Reeve's Muntjac Facts and Information | United Parks & Resorts

Scientific Classification

Description: The Reeve's muntjac is a small brown deer with branched antlers, and a longer nose than other deer. It has a gray to reddish-brown coat with blackish brown legs, and a white chin and throat with a black stripe along the nape of the neck.
Male: Males have small tusk-like canines, which can grow up to 2.5 cm (1 in.) long and small antlers, averaging 7 to 8 cm (2.75 to 3.2 in.) in length.
Size: Approximately 40 cm (16 in.) tall at shoulder
Female: Females are smaller than males
Weight: 11 to 16 kg (24 to 35 lbs.)
Diet: Includes leaves, fruit, bark, fungi, and herbs
Incubation: Approximately 7 months; 1 offspring (rarely 2) is born at a time
Sexual Maturity: Approximately 6 months
Life Span: Up to 10 years
Range: Southern China and Taiwan
Habitat: Deciduous forests
Population: Global: Exact numbers are not known; however, they are commonly found in their native habitat
Status: IUCN: Not listed
CITES: Not listed
USFWS: Not listed; one subspecies is endangered

This species is one of the smallest members of the deer family.
Reeve's muntjac is primarily crepuscular, active at dawn and dusk.
They have a long tongue that is used to strip leaves from bushes.
The upper canine teeth of the males are elongated tusks that serve as excellent defense weapons, capable of causing serious injury to predators. Although the antlers of males may be used in battle, the sharp canines are more effective.
Muntjacs are also referred to as "barking deer" due to the deep bark-like sounds they are known to make when on alert. This means of communication is important for this forest dwelling species, which is often found in areas of poor visibility. They are also known to make barking sounds during their mating season.
Human introduction has actually produced a wild population of Reeve's muntjac subspecies in the southern half of England.
Both sexes defend small, solitary territories. These areas are scent marked with preorbital gland secretions.

Muntjacs are hunted for their meat and skin.

Due to their habit of destroying trees by ripping off the bark for food, they are considered a pest in some regions.

Overall, their numbers are decreasing because of uncontrolled hunting and habitat destruction.

Estes, Richard D. The Safari Companion. Post Mills, Vermont: Chelsea Green Publishing Co., 1993.

MacDonald, David. The Encyclopedia of Mammals: 2. London: George Allen & Unwin Co., 1985.

Nowak, Ronald M. Walker's Mammals of the World. Fifth edition. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1991.

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