Water Deer
| Water Deer | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | Cervidae |
| Genus: | Hydropotes |
| Species: | H. inermis |
| Binomial name | |
| Hydropotes inermis (Swinhoe, 1870) |
|
The Water Deer (Hydropotes inermis) is an even-toed ungulate mammal of the deer family. It is the only member of the subfamily Hydropotinae. There are two subspecies: the Chinese Water Deer (Hydropotes inermis inermis) and the Korean Water Deer (Hydropotes inermis argyropus).
Contents |
Appearance [change]
Water Deer are small deer: they are about 90 cm long and about 50 cm high. They weigh about 13 kg. The Water Deer has yellowish-brown fur, with a white chin and throat. Both males and females do not have antlers. Males have long upper canine teeth (called tusks), which can be up to 5 cm long.
Habitat [change]
The Water Deer originally lived in China and Korea. Today there are also small wild populations in England and France. Water Deer live close to water: in swamps and on the shores of rivers and lakes.
Life [change]
Water Deer eat grasses and reeds. They also eat grains and vegetables from fields.
Water Deer live alone, but sometimes they form small groups.
After a pregnancy of 200 days the female gives birth to 2-4 babies. A Water Deer baby has white dots and stripes on its fur, which disappear after 8 weeks. They drink milk for 3 months. When the young Water Deer are 6 months old they are independent and leave their mothers. They become mature when they are 1 year old.
Other websites [change]
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Hydropotes inermis |
 |
Wikispecies has information on: Hydropotes inermis. |
