What Is a Muntjac Deer?

Muntjac deer are small animals in the subfamily cervinae, which also includes elk and tufted deer. Eleven species of muntjac live worldwide including the giant, Indian, Fea's and Bornean yellow muntjacs. Male muntjacs, as well as having antlers, also have oversized upper canine teeth that protrude from the mouth like small tusks.

  1. Description

    • Muntjac deer range in size from the giant muntjac, which reaches weights of 88 lbs., to the leaf deer, which weighs just 25 lbs. when fully grown. Male muntjacs are often larger than females and have more prominent antlers. The antlers, unlike in most deer, start around the forehead rather than at the top of the skull. Depending on the species, muntjacs can range from yellowish to almost black, with variations designed to aid camouflage in their home range.

    Habitat and Range

    • Asia is the home for all species of muntjac, from India to China and parts of southeast Asia such as Vietnam and Thailand. The small deer tend to favor a range of forested habitats including evergreen and tropical woodlands. Most species live in mountainous regions and close to water sources such as rivers and streams. Muntjacs are rarely seen far from an area with thick undergrowth, and avoid open grasslands.

    Diet and Predators

    • Muntjacs are primarily herbivores, feeding on grasses, fruits, leaves and shoots in their forest homes. Some species, such as the Indian muntjac, are omnivorous and will feed on small animals as well as bird eggs. Muntjacs are also known as barking deer because of the noise they make as a warning of predators nearby. The small deer are hunted for food by local villagers in their home ranges and may fall prey to tigers, leopards and the wolf-like Asian dhole as well as other large carnivores.

    Life Cycle

    • Some types of deer live in small herds, but muntjacs tend to be solitary animals and have their own small territories that may overlap those of other individuals. Males and females come together only to mate, which generally happens in times of plentiful food availability. Usually a single offspring is born which the female alone cares for. Like most deer, the fawn will hide in high grasses while its mother feeds until it becomes large enough to travel with its parent. Most species of muntjac deer reach breeding age within their first year of life.