Difference between revisions of "Chevrotain" - New World Encyclopedia

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{{Taxobox
 
{{Taxobox
 
| name = Chevrotains
 
| name = Chevrotains
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Although one of the common names is mouse deer, they are not true deer in that they do not belong to the [[Cervidae]] family.  
 
Although one of the common names is mouse deer, they are not true deer in that they do not belong to the [[Cervidae]] family.  
  
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The almost exclusively herbivorous tragulids provide an important role in [[food chain]]s, with their small size making them an important prey for such carnivores as [[snake]]s,[[crocodile]]s, [[feline]]s, and birds of prey such as [[eagle]]s.
  
 
==Overview and description==
 
==Overview and description==
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As even-toed [[ungulate]]s (order Artiodactyla), tragulids (chevrotains or mouse deer) are characterized by a double-pulley astragalus (a bone in the ankle joint) and an even number of functional toes (four), with the main limb axis passing between the middle two digits. As [[ruminant]]s, tragulids digest their food in two steps, first by eating the raw material and regurgitating a semi-digested form known as cud, then by eating the cud, a process called ruminating. They have a four-chambered stomach to ferment tough plant foods, but the [[omasum|third chamber]] is poorly developed.  
 
As even-toed [[ungulate]]s (order Artiodactyla), tragulids (chevrotains or mouse deer) are characterized by a double-pulley astragalus (a bone in the ankle joint) and an even number of functional toes (four), with the main limb axis passing between the middle two digits. As [[ruminant]]s, tragulids digest their food in two steps, first by eating the raw material and regurgitating a semi-digested form known as cud, then by eating the cud, a process called ruminating. They have a four-chambered stomach to ferment tough plant foods, but the [[omasum|third chamber]] is poorly developed.  
  
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Tragulides are small ungulates, with the largest only about 14 inches (.36 meters) at the shoulder and weighing 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms). Depending on exact species, the Asian species weigh between 0.7 and 8.0 kilograms (1.5 and 18 lb), and the smallest species are also the smallest ungulates in the world (Nowak 1999). The African chevrotain is considerably larger at 7–16 kilograms (15–35 lb).<ref>UltimateUngulate: ''[http://www.ultimateungulate.com/Artiodactyla/Hyemoschus_aquaticus.html Hyemoschus aquaticus.]'' Accessed 12 October 2010.</ref>
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There are 10 living ([[Extant taxon|extant]]) species in three genera (Wilson and Reeder 2005; Groves and Meijaard 2005). The extant species are found in forests in [[South Asia|South]] and [[Southeast Asia]], with a [[Water Chevrotain|single species]] in the rainforests of [[Central Africa|Central]] and [[West Africa]] (Nowak 1999).
  
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Tragulids are small ungulates. Depending on exact species, the Asian species weigh between 0.7 and 8.0 kilograms (1.5 and 18 lb), and the smallest species are also the smallest ungulates in the world (Nowak 1999). The African chevrotain (''Hyemoschus aquaticus'') is considerably larger at 7–16 kilograms (15–35 lb) (Huffman 2011). Members of the family have legs that are short and thin, which leave them lacking in agility, but also helps to maintain a smaller profile to aid in running through the dense foliage of their environment. The slender limbs end in hoofs. They have four toes on each foot and tragulids sometimes are digitigrade (stands or walks on its digits, or toes). They lack foot scent glands.
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Their legs are short and thin, which leave them lacking in agility, but also helps to maintain a smaller profile to aid in running through the dense foliage of their environment. The slender limbs end in hoofs. They have four toes on each foot and sometimes are digitigrade (stands or walks on its digits, or toes). They lack foot scent glands.
 
  
 
All species in the family lack horns, but both genders have elongated [[canine teeth]]. These are especially prominent in males where they are large and curved, project out on either side of the lower jaw, and are used in fights (Nowak 1999). They lack upper incisors but have lower incisors. They have [[premolar]]s with sharp crowns, and lack facial [[scent gland]]s.  
 
All species in the family lack horns, but both genders have elongated [[canine teeth]]. These are especially prominent in males where they are large and curved, project out on either side of the lower jaw, and are used in fights (Nowak 1999). They lack upper incisors but have lower incisors. They have [[premolar]]s with sharp crowns, and lack facial [[scent gland]]s.  
  
