The Philippine Mouse-deer (Tragulus nigricans), also known as the Balabac Mouse Deer or Pilandok (in Filipino), is a small, nocturnal ruminant, which is endemic to Balabac and nearby smaller islands south-west of Palawan in the Philippines. It has often been considered a subspecies of the Greater Mouse Deer (T. napu). Contrary to its common name, the Philippine mouse deer does not belong to the deer family Cervidae, but is a member of the chevrotain family.
[edit] Anatomy and morphology
It has a brown coat with black and white stripes. The Philippine Mouse-deer is only 40 centimeters at the shoulder level and is thereby one of the smallest ungulates. The male of its species does not have any antlers like a real deer. They use their large, tusk-like canine teeth on the upper jaw for self-defense.
[edit] Ecology and life history
[edit] Culture
The Philippine Mouse-deer is usually portrayed as a trickster in Philippine folklore. In a Maranao tale, the Philippine Mouse-deer tricks a prince into giving up his bag of gold and face a hive of angry bees.
[edit] Conservation
Edingburh zoo currently contains a breeding pair.
[edit] References
- ^ Oliver, W., Matillano, J. & Widmann, P. (2008). Tragulus nigricans. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 6 November 2009. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of endangered.
[edit] References
- ^ Oliver, W., Matillano, J. & Widmann, P. (2008). Tragulus nigricans. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 6 November 2009. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of endangered.
also it is known for its smartness
