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{{Short description|Species of deer}}
{{Taxobox
{{Speciesbox
| name = Water Chevrotain
| name = Water chevrotain
| status = LC
| status = LC
| status_system = iucn3.1
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref =<ref>{{IUCN2008|assessors=IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group| year=2008| id=10341| title=Hyemoschus aquaticus| downloaded=26 March 2009}} Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of least concern.</ref>
| status_ref =<ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group |date=2016 |title=''Hyemoschus aquaticus'' |volume=2016 |page=e.T10341A50188841 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T10341A50188841.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref>
| image = Em - Hyemoschus aquaticus.jpg
| image = Die Säugthiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur, mit Beschreibungen (Plate 25) (8610054436).jpg
| image_caption = Taxidermied '''water chevrotain''' at the Natural History Museum in London.
| image_caption = Illustration of a water chevrotain
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| parent_authority = [[John Edward Gray|Gray]], 1845
| phylum = [[Chordata]]
| taxon = Hyemoschus aquaticus
| classis = [[Mammal]]ia
| authority = [[William Ogilby|Ogilby]], 1841
| ordo = [[Artiodactyla]]
| range_map = Water Chevrotain Distribution Map.png
| familia = [[Tragulidae]]
| range_map_caption = Water chevrotain range
| genus= '''''Hyemoschus'''''
| species= '''''H. aquaticus'''''
| binomial = ''Hyemoschus aquaticus''
| binomial_authority = [[William Ogilby|Ogilby]] 1841
| range_map = Water Chevrotain Distribut ion Map.png
| range_map_width = 240px
}}
}}


The '''water chevrotain''' (''Hyemoschus aquaticus''), also known as the '''fanged deer''', is a small [[Ruminantia|ruminant]] found in tropical Africa. It is the largest of the ten species of [[chevrotain]]s, [[Basal (phylogenetics)|evolutionarily primitive]]{{vague|date=February 2012}} [[even-toed ungulates]] which are similar to [[Cervidae|deer]] but are barely larger than small dogs. The water chevrotain is found mostly in coastal [[West Africa]] and the [[rainforest]]s of [[central Africa]].
The '''water chevrotain''' ('''''Hyemoschus aquaticus'''''), also known as the '''fanged deer''', is a small [[Ruminantia|ruminant]] found in tropical Africa. This is the [[monotypic taxon|only species]] in the [[genus]] '''''Hyemoschus'''''. It is the largest of the 10 species of [[chevrotain]]s, [[basal (phylogenetics)|basal]] [[even-toed ungulates]] which are visually similar to [[Cervidae|deer]], but are barely larger than small dogs.


==Description==
The water chevrotain has a stocky, rounded body, thin legs with hooves, and a mouselike head. The male has [[tusk]]s, which give the species the appellation "fanged deer". As its other common name suggests, the water chevrotain is a good swimmer and can dive underwater. Its nostrils are slits which it can squeeze shut to keep water out. It will never stray far from a water source, and it will retreat to water and jump in when threatened. It has a reddish brown coat with white stripes and spots. Adults average 10-12 kilograms and up to 80 centimeters in length.
[[File:Hyemoschus aquaticus 02 MWNH 271.jpg|thumb|left|Skull of a water chevrotain]]
Unusually for most mammals, female water chevrotains are larger than males. On average, they weigh over 2&nbsp;kg more than the 10-kg males. Their body length is about 85&nbsp;cm, and their shoulder height is around 35&nbsp;cm.
Water chevrotains have a rich, sleek, red-brown coat on top, and the underside of the coat is white. On the body is a pattern of white stripes that runs horizontally from the shoulder to the tail, with vertical rows of white stripes in the back. The chin, throat, and chest are covered in very coarse hair with a pattern of white V shapes.
The back end of the water chevrotain has many powerful muscles and is higher than the shoulders, which makes the body slope down toward the front. The head is held down toward the ground while walking, which allows the water chevrotain to navigate easily through thickets of dense brush. A layer of thick, reinforced skin is on the dorsal surface, which protects the back from injuries caused by the thick brush. The legs look short and thin compared to the bulky body, and the hooves are similar to a pig's. The tail is short with a fluffy white underside that resembles a cotton ball.<ref name="ultimate" />


