Scientific Name: Muntiacus reevesi

Geographical Range: The natural range is Southern China and Taiwan, but introduced populations are found elsewhere.

Habitat: Coniferous forest deciduous forest regions

Diet in the Wild: Grasses, leaves, shoots, and fallen fruits.

Conservation Status: Not protected.

Location in the Zoo: Asian Falls

Physical Description:

At full growth they can be about 3 feet long and stand about 16" at the shoulder. Weight is from 20-30 lbs. They are reddish brown in color. The chin and throat are white and there is a black stripe along the neck. The males have short antlers. Females have small, bony knobs and tufts of hair on their heads, instead of antlers. Males have a prominent V-shaped marking running into the base of the antlers, while females have a more diamond-shaped marking on the head.

Social Organization::

Solitary, pairs or small groups. Both males and females defend small territories.

Special Adaptations:

The Reeve's muntjac has two very large teeth. Its two large canines are for tearing food and are used in competition for females. Females have smaller tusks. Muntjacs also have a scent gland under each eye that they use to mark sticks with, by poking the stick into the gland.

Muntjacs are called "barking deer," because males have a barking call, used both as an alarm signal, and also during the mating season.

Reproductive Behavior:

They can mate year-round, but they mostly mate in January and February. Gestation is 7 months. They give birth to 1-2 young for every birth. The young stay hidden in the brush until they are strong enough to move around with their mothers.

Captive muntjacs have been released into the English countryside and are now found throughout England as an introduced species.

The Animal at the Zoo:

They are shy and keep to themselves. They enjoy lying in the shade and grooming themselves.

Page Author:
Joshua R. Cox  casadeuno@aol.com

Sources and Links:

http://ultimateungulate.com/Artiodactyla/Muntiacus_reevesi.html

http://lsb.syr.edu/projects/cyberzoo/reevesmuntjac.html

http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/mammals/Muntiacus_reevesi/
more_info.html

http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/animal-bytes/animalia/
eumetazoa/coelomates/deuterostomes/chordata/craniata/mammalia/
artiodactyla/reeves-muntjac.htm

http://www.garden-city.org/zoo/animalinfo/reeve's_muntjac.htm

Muntjac skull photo from Will's Skull Page:
http://www.skullsite.co.uk/Muntjac/muntjac.htm