Chevrotain

The mouse-deer is a very tiny animal.

It is the smallest animal with hooves in the world.

Most live in forests in Asia. One kind lives in Africa. They mostly eat plants.

Some even eat small crabs.

They have short, thin legs. This helps them run through thick leaves. They do not have horns.

Instead, males have long teeth for fighting.

They are very special animals. They are a tiny wonder to see!

Chevrotains are very small animals with hooves.

Many people call them mouse-deer. They are not actually close to real deer. They are the smallest hoofed mammals on Earth. Most live in forests in Asia. One kind lives in Africa. This African kind is called the water chevrotain.

Most chevrotains eat plants. The water chevrotain sometimes eats insects or crabs. They have a special stomach with four parts. This helps them digest tough plants. They do not have horns or antlers. Instead, males have long teeth called canines. They use these teeth to fight. Their legs are short and thin. This helps them run through thick leaves. Some species like water very much. They can stay under water to hide from danger. In Malaysia, stories say a mouse-deer is very brave. A legend says a mouse-deer once kicked a hunting dog. This story helped start a kingdom called Malacca.

Chevrotains are tiny animals with hooves.

People often call them mouse-deer. They are not actually close relatives of true deer. They are the smallest hoofed mammals in the whole world. Most species live in the forests of South and Southeast Asia. One special kind is the water chevrotain. It lives in the rainforests of Central and West Africa.

These animals have a unique way of living and eating. Most chevrotains eat almost nothing but plants. The water chevrotain is different because it sometimes eats insects or crabs. It may even eat meat or fish. They have a stomach with four chambers to help them digest tough plants. However, the third chamber is not very well developed. They also lack upper front teeth called incisors. Instead, both males and females have long canine teeth.

Scientists have studied these animals for a long time. The chevrotain family was very successful a long time ago. They were widespread from the Oligocene, which was 34 million years ago. They stayed successful through the Miocene, about 5 million years ago. These animals have stayed almost unchanged for a very long time. They are an example of an archaic ruminant type. In 2019, scientists found silver-backed chevrotains in a Vietnamese forest. It was the first time they were seen since 1990.

There are 10 different species living today. They are split into three groups called genera. The Java mouse-deer is the smallest surviving hoofed mammal. It has an average length of 44 centimeters. Its average height is only 25 centimeters. Asian species weigh between 1.5 and 4 kilograms. The African water chevrotain is much larger. It weighs between 7 and 12 kilograms.

Chevrotains have many interesting traits that connect to other animals. Their short and thin legs help them run through thick leaves. This keeps their bodies small in crowded forests. Some species love the water. They can stay underwater for a long time to hide. This makes some people think whales might have evolved from water-loving creatures like these. In Malaysia, legends say a mouse-deer is very brave. One story says a mouse-deer kicked a hunting dog into a river. This helped a king start the Malacca Sultanate.

Chevrotains are small, even-toed ungulates belonging to the family Tragulidae. They are the only living members of the infraorder Tragulina. While they are often called "mouse-deer," they are not closely related to true deer. This distinction is why the name is often hyphenated. These animals are significant because they are the smallest hoofed mammals on Earth. Most species live in the forests of South and Southeast Asia. However, one specific species, the water chevrotain, lives in the rainforests of Central and West Africa.

The biology of the chevrotain shows a mix of modern and primitive traits. They are considered an archaic ruminant type. Like other ruminants, they have a four-chambered stomach to ferment tough plant material. However, their third stomach chamber is poorly developed. They also lack upper incisors, which are the front teeth used for biting. Instead, both sexes possess elongated canine teeth. In males, these teeth project from the sides of the lower jaw and are used in fights.

Their physical structure is specialized for life in dense environments. Chevrotains have short, thin legs. This build helps them maintain a small profile while running through thick foliage. They also possess several features similar to pigs. These include having four toes on each foot and lacking facial scent glands. Some species also have premolars with sharp crowns. Unlike many other even-toed ungulates, they lack a carotid rete. This is a system that allows animals to exchange heat to cool blood entering the brain. Without it, they cannot easily exploit hot, arid habitats.

There are currently 10 extant species divided into three different genera. The genus *Tragulus* includes species like the Java mouse-deer and the Philippine mouse-deer. The genus *Moschiola* contains the Indian spotted chevrotain and the Sri Lankan spotted chevrotain. The genus *Hyemoschus* contains only the water chevrotain. Scientists often use different names based on physical markings. Species with pale spots or stripes are called "chevrotains." Those without these markings are called "mouse-deer."

Size and weight vary significantly between the Asian and African species. Asian species typically weigh between 1.5 and 4 kilograms. The water chevrotain is much larger, weighing between 7 and 12 kilograms. The Java mouse-deer holds a record for being the smallest surviving artiodactyl. It has an average length of 44 centimeters and an average height of 25 centimeters. These small dimensions allow them to navigate complex forest floors.

The history of the Tragulidae family spans millions of years. They were widespread and successful from the Oligocene, about 34 million years ago, through the Miocene, about 5 million years ago. Many other genera, such as *Dorcatherium* and *Siamotragulus*, are now extinct. While the family has changed little over time, modern conservation is still active. In November 2019, scientists announced they had photographed silver-backed chevrotains in Vietnam. This was the first confirmed sighting of the species since 1990.

Chevrotains have interesting connections to both nature and culture. Some species show a strong affinity for water. They can stay submerged for long periods to hide from predators. This behavior has led some to suggest that whales might have evolved from water-loving ancestors that resembled small deer.

In Malay folklore, the mouse-deer is a famous trickster. Legend says a mouse-deer once kicked a hunting dog into a river. This event inspired King Parameswara to found the Malacca Sultanate. Today, the coat of arms of Malacca features two mouse-deer to honor this legend.