Juliaauhm: added references for consistency and corrected details

2026-03-24T22:19:56Z

added references for consistency and corrected details

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article

2023-08-23T07:08:30Z

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{{short description|Barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak)}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2015|}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Southern red muntjac
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{cite iucn |title=''Muntiacus muntjak'' |author=Timmins, R.J. |author2=Duckworth, J.W. |author3=Hedges, S. |date=2016 |page=e.T42190A56005589|doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T42190A56005589.en |access-date=10 February 2023}}</ref>
| image = Muntiacus muntjak 50960281.jpg
| image_caption = Adult female and offspring (''Muntiacus muntjak''), in Malaysia, September 2012
| taxon = Muntiacus muntjak
| authority = ([[Eberhard August Wilhelm von Zimmermann|Zimmermann]], 1780)
| range_map = Muntjac distribution map.gif
| range_map_caption = Range of the northern red muntjac (M. vaginalis) and the southern red muntjac (M. muntjak)
| synonyms = *''Cervus muntjac''
}}

The '''Southern red muntjac''' ('''''Muntiacus muntjak''''') is a [[deer]] species native to [[Southeast Asia]]. It was formerly known as the '''Indian muntjac''' or the '''common muntjac''' before the species was taxonomically revised to represent only populations of [[Sundaland|Sunda]] and perhaps [[Malaysia]]. The other populations being attributed to this species are now attributed to ''Muntiacus vaginalis'' ([[Northern red muntjac]]). Muntjacs are also referred to as '''barking deer'''. It is listed as [[Least Concern]] on the [[IUCN Red List]].<ref name=iucn/>

This muntjac has soft, short, brownish or grayish hair, sometimes with creamy markings. It is among the smallest deer species. It is an [[omnivore]] and eats grass, fruit, [[Shoot (botany)|shoot]]s, seeds, bird eggs, and small animals, and occasionally [[Scavenger|scavenges]] on [[carrion]]. Its calls sound like [[Bark (utterance)|barking]], often when frightened by a [[Predation|predator]], hence the common name "barking deer". Males have [[Canine tooth|canine]]s, short [[antler]]s that usually branch just once near the base, and a large postorbital [[scent gland]] used to mark territories.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Muntiacus_muntjak/|title=''Muntiacus muntjak''|website=Animal Diversity Web|language=en|access-date=2017-12-02}}</ref>

==Name==
The species was formerly classified as ''{{lang|la|[[Cervus]] muntjac}}''.<ref>{{citation |date=1876 |contribution=[[:s:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition/Burmah|Burmah]] |title=Encyclopædia Britannica, ''9th ed.'' |volume=[[:s:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition/Volume IV|Vol. IV]] |page=[[:s:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition/Burmah|552]] }}</ref>

==Characteristics==
[[File:Muntiacus muntjak 05 MWNH 152.jpg|thumb|Skull]]
The Southern red muntjac has a short but very soft, thick, dense coat that is more dense in cooler regions. Its face is darker and the limbs are dark to reddish brown and the coat color seasonally varies from darker brown to yellowish and grayish brown and is white ventrally. Its ears have much less hair, but otherwise are the same color as the rest of the head. Male muntjacs have short antlers, about {{convert|10|cm|in|abbr=on}} long, that protrude from long body hair-covered pedicels above the eyes. Females have tufts of fur and small bony knobs instead of antlers. Males also have elongated ({{convert|2|-|4|cm|in|abbr=on}}), slightly curved upper canines, which can be used in male-male conflicts and inflict serious injury. The body length of muntjacs varies from {{convert|89|-|135|cm|in|abbr=on}}, with a {{convert|13|to|23|cm|in|abbr=on}} long tail, and shoulder height ranging from {{convert|40|to|65|cm|in|abbr=on}}. Adult weight ranges between {{convert|13|and|35|kg|abbr=on}},<ref>{{URL|https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Muntiacus_muntjak/}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{URL|https://eol.org/pages/308397/data}}</ref> with males being larger than females. Muntjacs are unique among the deer, having large, obvious facial (preorbital, in front of the eyes) scent glands used to mark territories or to attract females. Males have larger glands than females.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Barrette |first=C. |date=1976 |title=Musculature of facial scent glands in the muntjac |url=http://europepmc.org/backend/ptpmcrender.fcgi?accid=PMC1231931&blobtype=pdf |journal=[[Journal of Anatomy]] |volume=122 |issue=Pt 1 |pages=61–66 |pmid=977477 |pmc=1231931}}</ref>

