by Annalyn Andriyenko

Created on: May 11, 2010

The Chinese water deer is a smaller type of deer found in northwest China. It is a very unique type of deer because of how it does not grow antlers like many deer in North American and around the world. This deer has been compared to a type of animal known as the Musk deer, a primitive type of deer that has been around for ages and also is smaller without any antler growth. These animals were discovered in the European world in the early 1870's and were given the sub family of their own, called Hydropotinae, with also a genus of their own called Hydropotes.

The environment in which they live is usually lush forests surrounded by springs of rivers and many a place to lay down and sleep upon the leaves. They are very private but yet and easily to be found along side the Yangtze river, where they are said to have been originated in the first place. They actually have been found in many water areas of Korea as well, as they must have somehow evolved from there. The type of places they often love to dwell at are mainly by the river beds and even swamp environments where they found their food. They can also be found at wide and spacious grasslands but they are very quick prancers once a predator takes a sight of one.

Chinese water deer have a very typical look of any deer. They have soft tawny colored fur, very long thin legs and short pert ears. They have long muzzles and big black eyes and their hooves are neatly cut. One thing besides their smaller height that differentiates them from other breeds of deer, is their incredible long canine teeth. These teeth almost look like mini husks at their mouth and they use these teeth to get food and even make burry holes to rest in. These somewhat long and sharp husk are also used when males fight for a female.

These types of deer make low growling sounds at each other for communication. Sometimes they often make barking sounds at each other to warn other males to stay away from the area. Soft sounds produced from a fawn means its feeding time, while a shrill scream means the young fawn is injured or scared. Their diet mainly consists of shrubbery, insects, nuts and fruit. These Chinese water deer where introduced to London in the mid 1800's as a special exhibit since they were very unique looking out of all dear species because of their tusks.     

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