Leaf muntjac

Last updated

Leaf muntjac
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Cervidae
Subfamily: Cervinae
Genus: Muntiacus
Species:
M. putaoensis
Binomial name
Muntiacus putaoensis
Amato, Egan & Rabinowitz, 1999 [2]
Muntiacus putaoensis.png

The leaf muntjac, leaf deer or Putao muntjac (Muntiacus putaoensis) is a small species of muntjac. [3] It was documented in 1997 by biologist Alan Rabinowitz during his field study in the isolated Nogmung Township in Myanmar. Rabinowitz discovered the species by examining the small carcass of a deer that he initially believed was the juvenile of another species; however, it proved to be the carcass of an adult female. [3] He managed to obtain specimens, from which DNA analysis revealed a new cervid species. Local hunters knew of the species and called it the leaf deer because its body could be completely wrapped by a single large leaf. [3] It is found in Myanmar and India. [4]

Contents

Distribution and habitat

The leaf muntjac is uniquely found in dense forests of Myanmar, in the Hukawng Valley region to the Northeast of Putao, hence its scientific epithet, and to the south of the Nam Tamai branch of the Mai Hka River. It is found at an altitude of 450 to 600 m — the transition zone between tropical forests and temperate ones. Its existence in India was first reported from Lohit district in eastern Arunachal Pradesh [5] In 2002, it was reported also to exist in Namdapha Tiger Reserve, also in eastern Arunachal Pradesh, India. [6] It has also been noted from the Lohit and Changlang region and near Noklak in Nagaland. [7] It probably inhabits suitable habitat over the entire junction of the Pātkai Bum and the Kumon Taungdan ranges. In 2008 and 2009, its presence was reported in several new areas of Arunachal Pradesh. [8] [9]

Description

An adult leaf deer stands at just 20 inches (50  cm) high at the shoulder and weighs less than 25 pounds (11  kg). They are light brown. Males have unbranched antlers that are about 1 inch (2.5  cm) in height. Other than this, the male and female deer are identical. [3] This species is unusual among other deer because their offspring do not bear any spots. It also differs from other muntjacs because both the male and female have pronounced canine tusks. [3] The leaf deer species characteristics of being small, preferring to roam alone, and living in habitats of dense forests in the mountains resembles the characteristics of ancient species of deer.

Patterns of Activity

Information on leaf muntjac behavior is limited, but similar muntjacs are often crepuscular, with others being both nocturnal and diurnal. In addition, leaf muntjacs are usually solitary, [2] [10] [11] except for during the female muntjac’s pregnancy, in which case the male mating partner will also be present. [6] Fruit and leaf traces upon autopsy indicates their diets contribute to local seed dispersal practices. [6]

Conservation and Status

On the IUCN Red List this species is classified as Data Deficient, as there is lack of certainty about its morphology, distribution, taxonomy and ecology. There has been evidence of persistent hunting by local people and this suggests that numbers are decreasing.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giant muntjac</span> Species of deer

The giant muntjac, sometimes referred to as the large-antlered muntjac, is a species of muntjac deer. It is the largest muntjac species and was discovered in 1994 in Vũ Quang, Hà Tĩnh Province of Vietnam and in central Laos. During inundation of the Nakai Reservoir in Khammouane Province of Laos for the Nam Theun 2 Multi-Purpose Project, 38 giant muntjac were captured, studied, and released into the adjacent Nakai-Nam Theun National Protected Area. Subsequent radio-tracking of a sample of these animals showed the relocation was successful. The species is also located in parts of eastern Cambodia, as well as the Trường Sơn Mountains.

The Truong Son muntjac or Annamite muntjac is a species of muntjac deer. It is one of the smallest muntjac species, at about 15 kg (33 lb), half the size of the Indian muntjac. It was discovered in the Truong Son mountain range in Vietnam in 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muntjac</span> Genus of deer

Muntjacs, also known as the barking deer or rib-faced deer, are small deer of the genus Muntiacus native to South Asia and Southeast Asia. Muntjacs are thought to have begun appearing 15–35 million years ago, with remains found in Miocene deposits in France, Germany and Poland. Most species are listed as Least Concern or Data Deficient by the IUCN, although others such as the black muntjac, Bornean yellow muntjac, and giant muntjac are Vulnerable, Near Threatened, and Critically Endangered, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian muntjac</span> Barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak)

The Indian muntjac or the common muntjac, also called the southern red muntjac and barking deer, is a deer species native to South and Southeast Asia. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. In popular local language, it is known as Kaakad or Kakad (काकड़)

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reeves's muntjac</span> Species of deer

Reeves's muntjac, also known as the Chinese muntjac, is a muntjac species found widely in southeastern China and Taiwan. It has also been introduced in Europe and Japan. It takes its name from John Reeves, a naturalist employed by the British East India Company in the 19th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gongshan muntjac</span> Species of deer

The Gongshan muntjac is a species of muntjac living in the Gongshan mountains in northwestern Yunnan, southeast Tibet, Northeast India and northern Myanmar.