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There are 10 living ([[Extant taxon|extant]]) species in three genera,<ref name=msw3>{{MSW3|id=14200123}}</ref><ref name=MoschiolaTaxonomy>Groves, C., and E. Meijaard (2005). ''Intraspecific variation in Moschiola, the Indian Chevrotain.'' The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. Supplement 12: 413-421</ref> but there are also several species only known from [[fossil]]s.<ref name=extinct>Farooq, U., Khan, M.A., Akhtar, M. and Khan, A.M. 2008. Lower dentition of Dorcatherium majus (Tragulidae, Mammalia) in the Lower and Middle Siwaliks (Miocene) of Pakistan. Tur. J. Zool., 32: 91-98. http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/zoology/issues/zoo-08-32-1/zoo-32-1-14-0612-5.pdf</ref>
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The word "chevrotain" is [[French language|French]], and can be translated as "little goat." The single African species is consistently known as chevrotain (Wilson and Reeder 2005; Nowak 1999; IUCN 2008). The names chevrotain and mouse deer have been used interchangeably among the Asian species (Nowak 1999; Duckworth et al. 2008; Duckworth and Timmons 2008a, 2008b), though recent authorities typically have preferred chevrotain for the species in the genus ''[[Moschiola]]'' and mouse-deer for the species in the genus ''[[Tragulus]]'' (Wilson and Reeder 2005). Consequently, all species with pale-spotted or -striped upperparts are known as chevrotains, and all the species without are known as mouse deer or mouse-deer.
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The extant species are found in forests in [[South Asia|South]] and [[Southeast Asia]], with a [[Water Chevrotain|single species]] in the rainforests of [[Central Africa|Central]] and [[West Africa]].<ref name=walker>Nowak, R. M. (eds) (1999). ''Walker's Mammals of the World.'' 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press.</ref>
 
  
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They are [[solitary]] or live in pairs, and feed almost exclusively on plant material.<ref name=walker/>
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==Behavior==
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[[Image:Rare mating photograph of 'Mouse Deers' at Singapore Zoo(23-10-07).JPG|thumb|left|Mating [[Tragulus|mouse-deer]]]]
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Tragulids are [[solitary]] or live in pairs (Nowak 1999). Though most species feed exclusively on plant material, the water chevrotain occasionally takes [[insect]]s and [[crab]]s, or scavenge meat and [[fish]] (Kingdon 1997).
  
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They give birth to only a single young. The young are [[weaning|weaned]] at three months of age, and reach sexual maturity 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 [[territorial marking|marking territory]]. Their territories are relatively small, on the order of 13-24 hectares, but neighbors generally ignore each other, rather than competing aggressively (Dubost 1984).
  
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Though most species feed exclusively on plant material, the [[Water Chevrotain]] occasionally takes insects and crabs, or [[scavenge]] meat and fish.<ref>[[Jonathan Kingdon|Kingdon, J.]] (1997). ''The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals.'' Academic Press. ISB 0-12-408355-2</ref> Like other ruminants, they lack upper [[incisor]]s, and give birth to only a single young.
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Some of the species show a remarkable affinity with water, often remaining submerged for prolonged periods to evade predators or other unwelcome intrusion. This has also lent support to the idea that [[whale]]s [[evolution|evolved]] from water-loving creatures that looked like small deer (Walker 2009).
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In other respects, however, they have primitive features, closer to non-ruminants such as pigs. All species in the family lack horns, but both genders have elongated [[canine teeth]]. These are especially prominent in males where they project out on either side of the lower jaw, and are used in fights.<ref name=walker/> Their legs are short and thin, which leave them lacking in agility, but also helps to maintain a smaller profile to aid 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 gland]]s, [[premolar]]s with sharp crowns, and the form of their sexual behaviour and copulation.<ref name=EoM>{{cite book |editor=Macdonald, D.|author= Dubost, G.|year=1984 |title= The Encyclopedia of Mammals|publisher= Facts on File|location=New York|pages= 516–517|isbn= 0-87196-871-1}}</ref>
 
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Nowak, R. M. 1999. ''Walker's Mammals of the World'', 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0801857899.
 
