Black Musk-deer

About this species

Size

Length 70–100cm

Weight

10–15kg

Range

Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar and Nepal

Gestation

About 6 months

The black or dusky musk deer is a small deer with thick brown hair, large well-developed ears and eyes, and spotting that varies in vibrancy. Males and females are similar in size, 70–100 cm long and weighing 10–15 kg. It is found in Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar and Nepal (Wikipedia, general species account).

It is nocturnal, with most activity at night, dawn and dusk, and very vigilant. It is highly solitary and polygynous; breeding is typically in November and December, with a male marking his territory with scent. Gestation is about six months and young, weighing about 500 g and spotted, are born in June or July. Up to 43% of the diet of some lynx may be black musk deer, and humans take more of them than all natural predators combined. The account gives no diet or India detail (Wikipedia, general species account).

Description: Wildlife of India guide, Wildlife of Everywhere (wildlifeofeverywhere.com); general species information paraphrased from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)