Chinese muntjac

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Chinese muntjac
Chinese muntjac

Chinese muntjac

Systematics
without rank: Forehead weapon bearer (Pecora)
Family : Deer (Cervidae)
Subfamily : Cervinae
Tribe : Muntjak deer (Muntiacini)
Genre : Muntjaks ( Muntiacus )
Type : Chinese muntjac
Scientific name
Muntiacus reevesi
( Ogilby , 1839)

The Chinese muntjac ( Muntiacus reevesi ), also called dwarf muntjac , is the smallest member of the muntjac genus with a shoulder height of 50 centimeters .

Appearance

The Chinese muntjak reaches a head-trunk length of 70 to 80 cm, plus a 12 to 13 cm long tail and a shoulder height of 45 to 50 cm. The weight is 14 to 15 kg, on average males are about 15% heavier than females. All in all, it is a relatively small representative of the muntjaks with a stocky body. He has only simple antlers with a length of about 15 cm, which have only a short eye shoot. The rounded ears are characteristic. In male animals, a canine tooth up to 6 cm long, reminiscent of a tusk, appears in the upper jaw , one third of which is in the tooth socket. In female animals this is much shorter at 1.7 cm. The short fur of the Chinese muntjak is rust-brown in summer and gray-brown in winter, the long legs have a darker tint, the underside of the tail is white. Males have a dark V-shaped fur pattern on their foreheads that begins at the base of the antlers and ends in the middle of the forehead.

Chinese muntjac in Toruń Zoo , Poland

Occurrence

The species occurs naturally in the central and southern People's Republic of China as well as in Taiwan , but was introduced in England at the beginning of the 20th century, as well as in France, where it is no longer found today. In its area of ​​origin, it inhabits forests in the temperate, subtropical and tropical zones at an altitude of 200 to 400 m. Occasionally, the Chinese muntjac also appears in alpine grasslands up to 3500 m altitude. In England it can be found in dense forests with diverse vegetation.

Way of life

In general, the Chinese muntjac lives solitary, rarely in small groups or family groups, and is active both day and night. Individual animals claim a territory with a size of 20 to 30 ha, sometimes up to 100 ha, whereby these are often larger in males. Male animals show themselves territorially with a defensive belt around the core area, which sometimes protrudes into the activity areas of females. However, females can occasionally also be territorial and then have a core area exclusively inhabited by them. An alarmed animal raises its tail and shows the light underside. The Chinese muntjac is a selective herbivore, its diet includes leaves and the shoots of young trees, but also fruits.

Reproduction

Cub of the Chinese muntjac in the Prague Zoo

The females reach sexual maturity at six months, and oestrus sets in every 14 to 15 days. The Chinese muntjac has a year-round reproduction period. The gestation period is 209-220 (average 210) days. The females usually only give birth to one young. This weighs 1.2 kg and has ocher-colored patches of fur. However, the youthful fur pattern disappears after about two months. The breast-feeding lasts about four months. After six months the young animal already reaches 60% of the weight of the old animal, after 18 months it is around 90%. The first antlers form after nine months at the earliest. Male young animals leave the mother after five to six months, sometimes later. The maximum life expectancy is 13 years.

Systematics

2 subspecies of this species are known:

  • M. r. reevesi ; Distribution: People's Republic of China
  • M. r. micrurus ; Distribution: Taiwan

The subspecies from China was introduced into England. The species name of the Chinese muntjak honors J. Reeves, a naturalist and employee of the British East India Company , who worked in China for 19 years.

Hazards and protective measures

Subspecies Muntiacus reevesi reevesi in the Pilsen Zoo , Czech Republic

Although the species is partially hunted and its habitat is shrinking, it is still relatively common and widespread. Therefore the IUCN lists the Chinese muntjac in the category “not endangered” ( least concern ). In the range of the Muntjakart several areas have been designated for protection.

Invasive species

After some specimens of the Chinese muntjac were imported and released for hunting in England, a population of an estimated 50,000 animals has developed in Great Britain due to the lack of natural enemies. However, since this is undesirable, these animals are considered an invasive population and EU regulation 1143/2014 prohibits the breeding and passing on of muntjacs and 22 other animal species .

swell

  • Wilhelm owner (ed.), Erna Mohr: Encyclopedia of the animals. Volume 2, Weltbild, Augsburg 1991, ISBN 978-3-89350-361-2 , pp. 482-483.
  • Encyclopedia of Mammals Publisher: Könneman 2003 Page: 504-519 ISBN 3-89731-928-4
  • The great world empire of the animals Publisher: Planet Media AG, Zug 1992 Page: 134,135 ISBN 3-8247-8614-1

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f S. Mattioli: Family Cervidae (Deer). In: Don E. Wilson and Russell A. Mittermeier (eds.): Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Volume 2: Hooved Mammals. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2011, ISBN 978-84-96553-77-4 , p. 409
  2. ↑ a b H. Leasor, PJ Chiang and KJ-C. Pei: Muntiacus reevesi. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. ( [1] ), last accessed on October 9, 2013
  3. ↑ Confusion about EU regulation - Leipzig Zoo stops plans for slaughtering muntjac. In: LVZ-Online. January 23, 2017. Retrieved January 23, 2017 .
  4. ↑ List of Invasive Alien Species of Union Concern (PDF) accessed on January 23, 2017

Web links

Commons : Chinese Muntjac ( Muntiacus reevesi )  - Collection of images, videos, and audio files