==Distribution and habitat==

The southern red muntjac (previously known as the common muntjac) is one the least known mammals of [[Southeast Asia]]. It is found in the [[Malay Peninsula]], [[Sumatra]], [[Java]], [[Bali]] and [[Borneo]].<ref name=iucn/> It is also assumed to be present in peninsular [[Thailand]] and southwestern [[Myanmar]].<ref name=iucn/> It is extinct in [[Singapore]].<ref name=iucn/>''M. muntjak'' is a terrestrial mammal that live in forests and is resilient to changes in its habitat.<ref name=iucn/>

=== Distribution of subspecies (MSW3) ===
{{multiple image
| perrow = 1
| image1 = Barkingdeer by N A Nazeer.jpg
| caption1 = ''M. m. aureus'' in India. This subspecies is now included under the northern red muntjac (M. vaginalis)
| image2 = Red Muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak curvostylis) (7109809349).jpg
| caption2 = ''M. m. curvostylis'' in [[Khao Yai National Park]], Thailand. This subspecies is now included under the northern red muntjac (M. vaginalis).
| image3 = Northern Red Muntjac, Muntiacus vaginalis in Khao Yai national park (24073673163).jpg
| caption3 = ''M. vaginalis'' in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand. This species was formerly included under M. muntjak.
}}

There were 15 subspecies included under the species in [[MSW3]] :<ref name=msw3>{{MSW3 Artiodactyla|id=14200405|page=667|heading=''Muntiacus muntjak''}}</ref>
*''M. m. annamensis'', [[Indochina]]
*''M. m. aureus'', peninsular [[India]]
*''M. m. bancanus'', [[Belitung]] and [[Bangka Island]]s
*''M. m. curvostylis'', [[Thailand]]
*''M. m. grandicornis'', Burmese muntjac, [[Burma]]
*''M. m. malabaricus'', South India and [[Sri Lanka]]
*''M. m. montanus'', Sumatran or mountain muntjac, [[Sumatra]]
*''M. m. muntjak'', Javan muntjac, [[Java]] and south Sumatra
*''M. m. nainggolani'', [[Bali]] and [[Lombok]] Islands
*''M. m. nigripes'', black-footed or black-legged muntjac, [[Vietnam]] and [[Hainan]] Island
*''M. m. peninsulae'', [[Malaysia]]
*''M. m. pleicharicus'', South [[Borneo]]
*''M. m. robinsoni'', [[Bintan Island]] and [[Lingga Islands]]
*''M. m. rubidus'', north Borneo
*''M. m. vaginalis'', Burma to southwest [[China]]

=== Distribution of subspecies (IUCN and MDD) ===

1-2 of them have since been elevated to species status : ''M. malabaricus'' and ''[[Muntiacus vaginalis|M. vaginalis]]'' (northern red muntjac).<ref name=TSSKAISB2016>{{cite iucn |last1=Timmins|first1=R.J.|last2=Steinmetz|first2=R.|last3=Samba Kumar|first3=N.|last4=Anwarul Islam|first4=Md.|last5=Sagar Baral|first5=H.|year=2016 |title=''Muntiacus vaginalis''|page=e.T136551A22165292|doi= 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T136551A22165292.en}}</ref><ref>{{BioRef|asm|genus=Muntiacus|species=vaginalis|id=1006338|access-date=10 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{BioRef|asm|genus=Muntiacus|species=malabaricus|id=1006331|access-date=10 February 2023}}</ref>

