Mouse-Deer: Family of Tragulidae

Mouse-deer are the ancient group of small, hornless ungulates that live in Asian and African tropical forests. The family Tragulidae (Genus Hyemoschus, Genus Moschiola, Genus Tragulus) to which the three existing genera of mouse deer or chevrotains belong is considered to be the basal ungulate family from which present-day ungulates have evolved. All species found to be lacked of antlers, have elongated canines that are more prominent in males and have short and thin legs with four toes on each foot.

There are six important species of mouse-deer genus Tragulus:
African mouse-deer
India mouse-deer
Greater mouse deer
Lesser mouse-deer
Philippine mouse-deer
Vietnam mouse-deer
Williamson's mouse-deer

Lesser mouse-deer or Tragulus kancil, because of their small size and their weight only around 2 kg likely use food resources near the forest floor. They eat such as fallen fruits and short vegetation. Plants in crown-gap areas produce fruit a lot more often than most species in mature forests.

Lesser mouse-deer remain concealed during daytime, while they emerge during the night to forage and mate.
Mouse-deer