musk deer
Tusked Asian deer
Musk deer are small, solitary deer native to the mountain forests of Asia, distinguished by their lack of antlers and the males' prominent tusks.
Males produce musk in an abdominal gland—a substance historically prized in perfumery and traditional medicine, which has driven several species toward endangerment.
Despite the name, musk deer are not true deer but belong to their own family.
Sharp piercing teeth
- tusksExtended animal incisors
- caninesDog family members
- hoofedHaving hard feet
- ungulateMammal with hooves
small · compact · hind legs · ears · fur · coat · dewclaws · glands
Seed case or cetacean group
- glandSecreting body organ
- secretionSubstance released by glands
- scentAirborne odor detected
- perfumeFragrant liquid for wearing
fragrance · pheromone · attar · essence · aromatic · olfactory · potent · prized
Of high elevations
- HimalayanOf Asia's highest range
- montaneOf cooler elevated zones
- taigaSubarctic evergreen biome
- forestTree-dense ecosystem
undergrowth · shrubland · treeline · elevation · terrain · rocky · secluded · remote
Hard to find
- solitaryExisting alone, apart
- nocturnalActive during darkness
- shyReserved and retiring
- crepuscularRelating to dusk
secretive · reclusive · territorial · browsing · foraging · cautious · wary · cryptic
At risk of extinction
- poachingUnlawful wildlife capture
- illegal tradeUnlawful commercial exchange
- CITESWildlife trade agreement
- protectedKept from harm
threatened · vulnerable · hunting · snares · population decline · captive breeding · wildlife trafficking · habitat loss
fangs
Sharp piercing teeth
ungulate · small · compact · hind legs · ears · fur · coat · dewclaws · glands · tail
pod
Seed case or cetacean group
perfume · fragrance · pheromone · attar · essence · aromatic · olfactory · potent · prized · harvested
alpine
Of high elevations
forest · undergrowth · shrubland · treeline · elevation · terrain · rocky · secluded · remote · Korea
elusive
Hard to find
crepuscular · secretive · reclusive · territorial · browsing · foraging · cautious · wary · cryptic · hidden
endangered
At risk of extinction
- poachingUnlawful wildlife capture
- illegal tradeUnlawful commercial exchange
- CITESWildlife trade agreement
protected · threatened · vulnerable · hunting · snares · population decline · captive breeding · wildlife trafficking · habitat loss · overharvesting
- musk deer
- Asian wildlifesnow leopard, giant panda, Asiatic lion, Siberian tiger, red panda
- Eurasian wildlifeSiberian tiger, giant panda, red panda, snow leopard, Asian elephant
- hoofed mammalscow, horse, goat, sheep, pig
- Northern wildlifereindeer, arctic fox, polar bear, lemming, moose
- even-toed ungulatespig, cow, goat, sheep, camel