The subspecies ''bancanus'', ''montanus'', ''muntjak'', ''nainggolani'', ''peninsulae'', ''pleiharicus'', ''robinsoni'', ''rubidus'' are included in the southern red muntjak (M. muntjak), while ''annamensis'', ''aureus'', ''curvostylis'', ''grandicornis'', ''nigripes'' are included in the northern red muntjac (M. vaginalis).<ref>{{BioRef|asm|genus=Muntiacus|species=muntjak|id=1006332|access-date=14 February 2023}}</ref>

==Ecology and behavior==
[[File:Barking deer.ogg|thumb|Alarm calls]]
The Southern red muntjac is also called "barking deer" due to the bark-like sound that it makes as an alarm when danger is present. Other than during the [[Rut (mammalian reproduction)|rut]] (mating season) and for the first six months after giving birth, the adult muntjac is a solitary animal. Adult males in particular are well spaced and marking grass and bushes with secretions from their [[preorbital gland]]s appears to be involved in the acquisition and maintenance of territory.<ref name=Eisenberg1974>{{cite book |last1=Eisenberg |first1=J. F. |last2=McKay |first2=G. M. |editor1-last=Geist |editor1-first=V. |editor2-last=Walther |editor2-first=F. |title=The behaviour of ungulates and its relation to management |chapter=Comparison of ungulate adaptations in the new world and the old world tropical forests with special reference to Ceylon and the rainforests of Central America |publisher=[[International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources]] |location=[[Morges]], Switzerland |year=1974 |pages=584–602 |chapter-url=http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/NS-024-2.pdf}}</ref> Males acquire territories that they [[scent marking|mark with scent markers]] by rubbing their preorbital glands (located on their face, just below the eyes) on the ground and on trees, scraping their hooves against the ground, and scraping the bark of trees with their lower incisors. These scent markers allow other muntjacs to know whether a territory is occupied or not. Males often fight with each other over these territories, sufficient vegetation, and for primary preference over females when mating using their short antlers and an even more dangerous weapon, their canines. If a male is not strong enough to acquire his own territory, it will most likely to fall victim to a predator. During the time of the rut, territorial lines are temporarily disregarded and overlap, while males roam constantly in search of a receptive female.

Predators of these deer include [[tiger]]s, [[leopard]]s, [[Neofelis|clouded leopard]]s, [[Python (genus)|pythons]], [[crocodile]]s, [[dhole]]s, [[Asiatic black bear]]s, [[fishing cat]]s, [[Asian golden cat]]s and [[golden jackal]]s.<ref name=":1" /> [[Vulpes|Foxes]], [[Bird of prey|raptors]] and [[wild boar]]s prey on fawns. They are highly alert creatures. When put into a stressful situation or if a predator is sensed, muntjacs begin making a bark-like sound. Barking was originally thought of as a means of communication between the deer during mating season, as well as an alert.

===Reproduction===
The Southern red muntjacs are [[Polygamy|polygamous]] animals. Females become sexually mature during their first to second year of life. These females are [[Estrous cycle#Frequency|polyestrous]], with each cycle lasting about 14 to 21 days and an estrus lasting for 2 days. The gestation period is 6–7 months and they usually bear one offspring at a time, but sometimes produce twins. Females usually give birth in dense growth so that they are hidden from the rest of the herd and predators. The young leaves its mother after about 6 months to establish its own territory. Males often fight between one another for possession of a harem of females. Muntjacs are distinguished from other even-toed ungulates in showing no evidence of a specific breeding season within the species. Adults exhibit relatively large home range overlap both intersexually and intrasexually, meaning that strict territorialism did not occur but some form of site-specific dominance exists.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Odden |first1=M. |last2=Wegge |first2=P. |date=2007 |title=Predicting spacing behavior and mating systems of solitary cervids: A study of hog deer and Indian muntjac |journal=[[Journal of Zoology]] |volume=110 |issue=4 |pages=261–270 |doi=10.1016/j.zool.2007.03.003 |pmid=17614268}}</ref>