==Distribution and habitat==
Chevrotains are true [[ruminant]]s, feeding mostly on a diet of plants, especially [[fruit]]. The water chevrotain is [[nocturnal]] and mainly solitary. Males' territories overlap those of females, but the males are rarely aggressive toward each other. While they do occasionally fight, using their tusks as weapons, they apparently prefer to avoid each other and keep to themselves. An estrous female will mate with the male with whom she shares a home range, and then gives birth to one precocial fawn. Gestation is 4 months.<ref>{{cite book|last=Alden|first=Peter|title=National Audubon Society: Field Guide to African Wildlife|year=1995|publisher=Alfred A. Knopf|location=New York|isbn=0-679-43234-5|pages=452–453}}</ref>
The water chevrotain is endemic to the tropical regions of [[Africa]]. While it primarily lives in the coastal regions, the species can be found from [[Sierra Leone]] to western [[Uganda]].<ref name="ADW">{{Cite web
| title = Hyemoschus aquaticus | publisher = Animal Diversity Web
| url = http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Hyemoschus_aquaticus/
| access-date = 16 February 2013}}</ref>
They can be found in closed-canopy, moist, tropical lowland forest, and within this habitat, they only occupy areas within close range to streams or rivers. The area is rarely inhabited by the species if it is further than 250 m away from water. During the day, chevrotains cannot be found outside of the dense forest, but at night, they can be observed in exposed clearings and open river banks.<ref name="ultimate">{{Cite web
| title = Hyemoschus aquaticus | publisher = Ungulates of the World
| url = http://www.ultimateungulate.com/Artiodactyla/Hyemoschus_aquaticus.html
| access-date = 16 February 2013}}</ref>


==Behavior==
The water chevrotain is a vulnerable species due to two main forces. Its tropical rainforest [[habitat]] is being rapidly consumed by humans, and the animals themselves are hunted for [[bushmeat]].
The water chevrotain is exclusively [[Nocturnality|nocturnal]], and forages for food in clearings at night. Fallen fruits, such as figs, palm nuts, and breadfruit make up the majority of the water chevrotain's diet, although it has also been known to feed on insects, crabs, and scavenged meat and fish, and is the only species of chevrotain known to do so. It relies on its sense of smell to locate food.<ref>Kingdon, J. (1997) The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals. Academic Press Limited, London.</ref> During the day, the water chevrotain hides in the dense cover of the African brush. The resting postures of the species include lying down and sitting up.
Because they are such a solitary species, the interactions between water chevrotains are only antagonistic and reproductive encounters. Males fight other males, mainly over territory. Their fights are typically short, and in them the two competing males run at each other, mouths open. They poke each other with their muzzles and bite. These aggressive fights are thought to be the reason that mature males normally live no closer than several kilometers apart.
The water chevrotain makes several different noises, which include a scream when injured/wounded and an alarm bark. When females fight, they make a high-pitched chattering noise, and when pursuing a female, a male makes a noise through a closed mouth.<ref name="ultimate" />

==Conservation status==
The total population of the water chevrotain species estimated to be around 278,000. The ICUN Red List has given the status least concern to the water chevrotain. Because of its solitary nature, very little about its population in each individual country is known, but recent evidence shows the population is declining in some areas.<ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021" />


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category|Hyemoschus aquaticus}}
* [http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/resources/Grzimek_mammals/Tragulidae/Hyemoschus_aquaticus.jpg/view.html Picture]
{{Wikispecies|Hyemoschus aquaticus}}
* [http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Hyemoschus_aquaticus.html ''Hyemoschus aquaticus''] Edwards, H. 2000. Animal Diversity Web. Accessed October 19, 2006.
* [http://www.ultimateungulate.com/Artiodactyla/Hyemoschus_aquaticus.html Ungulate Fact Sheet]


{{Artiodactyla|R.}}
{{Artiodactyla|R.}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q256572}}


[[Category:Chevrotains]]
[[Category:Chevrotains|water chevrotain]]
[[Category:Fauna of Burkina Faso]]
[[Category:Mammals of West Africa]]
[[Category:Fauna of West Africa]]
[[Category:Fauna of Central Africa]]
[[Category:Mammals of Africa]]
[[Category:Mammals of Sub-Saharan Africa]]
[[Category:Monotypic mammal genera]]
[[Category:Mammals described in 1841|water chevrotain]]
[[Category:Animals described in 1841]]

