Muntiacus reevesi
Creators: name: Don E. Wilson
name: Russell A. Mittermeier
Publisher: name: Lynx Edicions
Year: 2011
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Artiodactyla
Cervidae
Muntiacus
Muntiacus reevesi

description: 3.
Reeves’s Muntjac
Muntiacus reevesi
French: Muntjac de Chine / German: China-Muntjak / Spanish: Muntiaco de Reeves
Taxonomy. Cervus reevesi Ogilby, 1839,
Canton (China).
Because of the relatively high number of chromosomes of the karyotype this species is considered a primitive muntjac. According to a genetic study, together with M. vuquangensis it forms one of two clades; according to a second study it forms a distinct lineage not closely related to other muntjacs. Its scientific and common name honorJ. Reeves, a naturalist and Assistant Inspector of Tea for the British East India Company, who worked for 19 years in China. Two subspecies are recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution.
M.r.reeves:Ogilby,1838—SEChina.
M. r. micrurus Sclater, 1875 — Taiwan.
The subspecies from mainland China was introduced into England in the early 20" century.
Descriptive notes. Head-body 70-80 cm,tail 12-13 cm, shoulder height 45-50 cm; weight of adult males 14-15 kg and of adult females 12-13 kg. Males are on average 15% heavier than females. A small-sized muntjac with rounded ears. The tail is relatively short, chestnut dorsally, white below. The summer coatis red-brown, the winter coat is gray-brown. Males have a black stripe up each frontal ridge and pedicle, forming a V on the forehead. Fawn coat has ocher spots, which disappear by two months. A large preorbital sac, frontal glands, rear interdigital gland and (in males) a preputial gland are present. Upper canines are around 6 cm long in males, of which one third is hidden in the alveolus; females have smaller upper canines, about 1-7 cm long, of which one third extends out of the alveolus. Antlers of adults are short and simple, 4-8 cm long, on pedicles 5-8 cm high. They generally have a very small basal brow tine and distally they tend to curve inward. Pedicles begin to grow at 5-7 months of age; first antlers appear at 8-11 months, generally minute spikes without a coronet. Subsequent antler sets grow in summer, are clean in September, and are cast in May. Hooves are very small, about 3 cm long. The diploid number of chromosomesis 46.
Habitat. In the original range it prefers dense temperate, subtropical, and tropical forests and scrub, at 200-400 m above sea level. Sometimesit also frequents alpine grasslands up to 3500 m above sea level. Introduced populations in England are particularly common in dense habitat with a good diversity of vegetation.
Food and Feeding. As a typical concentrate selector, it browses leaves and shoots and eats fruits.
Breeding. Females attain puberty precociously, at 6-7 months of age. Breeding occurs throughout the year, with fawns born in any month. Females are polyestrous with a mean cycle of 14-15 days. After a gestation of 210 days, females give birth to one fawn weighing about 1-2 kg. Since a postpartum estrus is common, females may give birth every eight months. Fawns are weaned in four months. At six months of age they attain 60% of the final weight, at 18 months they reach 90% of their adult weight. Males may disperse at about 5-6 months, sometimes later. Reeves’s Muntjac can live to a maximum of 13 years.
Activity patterns. It is active all day, with five distinct periods of feeding in 24 hours.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. As a slinker, it generally moves with the head held down. When alarmed it lifts the tail, showing the white underneath. Usually home ranges are small, 10-30 ha, but can be up to 100 ha, generally larger in males. Males are territorial, with a defended area encompassing the home ranges of some females. Some territoriality is also evident in females, whose core areas are exclusive. It is basically a solitary species, sometimes observed in pairs or small family groups. Adult males are probably weakly serially polygynous, forming temporary tending bonds with estrous females.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List, mainly for its large range and its occurrence in many protected areas. It is decreasing, due to the industrial exploitation of hides and continuous habitat loss. In China it is considered vulnerable but it is not protected at a national scale. The population established in England, is now quite common, increasing and expanding its range to other parts of Great Britain. In 2005 the total estimate for this population was 118,000 individuals.
Bibliography. Apollonio et al. (2010), Chapman (2008), Chapman et al. (1997), Leasor et al. (2008), McCullough et al. (2000), Miura (1984), Pei Kurtis & Liu Hwanwun (1994).
description: Published as part of Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2011, Cervidae, pp. 350-443 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 2 Hoofed Mammals, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions on page 409, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6514377