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, and the form of their sexual behaviour and copulation.<ref name=EoM>{{cite book |editor=Macdonald, D.|author= Dubost, G.|year=1984 |title= The Encyclopedia of Mammals|publisher= Facts on File|location=New York|pages= 516–517|isbn= 0-87196-871-1}}</ref>
 
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The similar musk deer of the Moschidae family and the mouse deer of the Tragulidae family do not have antlers.
 
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True deer (plural and singular) are the members of the Cervidae family of the order [[Ungulate#Artiodactyla: Even-toed ungulates|Artiodactyla]], or even-toed hoofed [[mammal]]s
 
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Other species are sometimes called deer, but are not true deer in that they do not belong to the Cervidae family. The similar musk deer of the Moschidae family and the mouse deer of the Tragulidae family do not have antlers.
 
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True deer (plural and singular) are the members of the Cervidae family of the order [[Ungulate#Artiodactyla: Even-toed ungulates|Artiodactyla]], or even-toed hoofed [[mammal]]s, with two large and two small hooves on each foot.
 
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The deer family, Cervidae, includes elk, moose, caribou or reindeer, muntjac, red deer, and white-tailed deer, among others. A characteristic of deer is that almost all species have antlers, a biological structure that is unique to deer. Other ruminants have horns. Antlers consist of bony outgrowths from the head with no covering of keratin as is found in true horns.  
 
  
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==Taxonomy==
 
The Tragulidae family was widespread and successful from the [[Oligocene]] (34 million years ago) through the [[Miocene]] (about 5 million years ago), and they retain a number of primitive traits that appears to have remained almost unchanged from that time.
 
The Tragulidae family was widespread and successful from the [[Oligocene]] (34 million years ago) through the [[Miocene]] (about 5 million years ago), and they retain a number of primitive traits that appears to have remained almost unchanged from that time.
  
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Traditionally, only four [[Extant taxon|extant]] species were recognized in the family Tragulidae (Nowak 1999). In 2004, ''T. nigricans'' and ''T. versicolor'' were [[Lumpers and splitters|split]] from ''T. napu'', and ''T. kanchil'' and ''T. williamsoni'' were split from ''T. javanicus'' (Meijaard and Groves 2004). In 2005, ''M. indica'' and ''M. kathygre'' were split from ''M. meminna'' (Groves and Meijaard 2005). With these changes, there are 10 extant species. There also are several species only known from [[fossil]]s (Farooq et al. 2008). 
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==Etymology==
 
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The word 'chevrotain' itself is [[French language|French]], and can be translated as 'little goat'.
 
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The single African species is consistently known as chevrotain.<ref name=msw3/><ref name=walker/><ref name=iucnHaquaticus>{{IUCN2008|assessors=IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group| year=2008| id=10341| title=Hyemoschus aquaticus| downloaded=12 October 2010}}.</ref> The names chevrotain and mouse-deer have been used interchangeably among the Asian species,<ref name=walker/><ref name=iucnMindica>{{IUCN2008|assessors=IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group| year=2008| id=136585| title=Moschiola indica| downloaded=12 October 2010}}.</ref><ref name=iucnMkathygre>{{IUCN2008|assessors=IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group| year=2008| id=136799| title=Moschiola kathygre| downloaded=12 October 2010}}.</ref><ref name=iucnMmeminna>{{IUCN2008|assessors=IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group| year=2008| id=41779| title=Moschiola meminna| downloaded=12 October 2010}}.</ref> though recent authorities typically have preferred chevrotain for the species in the genus ''[[Moschiola]]'' and mouse-deer for the species in the genus ''[[Tragulus]]''.<ref name=msw3/> Consequently, all species with pale-spotted or -striped upperparts are known as chevrotains, and all the species without are known as mouse-deer.
 
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The [[Telugu language|Telugu]] name for the [[Indian Spotted Chevrotain]] is "Jarini Pandi", which literally means "a deer and a pig".{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}} The [[Konkani language|Konkani]] name for it is "Barinka".
 
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The [[Sinhala Language|Sinhala]] name ''meeminna'' roughly translates to 'mouse-like deer'. This was used in the scientific name of one of the [[Sri Lanka]]n species, ''[[Sri Lankan Spotted Chevrotain|M. meminna]]''.
 
