Java mouse-deer: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 18:22, 1 December 2013

Revision as of 18:25, 1 December 2013

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===Habitat===

The Java mouse-deer prefers habitats of higher elevations and the tropical forest regions of Java, although it does appear at lower elevations between 400-700 meters above sea level <ref name=eof5/><ref name=adw12>Strawder, N. (2000). ADW: Tragulus javanicus. ADW: Home. Retrieved from http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Tragulus_javanicus/</ref>. During the day, Java mouse-deer can be seen roaming in crown-gap areas with dense undergrowth of creeping bamboo, through which they make tunnels through the thick vegetation which lead to resting places and feeding areas<ref name=superhero8/>. At night, the Java mouse-deer moves to higher and drier ridge areas<ref name=eof5/>. It has been argued that Java mouse-deer are an “edge” species, favoring areas of dense vegetation along riverbanks<ref name=eof5/>. Additionally, Java mouse-deer have been found to be more prevalent in logged areas than in the more mature forests, and their densities tended to decrease proportionately as the logged forests matured.

==Behavior==

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==Reproduction and Young==

Java mouse-deer are capable of breeding at any time during the year, and this has been observed during captivity <ref name=eof5/><ref name=adw12 />. However, some sources have observed that the breeding season for the Java mouse-deer in nature occurs from November to December<ref name=hassen15hayssen15>Hayssen, V., & Tienhoven, A. v. (1993). Asdell's patterns of mammalian reproduction: a compendium of species-specific data. Ithaca: Cornell University Press</ref>. Additionally, female mouse-deer have the potential to be pregnant throughout most of their adult life, and they are capable of conceiving 85-155 minutes after giving birth <ref name=adw12 />. The Java mouse-deer’s gestation period usually lasts 4.5 months, or 144 days <ref name=eof5/><ref name=adw12 />. Typical litters consist of a single fawn, which resembles a miniature adult, although the tusk-like incisors prevalent in males are not visible in the young mouse-deer<ref name=eof5/>. The average mass of a newborn fawn is 370 grams, and these precocial young are capable of standing within 30 minutes after birth. Fawns are capable of eating solid food within two weeks, yet it takes around 12 weeks to completely wean the fawns <ref name=superhero8/>. On average, it takes the young, both male and female, 167 days (~5 months) to reach sexual maturity<ref name=kingdon16>Kingdon, J. (1989). East African mammals : an atlas of evolution in Africa. London: Academic Press</ref>. Mouse-deer have been observed to live up to 14 years in captivity, but their lifespan in nature is still questionable <ref name=eof5/>.

==Predators==