Muntjacs
| Muntjacs | ||||||||||||
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North Indian muntjac ( Muntiacus vaginalis ) |
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| Muntiacus | ||||||||||||
| Rafinesque , 1815 |
The Muntjaks ( Muntiacus ) are a genus of deer (Cervidae) that originally lived in Asia . Together with the crested deer , they form the family group of the Muntjak deer (Muntiacini). Several species of this subfamily have only been discovered and scientifically described in the last few decades.
features
general characteristics
Muntjacs are relatively small deer. They are characterized by simple antlers that have only one or two ends per pole and are no longer than 15 centimeters. As with almost all deer, only males have antlers, the bony base, called "rose bushes", is elongated. Like the musk deer and water deer have extended males in the upper jaw to tusks canines that protrude from the mouth. The color of the fur varies depending on the species from yellowish to gray-brown to dark brown, sometimes there is a light spot pattern. The head-trunk length of the muntjaks varies from 64 to 135 centimeters, with a tail 6 to 24 centimeters in addition. The weight is between 14 and 33 kilograms, giant muntjaks can reach up to 50 kilograms.
Muntjaks are characterized by their elongated canines, which are slightly curved outwards. They are used as an attack weapon, while the males defend themselves with their antlers. Typical of them barking shock sounds , in the English language they are therefore as a " Barking Deer designated (" barking deer ")". Startled muntjaks emit a loud, staccato-shaped bark that can be heard occasionally for an hour or more. This widely audible sound serves as a warning to conspecifics. However, it also signals to a potential predator that it has discovered it and that further approach is pointless.
Skull features
| 0 | · | 1 | · | 3 | · | 3 | = 34 |
| 3 | · | 1 | · | 3 | · | 3 |
All muntjac have a maxillary per half canine (canine), three Vorbackenzähne (Praemolares) and three molars (molars), incisors are missing. In the lower jaw, it has three additional incisors in each half. The animals have a total of 34 teeth.
distribution and habitat
The actual distribution area of the muntjaks includes southern and eastern Asia . From India they are spread eastward to China and Vietnam and are also found on numerous islands, for example Java , Borneo and Taiwan . Here they hide in the thick undergrowth of the woods. Fossil finds show that muntjacs were also common in Europe during the Tertiary period . Their height distribution ranges from sea level to altitudes of 1,525 meters.
Way of life
The territorial behavior varies depending on the species and partly depending on the habitat also within a species. Especially in the species that are native to densely forested regions, male muntjacs maintain territories which they defend fiercely against other males. If two males meet, it comes to a fight, whereby less the stubby antlers than the sharp canine teeth are used as weapons. The muntjacs found in more open habitats show a more social way of life, but do not form a pack here either. Here, males mainly fight a ranking. These different behavior patterns, which are influenced by the respective habitat, can also be observed in other deer species.
Muntjacs can be both diurnal and nocturnal, but many species are crepuscular. They are mostly herbivores and mainly eat grass, leaves, buds and windfalls. However, at times and in some areas they can also eat omnivorous, according to Fred Kurt they eat not only vegetable food but also carrion, occasionally plunder bird nests and prey on smaller warm-blooded animals.
The mating season of the muntjaks, which live in the northern part of the distribution area, falls mainly in the period from December to January. After a gestation period of around seven months, the female usually gives birth to a single young, which hides in the thick undergrowth until it can follow its mother. The setting time then usually falls in the months of June and July. The muntjacs that live in the tropical regions of the range have no specific breeding season. Mating and giving birth can occur all year round.
threat
Presumably, many species are threatened in their population due to the destruction of their habitat. For most species, however, there is too little data to be able to give an exact degree of endangerment. In addition to humans, tigers, red dogs , crocodiles and giant snakes are among their main enemies. Muntjaks are still mainly offered as a delicacy in Asia . Their meat is considered tender and tasty.
The species
It is noteworthy that five types, namely the giant muntjac, the Gongshan muntjac, the Annam muntjac, the Burma muntjac and the Vietnam muntjac, were only described in the 1990s, at a time when the new, larger ones were discovered Mammal species was considered very unlikely. Today there are 16 different types, which can be divided into four closely related groups:
The Muntiacus muntjak group:
- The central Indian muntjac ( Muntiacus aureus ( Hamilton Smith , 1826)) occurs in north-western and central India and is slightly smaller than the other representatives of the subcontinent.
- The Malabar muntjak ( Muntiacus malabaricus Lydekker , 1915) is common in Sri Lanka and the Western Ghats : It has very short antlers.
- The Indian muntjak ( Muntiacus muntjak ( Zimmermann , 1780)) has the largest distribution area of all muntjaks, which includes the mainland of Southeast Asia as well as the islands of Sumatra , Java , Borneo and Bali . This species was introduced by humans to the Andamans , Lombok , Texas and England . The British Deer Society found that muntjacs have reproduced since 2000. They will likely be the largest population in some time. You can z. B. in Thedford Forest Park in Suffolk . The Sumatran muntjac ( Muntiacus muntjak montanus ) is often described as a subspecies of the Indian muntjac. However, some authors treat it as a separate species. It was classified in 1914, but not seen for a long time from 1930 onwards. Only in 2008 was due to several photos from 2002, u. a. of a pregnant female, the survival of the species has been proven.