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==Biology==
 
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[[Image:Rare mating photograph of 'Mouse Deers' at Singapore Zoo(23-10-07).JPG|thumb|left|Mating [[Tragulus|mouse-deer]]]]
 
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They are solitary or live in pairs.<ref name=walker/> The young are [[weaning|weaned]] at three months of age, and reach sexual maturity 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 [[territorial marking|marking territory]]. Their territories are relatively small, on the order of 13-24 hectares, but neighbors generally ignore each other, rather than competing aggressively.<ref name=EoM/>
 
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Some of the species show a remarkable affinity with water, often remaining submerged for prolonged periods to evade predators or other unwelcome intrusion.  This has also lent support to the idea that [[Evolution of cetaceans|whales evolved]] from water-loving creatures that looked like small deer.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8137000/8137922.stm | work=BBC News | title=Aquatic deer and ancient whales | date=2009-07-07 | accessdate=2010-03-26}}</ref>
 
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{{clear}}
 
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==Taxonomy==
 
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Traditionally, only four [[Extant taxon|extant]] species were recognized in the family Tragulidae.<ref name=walker/> In 2004, ''T. nigricans'' and ''T. versicolor'' were [[Lumpers and splitters|split]] from ''T. napu'', and ''T. kanchil'' and ''T. williamsoni'' were split from ''T. javanicus''.<ref name=TragulusTaxonomy>Meijaard, I., and C. P. Groves (2004). ''A taxonomic revision of the Tragulus mouse-deer.'' Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 140: 63-102.</ref> In 2005, ''M. indica'' and ''M. kathygre'' were split from ''M. meminna''.<ref name=MoschiolaTaxonomy/> With these changes, there are 10 extant species:
 
  
 
[[Image:Moschiola indica in Singapore Zoo.jpg|thumb|Indian Spotted Chevrotain]]  
 
[[Image:Moschiola indica in Singapore Zoo.jpg|thumb|Indian Spotted Chevrotain]]  
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==Ancient chevrotains==
 
==Ancient chevrotains==
 
[[Image:Dorcatherium.jpg|thumb|Painting of ''Dorcatherium''.]]  
 
[[Image:Dorcatherium.jpg|thumb|Painting of ''Dorcatherium''.]]  
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There are 6 extinct chevrotains genera<ref name=extinct/> including:
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There are 6 [[extinction|extinct]] chevrotain genera (Farooq et al. 2008), including:
 
*Genus ''[[Dorcatherium]]''
 
*Genus ''[[Dorcatherium]]''
 
**''[[Dorcatherium minus]]'' from [[Pakistan]]
 
**''[[Dorcatherium minus]]'' from [[Pakistan]]
 
**''[[Dorcatherium majus]]'' from [[Pakistan]]
 
**''[[Dorcatherium majus]]'' from [[Pakistan]]
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**''[[Dorcatherium nani]]'' Kaup from [[Central Europe]]<ref>E. Thenius 1950. ''Über die Sichtung und Bearbeitung der jungtertiären Säugetierreste aus dem Hausruck und Kobernaußerwald (O.Ö.)'' in ''Verh. Geol. B.-A.'' 51/2, pp 56</ref>
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**''[[Dorcatherium nani]]'' Kaup from [[Central Europe]] (Thenius 1950).  
 
*Genus ''[[Dorcabune]]''
 
*Genus ''[[Dorcabune]]''
 
**''[[Dorcabune anthracotherioides]]'' from [[Pakistan]]
 
**''[[Dorcabune anthracotherioides]]'' from [[Pakistan]]
 
**''[[Dorcabune nagrii]]'' from [[Pakistan]]
 
**''[[Dorcabune nagrii]]'' from [[Pakistan]]
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*Genus ''[[Afrotragulus]]'' Sánchez, Quiralte, Morales and Pickford, 2010 <ref name="Sánchez2010">{{Cite journal|author=Israel M. Sánchez; Victoria Quiralte; Jorge Morales; Martin Pickford|year=2010|title=A new genus of tragulid ruminant from the early Miocene of Kenya|journal=Acta Palaeontologica Polonica|volume=55|issue=2|pages=177–187|url=http://www.app.pan.pl/archive/published/app55/app20090087.pdf | doi = 10.4202/app.2009.0087}}</ref>
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*Genus ''[[Afrotragulus]]'' Sánchez, Quiralte, Morales and Pickford, 2010 (Sanchez et al. 2010).  
 
