Identifying Characteristics:
Resembling a chevrotain in body shape, but smaller and nearly the smallest in the deer family (Cervidae), weighing between 14-20 kg. The entire body is covered in fine, yellowish-brown or rusty-yellow fur. The four legs are slender. The tail is thick. Males have short, unbranched antlers. The skull shape is similar to that of a chevrotain, but smaller. The eye sockets and tear ducts are more rounded. Both males and females have long canine teeth that protrude from the mouth.
Biology and Ecology:
The diet consists of grass, fruits, and leaves from forest trees. Reproduction has not yet been studied. They inhabit old-growth forests (the area with the most studied skull samples is Bản A Ré, Ta Lư, Hiên, Quảng Nam, primarily in old-growth forests dominated by: Afzelia xylocarpa, Dipterocarpus, Chò, Canarium, Bischofia javanica…). They are not found in sparse forests, near fields, or in shrubby savanna.
Distribution:
- Within Vietnam: Quảng Nam (Hiên, Giăng, Phước Sơn).
- Global: Unknown.
Value:
A new species for science, significant for the conservation of genetic resources. Has value for scientific research and ecotourism.
Status:
The distribution area is not wide, and the habitat is restricted to old-growth forests; they are easily hunted and trapped frequently. Further research is needed to provide sufficient data on population size and distribution.
IUCN Red List Category:
Data Deficient (DD).
Conservation Measures:
Prohibit hunting and trapping. Prohibit logging and encroachment into the remaining old-growth forests in the western Quảng Nam region, and promptly establish a nature reserve in this area.