With a rotund body , spindly branch , and long fang , this unmated tool gives the platypus a run for its money . Also known as the mouse cervid , chevrotains are diffident and inscrutable , and not much is get it on about them . But here ’s what wedoknow .
1. Chevrotains are not mice, nor are they deer.
At first glance , these animals look like a uncanny mash - up of a cervid , a mouse , and a copper . Mouse deer share a suborder with deer ( Ruminantia ) but are not consider “ true deer . ” They have their own family , Tragulidae .
2. Chevrotain species vary by weight.
These creatures are right smart smaller than any deer . Depending on the species , a mouse deer can weigh anywhere from 4 to 33 pounds . The smallest species is the lesser Malay , while the largest is the water mouse deer . No species gets any larger than a small dog .
3. There are a lot of different kinds of chevrotains.
This tiny animal comes in many pas seul . The family has been classified into two genera : rightful chevrotains ( Hyemoschus ) and the mouse deer ( Tragulus ) . The spotted mouse cervid are still very mysterious , so scientists have localize them in their own genus calledMoschiola . Despite being categorized in different genus , they all share a standardised look .
4. Chevrotain fangs are fiercer than Dracula’s.
Open up a chevrotain ’s backtalk and you ’ll bump two long fangs . They ’re especially elongated in males , which practice the needle - like dogtooth to stab each other . Thanks to an extra thick pelage and robustmusclesaround the neck and tail end , these adorable fighters are protect from bites during combat .
5. Some consider the chevrotain a living fossil.
chevrotain are the most primitive ofruminants . Like deer and similar hoof it animate being , they have even - toed hooves and a multi - chambered stomach . But unlike deer , mouse deer have a three - chamber stomach instead of four , and they lack motor horn or antler . They have n’t changed or develop much during their clip on Earth . Scientists see them as an evolutionary link between ruminants and non - ruminant .
6. Taking a dip is the water chevrotain’s best defense.
The water mouse deer is know for its power to plunk underwater when it senses a predator nearby . The miniature bather scrunch up and walk on the bottom of rivers and streams to prevent being picked up by the current . If there are any reed or plant around , the animals will grab them to continue tethered . mouse deer are able-bodied to have their breathing place for about four minutes .
While hiding from athirst vulture , the piss chevrotain can reemerge to get some air before diving back down . Still , the animal fatigue easily , and can only float for little periods of time .
7. Childbirth is an expedited experience for chevrotains.
After catch pregnant , a female mouse deer will carry the progeny for five to nine months , look on the specie . The infant can usually stand on its own within one minute of being born . mother will visit their young periodically for feeding and brook onthree legswhile breast feeding .
Chevrotains are known for their ability to be almost unceasingly pregnant — majuscule and lesser Malay mouse cervid can pair again only a few hr after give nativity .
8. Chevrotains are shy wallflowers.
Due to their small size , mouse deer are preyed upon by many different animate being . Lacking antler or horn for protection , the tiny beast are forced to lead secluded spirit . Some metal money arenocturnaland very rarely take care . mouse deer are very shy and often graze alone , only come together to couple . They convey with a series of odor and noise ; this faint behavior makes it difficult for scientists to study them .
9. Chevrotain hooves make a lot of noise.
Although normally peaceful , a male will angrily beat his hoof when agitated — they can stomp aroundfourtoseventimes a second . This “ drumfish whorl ” technique wards off predators andwarns otherchevrotains in the area that there ’s danger .
Additional sources:“Water Chevrotain,“Amazing Animals of the World ; " Chevrotains ( Tragulidae),“Grzimek ’s Animal Life Encyclopedia;Mammals IV , Gale Virtual Reference Library