** ''[[Afrotragulus moruorotensis]]'' (previously "Dorcatherium" moruorotensis Pickford, 2001) (early [[Miocene]]) from [[Moruorot]], [[Kenya]]
 
** ''[[Afrotragulus moruorotensis]]'' (previously "Dorcatherium" moruorotensis Pickford, 2001) (early [[Miocene]]) from [[Moruorot]], [[Kenya]]
 
** ''[[Afrotragulus parvus]]'' (previously "D." parvus Withworth 1958) (early [[Miocene]]) from [[Rusinga Island]], [[Kenya]]
 
** ''[[Afrotragulus parvus]]'' (previously "D." parvus Withworth 1958) (early [[Miocene]]) from [[Rusinga Island]], [[Kenya]]
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**''[[Siamotragulus haripounchai]]'' Mein and Ginsburg, 1997 ([[Miocene]]) from [[Lamphun Province|Lamphun]], [[Thailand]]
 
**''[[Siamotragulus haripounchai]]'' Mein and Ginsburg, 1997 ([[Miocene]]) from [[Lamphun Province|Lamphun]], [[Thailand]]
 
*Genus ''[[Yunnanotherium]]''
 
*Genus ''[[Yunnanotherium]]''
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*Genus ''[[Archaeotragulus]]''<ref>Métais, G., Chaimanee, Y., Jaeger, J.-J. & Ducrocq S. 2001. New remains of primitive ruminants from Thailand: evidence of the early evolution of the Ruminantia in Asia. Zoologica Scripta. 30, 231-248.  http://www.thaiscience.info/Article%20for%20ThaiScience/Article/5/Ts-5%20new%20remains%20of%20primitive%20ruminants%20from%20thailand%20evidence%20of%20the%20early%20evolution%20of%20the%20ruminantia%20in%20asia.pdf</ref>
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*Genus ''[[Archaeotragulus]]'' (Métais et al. 2001).  
 
**''[[Archaeotragulus krabiensis]]'' Metais, Chaimanee, Jaeger and Ducrocq, 2001 (late [[Eocene]]) from [[Krabi Province|Krabi]], [[Thailand]]  
 
**''[[Archaeotragulus krabiensis]]'' Metais, Chaimanee, Jaeger and Ducrocq, 2001 (late [[Eocene]]) from [[Krabi Province|Krabi]], [[Thailand]]  
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<br>and may include<ref>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com.vn/books?id=LD1nDlzXYicC&pg=PA347&lpg=PA347&dq=Krabitherium&source=bl&ots=fyJgWhXyc-&sig=50YUsWHSv77nucYQ1h77STR7R-E&hl=vi&sa=X&ei=FR58T-eIFoGiiAeym4CeCQ&ved=0CFoQ6AEwBDgK#v=onepage&q=Krabitherium&f=false|title=Mammalogy|author=Terry A. Vaughan,James M. Ryan,Nicholas J. Czaplewski|edition=5th|isbn=9780-7637-6299-5|accessdate=April 4, 2012}}</ref><ref>http://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.4202/app.2009.0087</ref>
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<br>and may include (Vaughan et al. 2011; Sanchez et al. 2009):
 +
 
 
*Genus ''[[Krabitherium]]''
 
*Genus ''[[Krabitherium]]''
−
**''[[Krabitherium waileki]]'' Metais, Chaimanee, Jaeger and Ducrocq, 2007 (late [[Eocene]]) from [[Krabi Province|Krabi]], [[Thailand]]<ref>http://paleodb.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?a=basicTaxonInfo&taxon_no=116983</ref>
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**''[[Krabitherium waileki]]'' Metais, Chaimanee, Jaeger and Ducrocq, 2007 (late [[Eocene]]) from [[Krabi Province|Krabi]], [[Thailand]] (Métais et al. 2007).  
  
 
The [[Hypertragulidae]] were closely related to the Tragulidae.
 
