# Java mouse-deer (*Tragulus javanicus*) The Java mouse-deer is a tiny deer that looks like a baby deer all grown up! They are very shy and like to hide in the forest, making them hard to spot. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Java mouse-deer](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lesser.malay.mouse.deer.arp.jpg&width=800) Photo: Adrian Pingstone, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lesser.malay.mouse.deer.arp.jpg) ## Appearance The Java mouse-deer is a tiny hoofed mammal, with a sleek, reddish-brown coat and striking white markings on its throat and chest. It has slender legs, a small head, and large, dark eyes, resembling a miniature deer without antlers. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Artiodactyla - **Family:** Tragulidae - **Genus:** Tragulus ## Interesting facts - A baby mouse-deer can stand up and walk around just 30 minutes after being born! - Despite their name, mouse-deer are not true deer; they belong to their own special family! - Male mouse-deer have tiny tusks instead of antlers, which they use for defending their territory. - They are the smallest hoofed mammals in the world, about the size of a rabbit! ## Special abilities - **Stealth Master:** Java mouse-deer can disappear into dense undergrowth quickly because their small size and camouflage fur helps them hide from predators. - **Water Sprinter:** Java mouse-deer can run into water to escape danger, even diving and walking underwater, helping them evade pursuit. - **Night Vision:** Java mouse-deer has large dark eyes that help them see very well in low light, making it easier to find food and avoid predators at night. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 45-55 cm - **Weight:** 1.5-2 kg - **Lifespan:** 8-12 years - **Speed:** 20 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 150-155 days ## Diet & Feeding These tiny herbivores munch on fallen fruits, leaves, and tender shoots found on the forest floor. - **Primary Foods:** Fallen fruits, Leaves, Shoots, Berries, Fungi - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Reticulated python](https://www.snappit.app/explore/reticulated-python) (*Python reticulatus*) — A common predator that ambushes mouse-deer in their habitat. - **Eaten by:** Javan Hawk-Eagle (*Nisaetus bartelsi*) — A raptor that preys on small mammals and birds in Javan forests. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a wild animal, it's best to watch from a distance and not approach it. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Java mouse-deer? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Java mouse-deer? 45-55 cm ### How much does Java mouse-deer weigh? 1.5-2 kg ### How long does Java mouse-deer live? 8-12 years ### How fast can Java mouse-deer move? 20 km/h ### What does Java mouse-deer eat? These tiny herbivores munch on fallen fruits, leaves, and tender shoots found on the forest floor. ### Where is Java mouse-deer usually found? Forests ### How does Java mouse-deer hunt? Foraging ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Java mouse-deer: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/java-mouse-deer)