Reeves Muntjac - North America Introduced | Online Record Book Preview

Muntiacus reevesi

Muntjac de Reeves (Sp), Südost Chinesischer, Reeves Muntjak (G), Muntjac de Reeves (F). Named for British naturalist John Reeves (1774-1856), who provided the type specimens for the British Museum. Also called Chinese muntjac.

DESCRIPTION A very small deer. (male) Shoulder height 18-20 inches (46-51 cm). Weight 26-30 pounds (12-14 kg). Females are slightly smaller than males.

Compared with the Indian muntjac, the Reeves is smaller and more compactly built, has lighter coloration and a shorter face, shorter antler pedicels and shorter antlers. The general color is light reddish-brown above and buff below, with darker legs and usually a dark stripe on back of neck. There are broad, dark stripes on the pedicels. The chin, throat, belly and the underside and tip of the fairly long tail are white.

Typical antlers consist of a short, gently curved main beam and, in about half of adult males, one very short tine growing close to the burr. Occasionally an individual will grow more than one tine on an antler; such extra tines are non-typical, as are those that do not grow from the top or front of the beam close to the burr. The upper canine teeth of males are elongated into tusks that protrude from the lips. Females are without tusks, and have small bony knobs and hair tufts in place of antlers.

DISTRIBUTION Private ranches in Texas and elsewhere.

REMARKS The muntjacs are a group of small deer (5-6 species) that are native to southeastern Asia. The Reeves muntjac is found in eastern China and Taiwan. It is the most common deer in China, with an estimated 650,000 animals taken annually by locals. Outside Asia, it has been introduced in England and France, where it thrives. There are two subspecies, reevesi from eastern China and micrurus from Taiwan, but we do not separate them here.

HYBRIDIZATION The Reeves muntjac is either known or believed to crossbreed, or to be the result of hybridization, when in a game ranch environment.