- The black-footed muntjac or Hainan muntjac ( Muntiacus nigripes G. M. Allen , 1930) is widespread on the island of Hainan as well as on the adjacent Chinese mainland as far as northern Vietnam . The mainland and island shapes differ slightly from each other.
- The North Indian muntjac ( Muntiacus vaginalis ( Boddaert , 1785)) lives in large parts of eastern India, in Nepal and in western Myanmar .
The Muntiacus crinifrons group:
- The black muntjac ( Muntiacus crinifrons ( Sclater , 1885)) was once widespread in southeast China. Today the species still lives in Guangdong , Guangxi and Yunnan . The IUCN lists the species as endangered ( vulnerable ) and estimates the total population at less than 5000 animals. Habitat destruction and hunting are responsible for the population decline. In 1998 the black muntjac was also discovered in northern Myanmar - so far, however, one can only speculate about its frequency in this region.
- The Tenasserim muntjac ( Muntiacus feae ( Thomas & Doria , 1889)), named after the Tenasserim province , lives in the Chinese province of Yunnan, in the eastern parts of Myanmar and the neighboring regions of Thailand .
- The Gongshan muntjac ( Muntiacus gongshanensis Ma , 1990) is a little-known species from the Chinese province of Yunnan and the neighboring regions of Myanmar . It was only described in 1990.
The Muntiacus reevesi group:
- The Borneo muntjac ( Muntiacus atherodes Groves & Grubb , 1982) has only 4 centimeters long antler rods, which, in contrast to those of the other species, are not shed. It is endemic to Borneo .
- Sumatran muntjac ( Muntiacus montanus Robinson & Kloss , 1918) is very small and restricted to the highlands of Sumatra.
- The Chinese muntjac ( Muntiacus reevesi ( Ogilby , 1839)) lives in southern China and Taiwan . On the Chinese mainland, its numbers are estimated at 650,000 animals and are considered secure. This species was introduced in England and Wales , where it is now quite common; In the European Union, the Chinese muntjac is considered an invasive species .
An as yet unnamed group consisting of:
- The Vietnam muntjac ( Muntiacus puhoatensis Trai , 1997) was only discovered in Vietnam in 1997 . He should only weigh 8 to 15 kilograms.
- The Burmese muntjac ( Muntiacus putaoensis Amato, Egan & Rabinowitz , 1999) was discovered in 1997 in Myanmar , where it occurs along the Mai Hka River. It is named after the nearby town of Putao . With an average of 12 kilograms, it is the smallest representative of the muntjaks. In 2002 it was proven that the still largely unknown species also occurs in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh .
- The Roosevelt muntjac ( Muntiacus rooseveltorum Osgood , 1932) is native to Laos and possibly neighboring regions of China and Vietnam. It is often considered a subspecies of the tenasserim muntjac.
- The Annam muntjac ( Muntiacus truongsonensis ( Giao, Tuoc, Dung, Wikramanayake, Amato, Arctander & Mackinnon , 1997)) was presented in 1997 on the basis of antler and skull finds and confirmed as independent by means of DNA analyzes .
- The largest type of muntjac is the giant muntjac ( Muntiacus vuquangensis ( Do Tuoc, Vu Van Dung, Dawson, Arctander & Mackinnon , 1994)). The body height is 70 centimeters and the weight up to 50 kilograms. The species was described in 1994 after its discovery in the Vu Quang National Park in central Vietnam. The same national park had previously become famous for the discovery of the Saola that lived there. In 1996 further representatives of the species were found in eastern Laos . In the past it was placed in its own genus, Megamuntiacus , today it is mostly classified among the Muntjaks.
supporting documents
- ↑ a b Rue, p. 35
- ^ John MacKinnon: Genus Muntiacus. In: Andrew T. Smith , Yan Xie: A Guide to the Mammals of China. Princeton University Press, 2008; P. 464 ff. ISBN 978-0-691-09984-2 .
- ↑ a b c Rue, p. 36
- ^ S. Mattioli: Family Cervidae (Deer). In: Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier (eds.): Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Volume 2: Hooved Mammals. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2011, pp. 350–443 (pp. 409–412)
- ↑ Ajaya Nagarkoti and Tej Thapa example: Food habits of Barking deer (Muntiacus muntjac) in the Middle Hills of Nepal. Hystrix Italian Journal of Mammalogy (ns) 18 (1), 2007, pp. 77-82
- ↑ Fred Kurt in Bernhard Grzimek (Ed.): Grzimeks Enzyklopädie, Säugetiere. Volume 5, Kindler Verlag, 1988, p. 138
- ↑ Colin Groves and Peter Grubb: Ungulate Taxonomy. Johns Hopkins University Press, 2011, pp. 1–317 (SS 71–107)
- ↑ List of Invasive Alien Species of Union Concern (PDF) accessed on July 15, 2016
literature
- Colin Groves and Peter Grubb: Ungulate Taxonomy. Johns Hopkins University Press, 2011, pp. 1–317 (SS 71–107)
- Don E. Wilson, DeeAnn M. Reeder (Eds.): Mammal Species of the World . 3rd edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 .
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World . The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .
- Leonard Lee Rue III: The Encyclopedia of Deer . Voyageur Press, Stillwater 2003, ISBN 0-89658-590-5
