Larger Malay Mouse-Deer

The larger Malay mouse-deer is a small hoofed mammal that is roughly comparable in size to a rabbit. It has extremely slender and elongated legs, a compact rounded body, and a small triangular-shaped head. Its face features a tiny black nose and large, expressive eyes. The body is covered with orange-brown fur, while the underside, including the belly, chest, and throat, is lighter in color with white markings.

Unlike many other hoofed animals, larger Malay mouse-deer do not grow horns or antlers. However, males possess small, elongated canine teeth that extend from the upper jaw. These tusk-like teeth are mainly used during conflicts with other males. When standing, their rear body sits higher than their shoulders, giving them a distinctive body shape.

Size

Adult larger Malay mouse-deer usually have a body length of around 29 inches (75 centimeters), with an additional 3.5 inches (9 centimeters) contributed by the tail. Their height at the shoulder is approximately 13 inches (34 centimeters).

Natural Range and Habitat

Larger Malay mouse-deer are found across parts of Southeast and South Asia, including Thailand, Indochina, Sri Lanka, the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. These animals prefer environments near water sources and are commonly found hiding among the dense vegetation of tropical forests.

They move through thick forest undergrowth by creating narrow pathways and small trails that allow them to travel between feeding and resting areas.

Lifespan

When kept under human care, larger Malay mouse-deer can survive for as long as 16 years.

Diet and Feeding Behavior

In their natural environment, larger Malay mouse-deer feed on a variety of plant-based foods. Their diet includes fallen fruits, berries, aquatic vegetation, leaves, young shoots, bushes, and grasses.

At the Smithsonian's National Zoo, their meals include fresh browse plants, alfalfa, kale, sweet potatoes, carrots, and banana peels to provide a balanced diet similar to what they would consume in the wild.

Social Behavior

Larger Malay mouse-deer are generally solitary animals and usually only come together during the breeding period. They do not follow a strict social ranking system, but both males and females defend their own territories.

Males establish and maintain their territory by leaving scent markings through feces, urine, and secretions produced by a gland located beneath their jaw. When threatened by another male, they may rapidly stamp the ground with their hooves as a warning. If conflicts escalate, males may engage in brief fights involving their sharp canine teeth.

Reproduction and Growth

Male larger Malay mouse-deer have a prominent scent gland beneath their lower jaw, which they rub against females during courtship before mating. These animals can reproduce throughout the year. Pregnancy lasts approximately five months, and females are capable of becoming pregnant again shortly after giving birth. As a result, many females spend a significant portion of their adult lives carrying offspring.

Usually, females give birth to a single young, although twins can occasionally occur. Newborns are highly developed compared with many other mammals and can stand and move actively within about 30 minutes after birth.

Young mouse-deer are typically weaned between two and three months of age and reach sexual maturity at around four and a half months.

Larger Malay Mouse-Deer

Size

Lifespan

Social Behavior

Reproduction and Growth

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