Indian Spotted Chevrotain or Indian Mouse Deer (Moschiola indica) is an Artiodactyl i.e. a species of even toed ungulate in the family Tragulidae, found in India, Sri Lanka and possibly Nepal. It is the smallest deer in India and is highly nocturnal. It is a rare species to spot in wild since it is very shy and of cryptic nature. The conservation status of Indian mouse deer, according to IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources), is Least Concern.
It forages on forest floor for fruits, roots, leaves and herbs. It has occasionally been observed eating insects, crustaceans and even small mammals.
Head and body length in the species typically are 50 to 60 cm. It is dull brown in colour with three to four dotted white stripes going longitudinally along flank. The weight can reach between 3 to 4 kg. It prefers living in dense forests.
The males have no antlers, like those of other deer, but have visible upper canines. It has short thin legs which leave them lacking in agility but also helps to maintain a smaller profile which aids in running through the dense foliage of their environment. Most of the Chevrotains are digitigrades viz. walking on toes only without letting heels to touch the ground. Sexual Dimorphism is seen as the female is larger than males.
Mouse-deer (tragulids) in general occupy a range of habitats from evergreen forests to plantations. They are an ancient group of frugivorous ungulates, small-bodied and active both day and night. They are often found in evergreen, semi-evergreen and deciduous forests, as well as in grassland and commercial plantations.
The mouse deer is solitary animal except during mating season and hence the communication is likely to be limited to males and females during mating periods. Their territories are relatively small reaching from 13 to 24 hectares but neighbours generally ignore each other rather than competing aggressively. They have a lifespan of 8-12 years in the wild.
Other than being preyed upon by carnivores like dholes, tigers and leopards, Indian chevrotain plays an important ecological role as seed dispersers.
Content by Harpreet Singh and pictures contributed by Ashu, Naturalist at Kanha Earth Lodge. He had good sightings of Mouse Deer in Kanha National Park in 2019.