[[az:Hyemoschus aquaticus]]
[[ca:Hiemosc]]
[[de:Afrikanisches Hirschferkel]]
[[es:Hyemoschus aquaticus]]
[[eu:Hyemoschus aquaticus]]
[[fr:Chevrotain aquatique]]
[[it:Hyemoschus aquaticus]]
[[he:איילון המים]]
[[hu:Afrikai kancsil]]
[[nl:Waterdwerghert]]
[[pl:Kanczyl afrykański]]
[[ru:Водяной оленёк]]
[[sr:Водени јеленчић]]
[[sv:Vattenmyskdjur]]
[[tr:Afrika cüce geyiği]]
[[ug:گيېموسخۇس بۇغىسى]]
[[zh:水鼷鹿屬]]

Latest revision as of 12:04, 31 October 2023

Water chevrotain
Illustration of a water chevrotain
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Tragulidae
Genus: Hyemoschus
Gray, 1845
Species:
H. aquaticus
Binomial name
Hyemoschus aquaticus
Ogilby, 1841
Water chevrotain range

The water chevrotain (Hyemoschus aquaticus), also known as the fanged deer, is a small ruminant found in tropical Africa. This is the only species in the genus Hyemoschus. It is the largest of the 10 species of chevrotains, basal even-toed ungulates which are visually similar to deer, but are barely larger than small dogs.

Description

[edit]
Skull of a water chevrotain

Unusually for most mammals, female water chevrotains are larger than males. On average, they weigh over 2 kg more than the 10-kg males. Their body length is about 85 cm, and their shoulder height is around 35 cm. Water chevrotains have a rich, sleek, red-brown coat on top, and the underside of the coat is white. On the body is a pattern of white stripes that runs horizontally from the shoulder to the tail, with vertical rows of white stripes in the back. The chin, throat, and chest are covered in very coarse hair with a pattern of white V shapes. The back end of the water chevrotain has many powerful muscles and is higher than the shoulders, which makes the body slope down toward the front. The head is held down toward the ground while walking, which allows the water chevrotain to navigate easily through thickets of dense brush. A layer of thick, reinforced skin is on the dorsal surface, which protects the back from injuries caused by the thick brush. The legs look short and thin compared to the bulky body, and the hooves are similar to a pig's. The tail is short with a fluffy white underside that resembles a cotton ball.[2]

Distribution and habitat

[edit]

The water chevrotain is endemic to the tropical regions of Africa. While it primarily lives in the coastal regions, the species can be found from Sierra Leone to western Uganda.[3] They can be found in closed-canopy, moist, tropical lowland forest, and within this habitat, they only occupy areas within close range to streams or rivers. The area is rarely inhabited by the species if it is further than 250 m away from water. During the day, chevrotains cannot be found outside of the dense forest, but at night, they can be observed in exposed clearings and open river banks.[2]

Behavior

[edit]

The water chevrotain is exclusively nocturnal, and forages for food in clearings at night. Fallen fruits, such as figs, palm nuts, and breadfruit make up the majority of the water chevrotain's diet, although it has also been known to feed on insects, crabs, and scavenged meat and fish, and is the only species of chevrotain known to do so. It relies on its sense of smell to locate food.[4] During the day, the water chevrotain hides in the dense cover of the African brush. The resting postures of the species include lying down and sitting up. Because they are such a solitary species, the interactions between water chevrotains are only antagonistic and reproductive encounters. Males fight other males, mainly over territory. Their fights are typically short, and in them the two competing males run at each other, mouths open. They poke each other with their muzzles and bite. These aggressive fights are thought to be the reason that mature males normally live no closer than several kilometers apart. The water chevrotain makes several different noises, which include a scream when injured/wounded and an alarm bark. When females fight, they make a high-pitched chattering noise, and when pursuing a female, a male makes a noise through a closed mouth.[2]

Conservation status

[edit]

The total population of the water chevrotain species estimated to be around 278,000. The ICUN Red List has given the status least concern to the water chevrotain. Because of its solitary nature, very little about its population in each individual country is known, but recent evidence shows the population is declining in some areas.[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group (2016). "Hyemoschus aquaticus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T10341A50188841. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T10341A50188841.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Hyemoschus aquaticus". Ungulates of the World. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
  3. ^ "Hyemoschus aquaticus". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
  4. ^ Kingdon, J. (1997) The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals. Academic Press Limited, London.
[edit]