Indian Muntjac
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The Common muntjac, also called Indian muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak) is the most numerous muntjac deer species. It has soft, short, brownish or greyish hair, sometimes with creamy markings. This species is omnivorous, feeding on fruits, shoots, seeds, birds' eggs as well as small animals and even carrion. It gives calls similar to barking, usually on sensing a predator (hence the common name for all muntjacs of barking deer).
The male Indian muntjac has small antlers which attain 15 cm in length and have only 1 branch. They grow annually from a bony stalk on the head. Males are extremely territorial and can be fierce for their size. They will fight each other for territory using their antlers or their (more dangerous) tusk-like upper canine teeth, and can defend themselves against predators such as dogs.
Subspecies
There are 15 subspecies:- M. m. annamensis, Indochina
- M. m. aureus, peninsular India
- M. m. bancanus, Billiton and Banka Islands
- M. m. curvostylis, Thailand
- M. m. grandicornis, Burmese Muntjac, Myanmar
- M. m. malabaricus, South India and Sri Lanka
- M. m. montanus, Mountain Muntjac, Sumatra
- M. m. muntjak, Javan Muntjac, Java and south Sumatra
- M. m. nainggolani, Bali and Lombok Islands
- M. m. nigripes, Black-footed or Black-legged Muntjac, Vietnam and Hainan Island
- M. m. peninsulae, Malaysia
- M. m. pleicharicus, South Borneo
- M. m. robinsoni, Bintan Island and Linga Archipelago
- M. m. rubidus, North Borneo
- M. m. vaginalis, Myanmar to southwest China
References
- Deer Specialist Group (1996). [Muntiacus muntjak]. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006.
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