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===Social behavior===
Groups of Java mouse-deer are commonly referred to as “herds,” while females are termed “does,” “hinds,” or “cows.” Males are referred to as either “bucks,” “stags,” or “bulls,” and their young are commonly called “fawns,” or “asses”.<ref name=superhero8/>
It was previously believed that Java mouse-deer were [[nocturnal]], but more recent studies have shown that they are neither truly nocturnal nor [[Diurnality|diurnal]], but instead [[crepuscular]], meaning they prefer to be active during the dim light of dawn and dusk.<ref name=superhero8/> This behavior has been observed in both wild and captive Java mouse-deer.<ref name=matsubayashi13>{{cite journal | last1 = Matsubayashi | first1 = H. | last2 = Bosi | first2 = E. | last3 = Kohshima | first3 = S. | year = 2003 | title = Activity And Habitat Use Of Lesser Mouse-Deer (Tragulus Javanicus) | url =http://eprints.ums.edu.my/528/1/Activity_and_habitat_use_of_lesser_mouse-deer_%28Tragulus_javanicus%29.pdf | journal = Journal of Mammalogy | volume = 84 | issue = 1| pages = 234–242 | doi=10.1644/1545-1542(2003)084<0234:aahuol>2.0.co;2| doi-access = free }}</ref> Although Java mouse-deer form [[Monogamy in animals|monogamous]] family groups, they are usually shy, solitary animals. They are also usually silent; the only noise they make is a shrill cry when they are frightened.
Male Java mouse-deer are territorial, marking their territory and their mates with secretions from an intermandibular scent gland under their chin.<ref name=superhero8/> This territorial marking usually includes urinating or defecating to mark their area. To protect themselves and their mates or to defend their territory, mouse-deer slash rivals with their sharp, protruding canine “tusks.” It has also been observed that, when threatened, the Java mouse-deer will beat its hooves quickly against the ground, reaching speeds of up to 7 beats per second, creating a “drum roll” sound.<ref name=prothero14>Prothero, D. R., & Foss, S. E. (2007). The evolution of artiodactyls. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press</ref>
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