Black Musk Deer

Black Musk Deer has no subspecies and is similar in shape to the forest musk deer.

Black Musk Deer have the habit of nocturnal activities and are more active at dawn and dusk. They usually move alone, and rarely move together in pairs. They usually communicate by marking through the scent of musk between the tail and fingers, as well as urination and defecation. They fight when they are in captivity, making low hissing sounds. Their large ears and eyes suggest keen hearing and vision, and they rely on these senses. They mainly feed on branches and leaves of azaleas, alpine willows, lichens, mosses, and grasses. Feng Zuojian et al. (1986) found fritillaria, moss, and azaleas in the stomach of black musk deer.

The mating period of black musk deer is mostly in October, with a gestation period of 6 months and pups born in July of the following year. Males mate with multiple females. Male scent marks and defends territory during the breeding season. The presence of scent glands on males suggests that they may engage in similar behaviors. The gestation period extends from 185 days to 195 days. Parturition occurs in June and July, and females usually give birth to 1 to 2 pups. The pups weigh about 500 grams at birth. They are weaned when they are 3-4 months old, and reach the size of adult black musk deer at about 6 months old. Females may reproduce once a year. Both males and females reach sexual maturity at about 18 months old.

The habitat range of black musk deer is limited, and it is a rare or endangered species. The total amount of black musk deer resources in Yunnan, China is estimated to be no more than 10% of the total amount of forest musk deer resources. The black musk deer in Tibet are far less than those in northwest Yunnan, and the number is rare (Wang Yingxiang, 1998). In June 1988, the Tibetan survey team met three hunters in Zayu, Tibet. According to them, they went out for 6 days and captured a total of 7 black musk deer, of which 5 were females, reflecting that hunters hunted indiscriminately without distinguishing between males and females, which caused serious damage to resources. The hunting of black musk deer mainly for musk has led to a decline in its population.

Listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2015 ver 3.1 - Endangered (EN).

Listed in the China Red List of Species - Endangered (EN).

Listed in the China National Key Protected Wildlife List - Level II.

Listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) - Level II.

Listed in the China National Key Protected Wildlife List - Level I.

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Distributed in Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, and Nepal.
In China, it is distributed in parts of Yunnan Province in the southwest and Tibet Autonomous Region.
Black musk deer mostly live in alpine dark coniferous forests, coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests, alpine rhododendron shrubs and meadows at an altitude of 2,700 to 4,200 meters. In southeastern Tibet, China, it can even reach snow-covered slopes above 4,200 meters.

The body shape is similar to that of the forest musk deer, with a body length of 70 to 80 cm, a shoulder height of less than 500 mm, a total skull length of less than 150 mm, and a weight of 7 to 9 kg. The small and dark musk deer is smaller and darker than the forest musk deer that is similar to it. There are no white spots on the face and neck, sometimes with light brown patches on the shoulders, dark throat color, often with two incomplete yellow collars, black limbs, and the hind limbs are longer than the forelimbs.
No horns, the upper part of the ears and the ear tips are wider and rounder than the forest musk deer, and the limbs are also significantly stronger than the forest musk deer. The body is covered with coarse and loose hair, which can be up to about 2 cm long. The whole body is black-brown or dark brown, without neck lines, only some irregular yellowish spots in the center of the back, and there is a slightly wider and blurred light yellow semicircle on the nape of th