chevrotain n : very small hornless deer-like ruminant of tropical Asia and west Africa [syn: mouse deer]

English

Noun

1. Any of several small hornless ruminants, of the genera Hyemoschus and Tragulus, native to tropical rainforests

Synonyms

• mouse deer

"Kancil" redirects here. For the car, see Perodua Kancil

Not to be confused with Kanchil (Lesser Mouse Deer)

Not to be confused with deer mouse (Peromyscus)''

The four species of chevrotain, also known as mouse deer, make up the family Tragulidae. Chevrotains are small, secretive creatures, now found only in the tropical forests of Africa, India, Sri Lanka, and South-east Asia. They are the only living members of the infraorder Tragulina.

In Malay folklore, the mouse deer plays the same role as the wily fox of European fables. The Malaysian-made Perodua Kancil car is named after the chevrotain, as it is a very small vehicle. The Telugu name for the animal is "Jarini Pandi", which literally means "a deer and a mouse". The word 'chevrotain' itself is French, and can be translated as 'little goat'.

Biology

The family was widespread and successful from the Oligocene (34 million years ago) to the Miocene (about 5 million years ago), but has remained almost unchanged over that time and remains as an example of primitive ruminant form. Chevrotains have a four-chambered stomach to ferment tough plant foods, but the third chamber is poorly developed. Also like other ruminants, they lack upper incisors, and give birth to only a single young, rather than having pig-like litters. The dental formula of chevrotains is the same as that of some smaller deer:

In other respects, however, the chevrotains have primitive features, closer to non-ruminants such as pigs. They do not have horns or antlers, but both sexes possess enlarged upper canines http://www.ultimateungulate.com/Artiodactyla/Hyemoschus_aquaticus.html. The male's are prominent and sharp, projecting either side of the lower jaw. Chevrotains have short, thin legs which leave them lacking in agility but also helps to maintain a smaller profile which aids in running through the dense foliage of their environment. Other pig-like features include the presence of four toes on each foot, the absence of facial scent glands, premolars with sharp crowns, and the form of their sexual behaviour and copulation.

The largest member of the family is the Water Chevrotain of Africa, at about 80 cm in length and roughly 10 kilograms. It is regarded as the most pig-like and primitive of the four. The remaining three all prefer rocky forest habitats. The Lesser Mouse Deer of South-east Asia is the smallest of all ungulates, at a mature size as little as around 45 cm (18 inches) and 2 kg (4.4 lb).

Chevrotains are solitary animals, and usually interact only to mate. The young are weaned at three months of age, and reach sexual maturity at between five and ten months, depending on species. Parental care is relatively limited. Although they lack the types of scent glands found in most other ruminants, they do possess a chin gland for marking each other as mates or antagonists, and, in the case of the water chevrotain, anal and preputial glands for marking territory. Their territories are relatively small, on the order of 13-24 hectares, but neighbors generally ignore each other, rather than competing aggressively.

All four species depend for their survival on the retention of their fast-dwindling forest habitat and restriction of the bush meat trade.

Classification

• SUBORDER RUMINANTIA
  • Family Tragulidae
    • Genus Hyemoschus
      • Water Chevrotain, Hyemoschus aquaticus
    • Genus Moschiola
      • Indian Spotted Chevrotain, Moschiola meminna
      • Moschiola kathygre (recently described species)
    • Genus Tragulus
      • Java Mouse-deer, Tragulus javanicus
      • Lesser Mouse-deer or Kanchil, Tragulus kanchil
      • Greater Mouse-deer, Tragulus napu
      • Philippine Mouse-deer, Tragulus nigricans
      • Vietnam Mouse-deer, Tragulus versicolor
      • Williamson's Mouse-deer, Tragulus williamsoni
  • Family Moschidae: musk deer
  • Family Cervidae: deer
  • Family Giraffidae: Giraffe and Okapi
  • Family Antilocapridae: Pronghorn
  • Family Bovidae: cattle, goats, sheep, and antelope

Ancient Chevrotains

• Dorcabune
• Siamotragulus
• Yunnanotherium

References

Gallery