Black musk deer
Preparation of a black musk deer (Moschus fuscus )
The Black musk deer (Moschus fuscus ) is a species of musk deer ( Moschidae ), which is common in the eastern Himalayas. The species is considered critically endangered.
Features
The Black musk deer musk is different from other animals by the relatively dark color. The belly is just as dark as the rest of the hull. However, this applies less to the animals of the Khumbu region, where the stomach is usually slightly brighter. The Black musk deer has sometimes two pale yellow transverse bands in the upper chest, but shows no more neck or throat drawing. Only rarely traces of a yellow mottling on the body can be seen. The neck may be more brightly colored than the trunk. The body length is 73-80 cm, tail length 4-6 cm, weight fluctuates 10 to 15 kg. The legs are longer than in China musk deer musk Berezovskii whose distribution area adjacent to the east.
Distribution area
The distribution area extends over the eastern parts of the Himalayan region. Here you can find it in the south of Tibet, in the northwest of Yunnan Province, Myanmar, Bhutan and Sikkim in northeast India. Presumably, it is also found in Arunachal Pradesh. Those musk deer that are found in Nepal in the area of Mount Everest at about 4000 m, are also likely to be attributable to this type.
Way of life
Very little is known about the life and ecology of this animal musk. It supposedly inhabited mountainous coniferous forests at altitudes of 2200-4600 m above sea level. In part, it seems to penetrate alpine zones. The animals feed mainly on grasses, mosses and tender shoots of various plants.
Endangering
The species was originally conceived as a subspecies of the Yellow-bellied musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster ), but is now usually regarded as a separate species. She seems to be already rare in all parts of the range, and is therefore by the IUCN as endangered ( Endangered ) classified. Like all musk deer is also this kind hunted because of Musk, a substance that produce the males in special glands.