The [[Hypertragulidae]] were closely related to the Tragulidae.
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
−
{{Reflist}}
+
* Dubost, G. 1984. Pages 516-517 in D. Macdonald, ed., ''The Encyclopedia of Mammals''. New York: Facts on File. ISBN 0871968711.
 +
 
 +
* Duckworth, J. W., Hem Sagar Baral, and R. J. Timins. 2008. [http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/136585/0 ''Moschiola indica'']. In ''IUCN Red List of Threatened Species'' Version 2012.1. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
 +
 
 +
* Duckworth, J. W., and R. J. Timins. 2008a. [http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/136799/0 ''Moschiola kathygre'']. In ''IUCN Red List of Threatened Species'' Version 2012.1. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
 +
 
 +
* Duckworth, J. W., and R. J. Timins. 2008b. [http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/41779/0 ''Moschiola meminna'']. In ''IUCN Red List of Threatened Species'' Version 2012.1. Retrieved July 17, 2012
 +
 
 +
* Groves, C., and E. Meijaard. 2005. Intraspecific variation in ''Moschiola'', the Indian chevrotain. ''The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology'' Supplement 12: 413-421.
 +
 
 +
* Farooq, U., M. A. Khan, M. Akhtar, and A. M. Khan. 2008. [http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/zoology/issues/zoo-08-32-1/zoo-32-1-14-0612-5.pdf Lower dentition of ''Dorcatherium majus'' (Tragulidae, Mammalia) in the Lower and Middle Siwaliks (Miocene) of Pakistan]. ''Tur. J. Zool.'' 32: 91-98. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
 +
 
 +
* Huffman, B. 2011. [http://www.ultimateungulate.com/Artiodactyla/Hyemoschus_aquaticus.html ''Hyemoschus aquaticus'', water chevrotain]. ''Ultimate Ungulate''. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
 +
 
 +
* IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group (IUCN). 2008. [http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/10341/0 ''Hyemoschus aquaticus'']. In ''IUCN Red List of Threatened Species'' Version 2012.1. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
 +
 
 +
* Kingdon, J. 1997. ''The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals''. Academic Press. ISBN 0124083552.
 +
 
 +
* Meijaard, I., and C. P. Groves. 2004. A taxonomic revision of the Tragulus mouse-deer. ''Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society'' 140: 63-102.
 +
 
 +
* Métais, G., Y. Chaimanee, J.-J. Jaeger, and S. Ducrocq. 2001. [http://www.thaiscience.info/Article%20for%20ThaiScience/Article/5/Ts-5%20new%20remains%20of%20primitive%20ruminants%20from%20thailand%20evidence%20of%20the%20early%20evolution%20of%20the%20ruminantia%20in%20asia.pdf New remains of primitive ruminants from Thailand: Evidence of the early evolution of the Ruminantia in Asia]. ''Zoologica Scripta.'' 30: 231-248. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
 +
 
 +
* Métais, G. Y. Chaimanee, J.-J. Jaeger, and S. Ducrocq. 2007. [http://paleodb.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?a=basicTaxonInfo&taxon_no=116983 Eocene bunoselenodont Artiodactyla from southern Thailand and the early evolution of Ruminantia in South Asia]. ''Naturwissenschaften'' 94(6):493-498. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
 +
 
 +
* Nowak, R. M. 1999. ''Walker's Mammals of the World'', 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0801857899.
 +
 
 +
* Sánchez, I. M., V. Quiralte, J. Morales, and M. Pickford. 2010. [http://www.app.pan.pl/archive/published/app55/app20090087.pdf A new genus of tragulid ruminant from the early Miocene of Kenya]. ''Acta Palaeontologica Polonica'' 55(2): 177–187. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
 +
 
 +
* Thenius, E. 1950. Über die Sichtung und Bearbeitung der jungtertiären Säugetierreste aus dem Hausruck und Kobernaußerwald (O.Ö.). ''Verh. Geol. B.-A.'' 51/2.
 +
 
 +
* Vaughan, T. A. , J. M. Ryan, and N. J. Czaplewski. 2011. ''Mammalogy'', 5th edition. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett. ISBN 9780763762995.
 +
 
 +
* Walker, M. 2009. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8137000/8137922.stm Aquatic deer and ancient whales]. ''BBC News'' July 7, 2009. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
 +
 
 +
* Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder, eds. 2005. ''Mammal Species of the World'', 3rd ed. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 9780801882210.
 +
 
