where they occur. (Full text)
Close up of a musk deer Close up of a musk deer The musk-deer is hard to domesticate because of its peculiar traits. (Full text)
MORSE See "Walrus" MOSCHIDAE Moschidae is the Musk deer family of animals of the order Artiodactyla. (Full text)
Conservation Status As a species, the Himalayan musk deer is classified as low risk, near threatened by the IUCN (1996). (Full text)
Ecology and Behavior Himalayan musk deer are most active between dusk and dawn, alternately resting (Full text)
Conservation Status The Siberian musk deer is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN (1996). (Full text)
Ecology and Behavior Musk deer are primarily active at night, although during this period they (Full text)
Secretions from the scent gland or "pod" of the male musk deer are used in many traditional East Asian medicines to treat a variety of ailments relating to the heart, nerves and breathing. (Full text)