10. Researchers Believe Muntjacs Evolved Between 25 and 35 Million Years Ago
According to the fossil record, the first deer evolved around 20 and 15 million years ago. These early deer measured significantly smaller than most deer alive today, with shorter, more forked antlers. Over time, larger, more robust species began to appear until you get to the bigger species we commonly recognize as deer today. Researchers believe that the first muntjacs appeared between 15 and 35 million years ago. If true, that would make muntjacs among the first and oldest extant species of deer on Earth. Scientists have located muntjac remains in Miocene deposits in central Europe, so it’s very possible that there are other undiscovered remains out there from even older muntjacs.
9. Muntjacs Are Among the World’s Smallest Deer
When most people in the US think of deer, they think of large white-tailed deer or mule deer. That said, deer come in a range of sizes, from giant elk and moose to tiny water deer. For example, the world’s smallest deer, the northern pudu, stands only 13 to 14 inches tall and weighs between 7.3 and 13.2 pounds. Meanwhile, the muntjac doesn’t measure much larger. Muntjacs vary in size depending on the species, with most specimens measuring between 15 and 25 inches tall and weighing 33 to 44 pounds. On the other hand, the giant muntjacs of Vietnam and Laos measure up to 30 inches tall and weigh from 66 to 110 pounds.
8. The Word Muntjac Has an Interesting Origin
The term muntjac comes from the Dutch word muntjak. However, the Dutch borrowed muntjak in turn from the Sudanese word mēncēk, which translates to “small deer.” In 1780, the German geographer and zoologist Eberhardt August Wilhelm von Zimmermann, coined the Latinized and current form of the word, muntjac. Some people may also know the muntjac by another name, the Mastreani deer. In reality, this name was incorrectly attributed to muntjacs and no researcher has ever referred to muntjacs as Mastreani deer. Such naming mistakes occasionally occur, especially with animals such as muntjacs that remain largely unstudied by western scientists.
7. Muntjacs Make Barking Sounds
Next up on our list is one of the strangest and also most obvious muntjac facts. Aside from the muntjac’s small size, people primarily know the deer for its unique vocalizations. As their name suggests, muntjacs make characteristic barking sounds. The bark sounds almost dog-like, and both males and females will bark, although males tend to bark more aggressively than females. You can often hear their barks echoing through the night, as muntjacs are nocturnal. Muntjacs bark for a number of reasons. Firstly, to mark their territory, particularly the males, who vocalize their presence to tell potential rivals to stay away. Additionally, muntjacs also bark as a means of warding off predators.
6. Some Muntjac Species Are Invasive
All muntjacs are native to southern and southeast Asia and are among the most widespread mammals in the region. They tend to live in areas with dense vegetation, such as rainforests, where they have access to plenty of food. However, while muntjacs originally hail from Asia, you can now find them in several other countries around the world. There exists an established population of Reeve’s muntjacs in the United Kingdom, with some researchers estimating the total number of deer at around 80,000. You can also find smaller populations in Belgium and the Netherlands. Due to a lack of natural predators and limited mitigation efforts, invasive muntjac populations have been allowed to grow practically unchecked. As a result, they rank as one of the most invasive species in the UK and European Union.
5. Muntjacs Grow Tusk-Like Teeth
When people think of carnivore teeth, they often imagine rows of large, sharp canines suited to piercing and tearing flesh. On the other hand, when we think of herbivore teeth, our minds turn to short, flat teeth optimized from grinding plant matter. Throughout the animal kingdom, this stereotype mostly holds true, with omnivores normally possessing a combination of flat molars and sharp canines. Muntjacs buck this stereotype, as the males possess prominent, downward-pointing canine teeth, despite the fact the muntjacs almost exclusively eat plants. However, instead of using their teeth to eat, males use their canines to fight with other males. Such teeth were common in many species of “primitive” deer but have since mostly disappeared from modern deer. The water deer represents the only other known modern deer that possesses such teeth.
4. Male Muntjacs Regrow Their Horns Every Year
Like other deer, male muntjacs possess a pair of antlers on top of their heads. The size of a male muntjac’s antlers varies according to its species and age. As for females, they feature a set of small knobs instead of antlers. Muntjac antlers typically grow straight, although they may contain one or several branches. The antlers are made of hard bone and are typically fully grown by August or September. They slowly shed their antlers, which completely disappear by May or June. This process happens yearly, with the antlers growing back larger and more complex with each cycle.
3. Muntjacs Exhibit Dramatic Chromosome Variations
Chromosomes are DNA molecules that contain an organism’s genetic blueprint. The number of chromosomes in an organism varies wildly, with some containing vastly more than others. Mammals typically have 30 or more chromosomes, with humans containing 46 chromosomes. On the other hand, muntjacs exhibit dramatic chromosome variations between species, which is extremely rare in most animal families. For example, Reeves’s muntjac possesses 46 chromosomes, just like humans. Meanwhile, male Indian muntjacs have a diploid number of 7, while females have only 6 chromosomes. For reference, even snails have 24 chromosomes.
2. Muntjacs Mate Year-Round
By and large, deer that live in temperate climates do not mate year-round. Known as the rut, deer mating season generally occurs once a year, primarily in the fall from September to November. Deer are polygamous, and a single alpha male will often breed with multiple females. Muntjacs historically originate from tropical climates and do not follow the same breeding behavior as most temperate-dwelling deer species. Case in point, muntjacs can and will breed year-round without respect to the season or temperature. Even muntjacs that were introduced to temperate climates continue to mate throughout the year.
1. The IUCN Lists Several Muntjac Species as Threatened or Endangered
Scientists recognize a total of 12 extant muntjac deer species. The vast majority of these species are not well-studied, and not enough data exists to ascertain their conservation status. Several species, such as the Indian muntjac and Reeves’s muntjac, enjoy widespread distribution and are listed as species of Least Concern. However, several muntjac species face significant threats to their continued existence. The IUCN lists the Bornean yellow muntjac as Near Threatened and the hairy-fronted muntjac as Vulnerable. Then there’s the giant muntjac, which the IUCN lists as Critically Endangered, making it the most threatened muntjac species.
