American chevrotain

The **American chevrotain** (*Neohyemoschus amphibious*), also known as the **American water chevrotain**, the **American mouse-deer**, and the **fanged deer**, is a species of small even-toed ungulate of the family Tragulidae, not a cervid despite its two of its names, most closely related to the Asian chevrotain species, that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, swamps, marshlands, forests, and open woodlands across North America to help boost biodiversity. The American chevrotain is the only living member of the genus *Neohyemoschus*, and the only chevrotain of the New World. The American chevrotains are solitary or live in pairs, and feed almost exclusively on plant material. American chevrotains are one of the smallest hoofed mammals in North America. Unusually for most mammals, female American chevrotains are larger than males. On average, they weigh over 2 kg more than the 10-kg males. Their body length is about 105 cm, and their shoulder height is around 55 cm. American chevrotains have a rich, sleek, red-brown coat on top, and the underside of the coat is white. On the body is a pattern of white stripes that runs horizontally from the shoulder to the tail, with vertical rows of white stripes in the back. The chin, throat, and chest are covered in very coarse hair with a pattern of white V shapes. The back end of the American chevrotain has many powerful muscles and is higher than the shoulders, which makes the body slope down toward the front. The head is held down toward the ground while walking, which allows the American chevrotain to navigate easily through thickets of dense brush. A layer of thick, reinforced skin is on the dorsal surface, which protects the back from injuries caused by the thick brush. The legs look short and thin compared to the bulky body, and the hooves are similar to a pig's. The tail is short with a fluffy white underside that resembles a cotton ball. The American chevrotain is almost exclusively nocturnal, and usually forages for food in clearings at night. Fallen leaves, pine needles, and fruits, such as figs, palm nuts, and breadfruit make up the majority of the water chevrotain's diet, although it has also been known to feed on bark, nuts, insects, crabs, and scavenged meat and fish, and is one of the only species of chevrotain known to do so. It relies on its sense of smell to locate food. During the day, the American chevrotain hides in the dense cover of the North American brush. The resting postures of the species include lying down and sitting up. Because they are such a solitary species, the interactions between water chevrotains are only antagonistic and reproductive encounters. Males fight other males, mainly over territory. Their fights are typically short, and in them the two competing males run at each other, mouths open. They poke each other with their muzzles and bite. These aggressive fights are the reason that mature males normally live no closer than several kilometers apart. The American chevrotain makes several different noises, which include a scream when injured/wounded and an alarm bark. The first reaction of the American chevrotain to the presence of a predator is to freeze; if the threat continues to approach, the American chevrotain (as the name "American water chevrotain" suggests) will retreat to water, where it can dive below the surface and remain hidden almost completely submerged.. When females fight, they make a high-pitched chattering noise, and when pursuing a female, a male makes a noise through a closed mouth. The conservation status of the American chevrotain is **Least Concern** due to successful conservation efforts, the American chevrotain's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.