Musk Deer Moschus moschiferous

A little creature not more than 50 cm high at the shoulder, slightly higher at the croup. The musk deer hold a place between the deer and the antelopes. It is regarded as an undeveloped form of deer, which has not progressed, with rest of his family. Its horn less and has no face glands. It has a gall bladder which no deer possess. In some way it has taken a special line of development of its own.

The musk gland is situated beneath the skin of the abdomen of the mail when fresh its secretion has a un pleasant, pungent urinary odour. When dry it acquires the scent of Musk. Valued as a commercial product. It induces the persecution of the species. Musk deer wear a coat of thick and bristly hairs all most pithy in structure. The general color is a shade of rich dark brown specked with grey.
These live singly or in pairs and are generally met within birch forest above the zones of pines. At times they come down to lower levels but always keep in thick cover. The food consists of grasses, lichens, leaves and flowers. The breeding season is believed to be in January. And young ones are born in June. Musk deer ranges over a wide area in central and Northeastern Asia. The typical form Moschus moschiferous is found in Kashmir, Nepal and Sikkim.

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