Chinese water deer, Asian water deer, Korean water deer
The Water deer (Hydropotes inermis) is a small deer native to China and Korea. It was first described to the Western world by Robert Swinhoe in 1870. Water deer have developed long canine teeth which protrude from the upper jaw; it is due to these teeth that these animals are often referred to as "vampire deer".
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CrepuscularCrepuscular animals are those that are active primarily during twilight (that is, the periods of dawn and dusk). This is distinguished from diurnal...
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HerbivoreA herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example, foliage, for the main component of its die...
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GraminivoreIn zoology, a graminivore (not to be confused with a granivore) is an herbivorous animal that feeds primarily on grass. Graminivory is a form of g...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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CursorialA cursorial organism is one that is adapted specifically to run. An animal can be considered cursorial if it has the ability to run fast (e.g. chee...
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ViviparousAmong animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
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TerritorialA territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima...
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PolygynyPolygyny is a mating system in which one male lives and mates with multiple females but each female only mates with a single male.
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Generally solitaryGenerally solitary animals are those animals that spend their time separately but will gather at foraging areas or sleep in the same location or sh...
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starts withThe Water deer has narrow pectoral and pelvic girdles, long legs, and a long neck. Its powerful hind legs are longer than the front legs so that the haunches are carried higher than the shoulders. The Water deer runs with rabbit-like jumps. In the groin of each leg is an inguinal gland used for scent marking; this deer is the only member of the Cervidae to possess such glands. The short tail is almost invisible, except when it is held raised by the male during the rut. The ears are short and very rounded, and both sexes lack antlers. The long canine teeth of the Water deer are fairly large in the males, ranging in length from 5.5 cm (2.2 in) on average to as long as 8 cm (3.1 in). Females, in comparison, have tiny canines that are an average of 0.5 cm (0.2 in) in length. The teeth usually erupt in the autumn of the deer's first year at approximately 6-7 months of age. The coat of the Water deer is an overall golden brown color and may be interspersed with black hairs, while the undersides are white. The strongly tapered face is reddish-brown or gray, and the chin and upper throat are cream-colored. The hair is longest on the flanks and rump. In the fall, the summer coat is gradually replaced by a thicker, coarse-haired winter coat that varies from light brown to grayish brown. Young are born dark brown with white stripes and spots along their upper torso.
Water deer occur in east-central China in the lower Yangtze Basin and in Korea. There are also small introduced populations in Great Britain and the United States They inhabit areas with tall reeds, rushes along rivers, mountain areas, and cultivated fields in tall grass. They also occur in open grasslands and swampy areas.
Water deer tend not to congregate in herds and are generally found in pairs or alone. A male will not tolerate another buck in close proximity and will defend its territory against all rivals. They will tolerate the company of a few females, which may accompany the male to seek food and rest within his territory. Water deer are most active during mornings and evenings, and during the day usually hide within dense vegetation. When disturbed, they will run with a characteristic series of leaps like a rabbit. Despite not being gregarious, these deer will alert each other to danger with brief shrill barking. The does make a soft peeping to call their fawns, and an injured deer makes a screaming wail. Water deer are able to emit several more sounds. Their main call is a bark, which is used as an alarm, and water deer will bark repeatedly at people and each other for reasons unknown. If challenged during the rut, a buck will emit a clicking sound. It is uncertain how this unique sound is generated, although it is possible by using its molar teeth. During the rut, a buck following a doe will make a weak whistle or squeak.
Water deer are herbivorous (graminivorous) animals and eat coarse grasses, reeds, vegetables in cultivated areas, and other vegetation.
Water deer have a polygynous mating system; a male mates with many females inside his own territory. The mating season is from November to January, with most births from May to July, following a gestation period of 170 to 210 days. Unusual amongst deer, females may bear up to 8 young, however, 1 to 3 is more common. After birth, a female will often leave her normal range to become solitary. Fawns spend most of their first few weeks hidden in vegetation, coming out only when their mother visits to feed them. Fawns are weaned when they are about 2 months old. Males are usually reproductively mature at 5 to 6 months of age, and females when they are 7 to 8 months old.
In their native habitat, Water deer are in serious decline due to habitat destruction and poaching. In some areas, they are hunted and are considered agricultural pests, and they are also hunted for their meat and for the use of semi-digested milk from the stomachs of unweaned fawns in traditional medicine. These animals are very sensitive to environmental change, and urban development and agriculture are important threats to their habitat. Much of their original range has been lost, the distribution of Water deer is continuing to decrease, and many populations are now quite small and fragmented.
According to the IUCN Red List, Water deer in the Republic of Korea is said to be «moderately widespread», particularly along the west coast, as well as within the demilitarized zone between the two Koreas, but its population cannot be estimated. Specific populations have been estimated within China: 500-1,1000 deer in the coastal areas of Jiangsu; 1,500 deer in the Zhoushan Islands; around 1,000 deer in the Poyang Lake region, and an additional 500 individuals in Anhui. The British water deer population is about 1000 individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List, and its numbers today are decreasing.