==Evolution and genetics==
[[File:Metaphase spread of the Indian muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak vaginalis).jpg|thumb|Female ''M. m. vaginalis'' metaphase spread chromosomes]]
[[Paleontology|Paleontological]] evidence proves that Southern red muntjacs have been around since the late [[Pleistocene]] [[Epoch (geology)|epoch]] at least 12,000 years ago. Scientists are interested in studying muntjacs because between species, they have a wide variation in number of chromosomes; in fact, the southern red muntjac has the lowest recorded number of chromosomes of any mammal, with males having a diploid number of 7 and females having 6 chromosomes. They are the oldest known members of the deer family, and the earliest known deer-like creatures had horns instead of antlers, but the muntjac is the earliest known species to actually have antlers. Ancestor to muntjacs is the ''[[Dicrocerus elegans]]'', which is the oldest known deer to shed antlers. Other fossils found that deer species experienced a split of the Cervinae from the Muntiacinae, the latter of which remained of similar morphology. Muntjacs of this time during the Miocene were smaller than their modern counterparts. Molecular data have suggested that Southern red muntjacs and Fea's muntjacs share a common ancestor, while giant muntjacs are more closely related to Reeve's muntjac. Although the muntjac deer has a long lineage, little has been studied in terms of their fossil record.<ref name=":0" /> The female Southern red muntjac deer is the mammal with the lowest recorded [[Ploidy#Diploid|diploid number]] of [[chromosome]]s, where 2n = 6.<ref>{{cite book |last=Kinnear |first=J. F. |year=2006 |title=Chromosomes: How Many? |chapter=Nature of Biology |edition=3 |issue=2 |location=[[Milton, Queensland]] |publisher=[[Wiley (publisher)|John Wiley & Sons]] Australia Ltd. |isbn=9780731402366}}</ref> The male has a diploid number of seven chromosomes. In comparison, the similar [[Reeves's muntjac]] (''M. reevesi'') has a diploid number of 46 chromosomes.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal |author1=Wurster, D. H. |author2=Benirschke, K. |date=1970 |title=Indian Momtjac, ''Muntiacus muntiak'': A Deer with a Low Diploid Chromosome Number |journal=Science |volume=168 |issue=3937 |pages=1364–1366 |doi=10.1126/science.168.3937.1364 |pmid=5444269 |bibcode=1970Sci...168.1364W|s2cid=45371297 }}</ref>

==Threats==
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2019}}
[[File:Another food source.jpg|thumb|Two southern red muntjacs and a [[wild boar]] hunted by the [[Poumai Naga people]]. Muntjac are hunted for meat and skin in several areas of South and Southeast Asia.]]
Southern red muntjacs are hunted for sport and for their [[meat]] and [[skin]] around the outskirts of agricultural areas, as they are considered a nuisance for damaging crops and ripping bark from trees.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==

*{{cite encyclopedia |editor-last=Hutchins |editor-first=M. |year=2004 |title=Muntjacs |encyclopedia=[[Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia]] |edition=2 |volume=15 |location=[[Detroit]] |publisher=[[The Gale Group]] Inc.}}
*{{cite encyclopedia |last=Kurt |first=F. |year=1990 |title=Muntjac Deer |encyclopedia=Grzimek's Encyclopedia of Mammals |edition=1 |volume=5 |location=St. Louis |publisher=[[McGraw-Hill Education|McGraw-Hill]]}}
*{{cite book |last=Nowak |first=R.M. |year=1999 |chapter=Muntjacs, or Barking Deer |title=Walker's Mammals of the World |edition=6 |volume=2 |location=[[Baltimore]] |publisher=The [[Johns Hopkins University Press]]}}

{{Artiodactyla|R.1}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q533451}}

[[Category:Muntjac]]
[[Category:Mammals of South Asia]]
[[Category:Mammals of Southeast Asia]]
[[Category:Mammals described in 1780|Southern red muntjac]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Eberhard August Wilhelm von Zimmermann]]

Southern red muntjac - Revision history

Juliaauhm: added references for consistency and corrected details

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article