The Bornean yellow muntjac is a muntjac species endemic to the moist forests of Borneo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walong</span> Town in Arunachal Pradesh, India

Walong is an administrative town and the headquarters of eponymous circle in the Anjaw district in eastern-most part of Arunachal Pradesh state in India. It also has a small cantonment of the Indian Army. Walong is on banks of Lohit River, which enters India 35 km north of Walong at India-China LAC at Kaho pass.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barasingha</span> Species of deer

The barasingha, also known as the swamp deer, is a deer species distributed in the Indian subcontinent. Populations in northern and central India are fragmented, and two isolated populations occur in southwestern Nepal. It has been extirpated in Pakistan and Bangladesh, and its presence is uncertain in Bhutan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crab-eating mongoose</span> Species of mongoose from Asia

The crab-eating mongoose is a mongoose species ranging from the northeastern Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia to southern China and Taiwan. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Namdapha National Park</span> National park in Arunachal Pradesh, India

Namdapha National Park is a 1,985 km2 (766 sq mi) large protected area in Arunachal Pradesh of Northeast India. The park was established in 1983. With more than 1,000 floral and about 1,400 faunal species, it is a biodiversity hotspot in the Eastern Himalayas. The national park harbours the northernmost lowland evergreen rainforests in the world at 27°N latitude. It also harbours extensive dipterocarp forests, comprising the northwestern parts of the Mizoram-Manipur-Kachin rain forests ecoregion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anjaw district</span> District of Arunachal Pradesh in India

Anjaw District (Pron:/ˈændʒɔ:/) is an administrative district in the state of Arunachal Pradesh in north-east India. It was created district in 2004, by splitting off from the Lohit district under the Arunachal Pradesh Re-organization of Districts Amendment Act. The district borders China on the north. Hawai, at an altitude of 1296 m above sea level, is the district headquarters, located on the banks of the Lohit River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra River. It is the easternmost district in India. The furthest villages towards the border with China are Dong, Walong, Kibithu and Kaho.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indo-Burma</span>

Indo-Burma is a biodiversity hotspot designated by Conservation International.

The Sumatran muntjac is a subspecies of Indian muntjac in the deer family which can be the size of a large dog. It was discovered in 1914, but had not been sighted since 1930 until one was snared and freed from a hunter's snare in Kerinci Seblat National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia in 2002. Two other Sumatran muntjac have since been photographed in the park. The Sumatran muntjac was placed on the IUCN Red List in 2008, but was listed as Data Deficient, as taxonomic issues are still unresolved. The distribution of the taxon is also uncertain and may be more extensive than suggested. It is possible that some previous sightings of the common muntjac in Western Sumatra were the Sumatran muntjac.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Arunachal Pradesh</span>

Arunachal Pradesh is land of peanuts in the foothills of the Himalayas in northeast India. It is spread over an area of 83,743 km2 (32,333 sq mi). 98% of the geographical area is land out of which 80% is forest cover; 2% is water. River systems in the region, including those from the higher Himalayas and Patkoi and Arakan Ranges, eventually drain into the Brahmaputra River.

References

  1. Timmins, R.J.; Duckworth, J.W. (2016). "Muntiacus putaoensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T136479A22159478. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T136479A22159478.en . Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Rabinowitz, AR; T. Myint; ST Khaing & S Rabinowitz (1999) Description of the Leaf Deer (Muntiacus putaoensis), a new species of muntjac from northern Myanmar. J. Zool. 249:427-435
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Ellis, Richard (2004). No Turning Back: The Life and Death of Animal Species . New York: Harper Perennial. p.  260. ISBN   0-06-055804-0.
  4. Timmins, R. J. & Duckworth (November 16, 2015). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Muntiacus putaoensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
  5. Choudhury, A.U. (2003) The mammals of Arunachal Pradesh. Regency Publications, New Delhi. 140pp
  6. 1 2 3 Datta, A; J Pansa; MD Madhusudan & C Mishra (2003) Discovery of the Leaf Deer (Muntiacus putaoensis) in Arunachal Pradesh: an addition to the large mammals of India. Current Science 84:454-458
  7. Choudhury, A.U. (2007) Discovery of Leaf Deer Muntiacus putaoensis Rabinowitz et al. in Nagaland with a new northerly record from Arunachal Pradesh. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 104(2):205-208
  8. Choudhury, A.U.(2008). Survey of mammals and birds in Dihang–Dibang Biosphere Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh. Final Report to Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India. The Rhino Foundation for Nature in North East India, Guwahati, India. 70 pp.
  9. Choudhury, A.U.(2009) Records and distribution of Gongshan and leaf muntjacs in India. Deer Specialist Group News 23: 2-7.
  10. James, Jiffy, Uma Ramakrishnan, and Aparajita Datta. “Molecular Evidence for the Occurrence of the Leaf Deer Muntiacus Putaoensis in Arunachal Pradesh, North-East India.” Conservation Genetics 9, no. 4 (2007): 927–31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-007-9410-3.
  11. Li, Guo-Gang, Ming-Xia Zhang, Kyaw Swa, Kyau-Win Maung, and Rui-Chang Quan. “Complete Mitochondrial Genome of the Leaf Muntjac (Muntiacus Putaoensis) and Phylogenetics of the Genus Muntiacus.” Zoological Research 38, no. 5 (September 18, 2017): 310–16. https://doi.org/10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2017.058.