# Muntjacs (*Muntiacus*) Muntjacs, also known as barking deer, are small deer that make a funny barking sound! They are shy and like to hide in the forest, making them a special sight for lucky explorers. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Muntjacs](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Muntiacus_sp_-_Hai_Hong_Karni.jpg&width=800) Photo: JJ Harrison ( https://www.jjharrison.com.au/ ), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Muntiacus_sp_-_Hai_Hong_Karni.jpg) ## Appearance The Muntjacs has a stocky body with short, sturdy legs, typically covered in a reddish-brown or yellowish-brown coat. Males sport small, simple antlers and often possess long, visible canine tusks, giving them a unique, ancient deer-like appearance. Their prominent facial glands are also distinctive. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Artiodactyla - **Family:** Cervidae - **Genus:** Muntiacus ## Interesting facts - A baby muntjac can stand and walk just minutes after birth! - Muntjacs are considered the oldest known deer, with relatives living millions of years ago! - Reeve's muntjacs, from Asia, have successfully made new homes in the English countryside! - These shy deer often freeze or 'bark' instead of running, hoping to go unnoticed! ## Special abilities - **Voice of Alarm:** Muntjacs can bark loudly because of their specialized vocal cords that helps them warn others of danger. - **Saber-tooth Defense:** Muntjacs has dagger-like canine tusks that helps them fight off rivals or predators, especially in males. - **Flexible Navigation:** Muntjacs can duck and weave through thick jungle because of their small, low-slung bodies that helps them escape predators swiftly. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 89-135 cm - **Weight:** 14-33 kg - **Lifespan:** 8-15 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 180-210 days ## Diet & Feeding Muntjacs love munching on leaves, shoots, fruits, and even some flowers from forest plants. - **Primary Foods:** leaves, shoots, fruits, grasses, fungi - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Tiger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tiger) (*Panthera tigris*) — A major predator in Asian forests. - **Eaten by:** [Leopard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/leopard) (*Panthera pardus*) — Hunts muntjacs in dense jungle habitats. - **Eaten by:** [Dhole](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dhole) (*Cuon alpinus*) — Packs of dholes can prey on muntjacs. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [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. - [Antlered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/antlered): Antlered describes animals possessing antlers, which are bony, branching growths found predominantly on male deer and related species. - [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. - [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:** 2/5 · Low Always watch from a distance and be quiet to not scare them away. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Muntjacs? 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 Muntjacs? 89-135 cm ### How much does Muntjacs weigh? 14-33 kg ### How long does Muntjacs live? 8-15 years ### How fast can Muntjacs move? 35 km/h ### What does Muntjacs eat? Muntjacs love munching on leaves, shoots, fruits, and even some flowers from forest plants. ### Where is Muntjacs usually found? Forests ### How does Muntjacs 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: [Muntjacs: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/muntjacs)