Siberian Musk-deer

About this species

Diet

Primarily lichens

Habitat

Mountain forest and southern Siberian taiga

Range

Northeast Asia, including northern central Asia

The Siberian musk deer is a small, compact forest ungulate rather than a true deer of the family Cervidae. It lacks antlers, and the males instead have conspicuous elongated upper canine teeth. Its small body allows it to move quickly and use narrow openings among rocks when escaping predators. The limited species account opened for this entry does not give dependable measurements or a detailed coat description, so neither is supplied. It identifies the nominate form, Moschus moschiferus moschiferus, as the form occurring in northern central Asia. (Wikipedia, general species account)

The species inhabits mountain forests of Northeast Asia and is especially associated with the taiga of southern Siberia; its range also includes parts of central Asia, northern China, Manchuria, and Korea. Despite its prominent canine teeth, it is herbivorous, and the consulted species account identifies lichens as its principal food. No central Asia-specific study or protected-area account was located during this batch, so the habitat and feeding statements are presented as general information and no viewing locality, breeding interval, or local movement pattern is inferred. (Wikipedia, general species account)

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