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, and South-east Asia.
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. They do not have horns or antlers, and their short, thin legs leave them lacking in agility.
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 (Malaykancil) of South-east Asia is the smallest, and one of the smallest ungulates at around 45 cm and 2 kilograms.
All four species depend for their survival on the retention of their fast-dwindling forest habitat and restriction of the bush meat trade.
DeerMouse (P. maniculatus) numbers fluctuate throughout the year, with a peak in late summer or fall and a low point in winter or spring.
The deermouse comprised 45 percent of the sample, followed by the brush mouse (P. boylii) at 20 percent and the pinon mouse (P. truei) at 10 percent.
The next time you see a mouse in the wild, or see a hawk swoop to gab a small four-legged meal, the chances are good you’re seeing one of the many hazards in a deermouse’s short life.
An average sized deermouse is 184 mm (7.2 in) in total length, and weighs 21 g (0.7 oz).
Deer mice construct spherical or cup-shaped nests of shredded plant fibers, fur, and feathers under logs, stumps, rocks in the abandoned dens of other mammals, but prefers natural cavities of tress.
A deermouse that is disturbed may stamp its front feet rapidly, and vibrate the tail to produce a drumming noise.
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