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Tragulus
| Tragulus | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | Tragulidae |
| Genus: | Tragulus Brisson, 1762[1] |
| Type species | |
| Cervus javanicus[1] Osbeck, 1765
| |
Tragulus is a genus of even-toed ungulates in the family Tragulidae that are known as mouse-deer.[1] In Ancient Greek τράγος (tragos) means a male goat,[2] while the Latin diminutive –ulus means 'tiny'. With a weight of 0.7–8.0 kg (1.5–17.6 lb) and a length of 40–75 cm (16–30 in), they are the smallest ungulates in the world, though the largest species of mouse-deer surpass some species of Neotragus antelopes in size.[3] The mouse-deer are restricted to Southeast Asia from far Southern China (south Yunnan) to the Philippines (Balabac) and Java.[3]
Following recent taxonomic changes, several of the species in this genus are poorly known, but all are believed to be mainly nocturnal and feed on leaves, fruits, grasses, and other vegetation in the dense forest undergrowth.[3] They are solitary or live in pairs, and the males have elongated canine teeth (neither gender has horns or antlers) that are used in fights.[3] Unlike other members of their family, the Tragulus mouse-deer lack obvious pale stripes/spots on their upper parts.[3]
- ^ a b c Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M., eds. (2005). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
- ^ τράγος. Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; A Greek–English Lexicon at the Perseus Project
- ^ a b c d e Nowak, R. M. (eds) (1999). Walker's Mammals of the World. 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press.
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