Reeves' Muntjac

Muntiacus reevesi

A muntjac stands in the shade of a tree and looks curiously ahead. IUCN Red List endangerment category: Least concern
  • Family
    Deer (Cervidae)
  • Weight
    14 – 15 kg
  • Habitat
    Subtropical rainforest

Path-finding skills

Reeves’ muntjacs are native to the dense undergrowth of the forests in south-east China. To navigate their way through the thick vegetation, they create paths, which they then learn by heart.

The picture shows a Reeves's muntjac in profile.

Hardly a picky eater

The Reeves’ muntjac is primarily herbivorous. Its main diet includes leaves, bark and bamboo. However, it is also partial to eggs, carrion and small animals.

Barking deer

Muntjac deer are also known as barking deer due to their alarm call that resembles the bark of a dog. They bark during mating, when provoked and to warn other animals of danger.

Muntjacs mark their territory with secretion from glands located just in front of each eye, which is spread on the grass and tree branches.

Distribution

Distribution