  
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{{Artiodactyla|R.}}
 
  
 
[[Category:Life sciences]]
 
[[Category:Life sciences]]

Latest revision as of 17:29, 29 December 2014

Chevrotains
Fossil range: Early Miocene–Recent
Tragulus kanchil
Tragulus kanchil
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Suborder: Ruminantia
Family: Tragulidae
Milne-Edwards, 1864
Genera
  • Hyemoschus
  • Moschiola
  • Tragulus

Chevrotain and mouse deer are common names for any of the small ruminant mammals comprising the family Tragulidae of the suborder Ruminantia and order Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates). The smallest of the hoofed mammals (standing about a foot high at shoulder), they are characterized by slender legs, delicately built hoofs, a tapered snout, three fully developed stomach chambers (the fourth, the omasum, is poorly developed), and a primarily solitary, herbivorous, nocturnal behavior; they lack antlers and horns, but males have small, curved, downward protruding, tusklike upper canine teeth. Chevrotains are found in parts of southeastern Asia and Africa.

Although one of the common names is mouse deer, they are not true deer in that they do not belong to the Cervidae family.

The almost exclusively herbivorous tragulids provide an important role in food chains, with their small size making them an important prey for such carnivores as snakes,crocodiles, felines, and birds of prey such as eagles.

Overview and description

As even-toed ungulates (order Artiodactyla), tragulids (chevrotains or mouse deer) are characterized by a double-pulley astragalus (a bone in the ankle joint) and an even number of functional toes (four), with the main limb axis passing between the middle two digits. As ruminants, tragulids digest their food in two steps, first by eating the raw material and regurgitating a semi-digested form known as cud, then by eating the cud, a process called ruminating. They have a four-chambered stomach to ferment tough plant foods, but the third chamber is poorly developed.

There are 10 living (extant) species in three genera (Wilson and Reeder 2005; Groves and Meijaard 2005). The extant species are found in forests in South and Southeast Asia, with a single species in the rainforests of Central and West Africa (Nowak 1999).

Tragulids are small ungulates. Depending on exact species, the Asian species weigh between 0.7 and 8.0 kilograms (1.5 and 18 lb), and the smallest species are also the smallest ungulates in the world (Nowak 1999). The African chevrotain (Hyemoschus aquaticus) is considerably larger at 7–16 kilograms (15–35 lb) (Huffman 2011). Members of the family have legs that are short and thin, which leave them lacking in agility, but also helps to maintain a smaller profile to aid in running through the dense foliage of their environment. The slender limbs end in hoofs. They have four toes on each foot and tragulids sometimes are digitigrade (stands or walks on its digits, or toes). They lack foot scent glands.

All species in the family lack horns, but both genders have elongated canine teeth. These are especially prominent in males where they are large and curved, project out on either side of the lower jaw, and are used in fights (Nowak 1999). They lack upper incisors but have lower incisors. They have premolars with sharp crowns, and lack facial scent glands.

The word "chevrotain" is French, and can be translated as "little goat." The single African species is consistently known as chevrotain (Wilson and Reeder 2005; Nowak 1999; IUCN 2008). The names chevrotain and mouse deer have been used interchangeably among the Asian species (Nowak 1999; Duckworth et al. 2008; Duckworth and Timmons 2008a, 2008b), though recent authorities typically have preferred chevrotain for the species in the genus Moschiola and mouse-deer for the species in the genus Tragulus (Wilson and Reeder 2005). Consequently, all species with pale-spotted or -striped upperparts are known as chevrotains, and all the species without are known as mouse deer or mouse-deer.

Behavior

Mating mouse-deer

Tragulids are solitary or live in pairs (Nowak 1999). Though most species feed exclusively on plant material, the water chevrotain occasionally takes insects and crabs, or scavenge meat and fish (Kingdon 1997).

They give birth to only a single young. The young are weaned at three months of age, and reach sexual maturity 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 (Dubost 1984).

Some of the species show a remarkable affinity with water, often remaining submerged for prolonged periods to evade predators or other unwelcome intrusion. This has also lent support to the idea that whales evolved from water-loving creatures that looked like small deer (Walker 2009).

Taxonomy

The Tragulidae family was widespread and successful from the Oligocene (34 million years ago) through the Miocene (about 5 million years ago), and they retain a number of primitive traits that appears to have remained almost unchanged from that time.

Traditionally, only four extant species were recognized in the family Tragulidae (Nowak 1999). In 2004, T. nigricans and T. versicolor were split from T. napu, and T. kanchil and T. williamsoni were split from T. javanicus (Meijaard and Groves 2004). In 2005, M. indica and M. kathygre were split from M. meminna (Groves and Meijaard 2005). With these changes, there are 10 extant species. There also are several species only known from fossils (Farooq et al. 2008).

Indian Spotted Chevrotain
Tragulus sp.
  • SUBORDER RUMINANTIA
    • Family Tragulidae
      • Genus Hyemoschus
        • Water Chevrotain, Hyemoschus aquaticus
      • Genus Moschiola
        • Indian Spotted Chevrotain, Moschiola indica
        • Sri Lankan Spotted Chevrotain, Moschiola meminna
        • Yellow-striped Chevrotain, Moschiola kathygre
      • 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

Painting of Dorcatherium.

There are 6 extinct chevrotain genera (Farooq et al. 2008), including:

  • Genus Dorcatherium
    • Dorcatherium minus from Pakistan
    • Dorcatherium majus from Pakistan
    • Dorcatherium nani Kaup from Central Europe (Thenius 1950).
  • Genus Dorcabune
  • Genus Afrotragulus Sánchez, Quiralte, Morales and Pickford, 2010 (Sanchez et al. 2010).
    • Afrotragulus moruorotensis (previously "Dorcatherium" moruorotensis Pickford, 2001) (early Miocene) from Moruorot, Kenya
    • Afrotragulus parvus (previously "D." parvus Withworth 1958) (early Miocene) from Rusinga Island, Kenya
  • Genus Siamotragulus
    • Siamotragulus sanyathanai Thomas, Ginsburg, Hintong and Suteethorn, 1990 (middle Miocene) from Lampang, Thailand
    • Siamotragulus haripounchai Mein and Ginsburg, 1997 (Miocene) from Lamphun, Thailand
  • Genus Yunnanotherium
  • Genus Archaeotragulus (Métais et al. 2001).
    • Archaeotragulus krabiensis Metais, Chaimanee, Jaeger and Ducrocq, 2001 (late Eocene) from Krabi, Thailand


and may include (Vaughan et al. 2011; Sanchez et al. 2009):

  • Genus Krabitherium
    • Krabitherium waileki Metais, Chaimanee, Jaeger and Ducrocq, 2007 (late Eocene) from Krabi, Thailand (Métais et al. 2007).

The Hypertragulidae were closely related to the Tragulidae.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Dubost, G. 1984. Pages 516-517 in D. Macdonald, ed., The Encyclopedia of Mammals. New York: Facts on File. ISBN 0871968711.
  • Duckworth, J. W., Hem Sagar Baral, and R. J. Timins. 2008. Moschiola indica. In IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Version 2012.1. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
  • Duckworth, J. W., and R. J. Timins. 2008a. Moschiola kathygre. In IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Version 2012.1. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
  • Duckworth, J. W., and R. J. Timins. 2008b. Moschiola meminna. In IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Version 2012.1. Retrieved July 17, 2012
  • Groves, C., and E. Meijaard. 2005. Intraspecific variation in Moschiola, the Indian chevrotain. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplement 12: 413-421.
  • IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group (IUCN). 2008. Hyemoschus aquaticus. In IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Version 2012.1. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
  • Kingdon, J. 1997. The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals. Academic Press. ISBN 0124083552.
  • Meijaard, I., and C. P. Groves. 2004. A taxonomic revision of the Tragulus mouse-deer. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 140: 63-102.
  • Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0801857899.
  • Thenius, E. 1950. Über die Sichtung und Bearbeitung der jungtertiären Säugetierreste aus dem Hausruck und Kobernaußerwald (O.Ö.). Verh. Geol. B.-A. 51/2.
  • Vaughan, T. A. , J. M. Ryan, and N. J. Czaplewski. 2011. Mammalogy, 5th edition. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett. ISBN 9780763762995.
  • Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder, eds. 2005. Mammal Species of the World, 3rd ed. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 9780801882210.


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