Musk deer animal: description, interesting facts, photos. Photo Siberian musk deer - lifestyle of the Siberian musk deer Range and habitats of the musk deer

Musk deer (Moschus moschiferus Linn) is one of the smallest and most unique representatives of deer in the northern hemisphere. This small deer (some researchers classify the musk deer as a separate family), no more than half a meter high at the withers, has a number of specific features. Thus, the musk deer does not have horns, but the males have highly developed upper fangs, which protrude down from the mouth, and their ends fall below the chin. These fangs grow throughout life, reaching 7-10 centimeters in adult males, and they have a sharp cutting rear edge. In females, the upper canines are short and do not protrude beyond the lip. In the life of male musk deer, they are as important as the antlers of other deer.

The musk deer would look more slender and graceful if it were not for the developed hind limbs (the hind legs of the musk deer are one and a half times longer than the front ones), which makes the musk deer look as if hunched over. Rib cage in musk deer it is short and narrow, indicating an inability to run for long periods of time. However, in the process of evolution, the musk deer acquired other advantages that allowed it to survive and thrive in the harsh conditions of the mountains for hundreds and hundreds of thousands of years. Thus, the soft horny rim on the hoof cover keeps it from slipping on rocks and helps it deftly overcome ice. The musk deer has developed amazing ability maintain body balance. Even when running rapidly, she is able to change the direction of movement by 90 degrees. Easily turn around and run back on your trail, or instantly stop dead in your tracks and hold on to a small rock. Strong hind legs allow the musk deer to make magnificent acrobatic jumps, both high and long.

Protective coloring, in which faintly outlined light brown spots are scattered in disarray on the general dark brown background of the body, sides and back of the musk deer, makes the musk deer practically invisible in the forest. And not only statically, but also while moving. Such colors seem to dissolve a small deer against the backdrop of growing and fallen trees, among the rocky cliffs and stones of the dark taiga. With age, spotting decreases and may disappear completely. Along the neck of the male, from the chin to the front legs, two light stripes stretch, as if dividing the body into two parts. This helps the musk deer remain invisible when playing. sunlight and shadows. The musk deer's belly is light brown or grayish in color. The hairline consists mainly of densely adjacent, slightly curling large guard hairs. In winter, the medullary layer is extremely developed in them, which helps the animal retain heat in severe frosts.
The historical range of the musk deer occupied almost the entire eastern half of the Asian continent, replete with vast mountain systems and stretching from the northern border of the taiga to Southern China, Burma, Vietnam, the greatest mountains of the planet - the Himalayas, India. Occupying such a vast territory, musk deer has insignificant differences, forming several geographical forms, the so-called subspecies.

More than 90% of the total world population of musk deer is concentrated in the northern territory of Russia. Mountain systems Eastern Siberia, Yakutia-Sakha, Altai, Sayan, Magadan and Amur regions, the Far East (except Kamchatka) and Sakhalin - everywhere in the mountain taiga forests you can find this small deer.
The southern territories where musk deer live are islands of small pockets where musk deer live and remain. In addition to Russia, musk deer live in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Korea, China, and Nepal. In India, where musk deer occupies a biological niche mainly in upper limit mountain forests of the Himalayas and in the mountain forests of Vietnam, this deer has been exterminated almost everywhere and is rare. The same fate befell the musk deer in densely populated Eastern China. In Nepal, it can be found only in certain areas, mainly in well-protected national parks.

Due to its biology, the musk deer is a highly specific ungulate animal, adapted to living in mountain taiga landscapes. Here it mainly inhabits the middle mountain zone, preferring dark coniferous forests of the taiga, consisting of cedar, spruce, fir and larch. The favorite habitats of the musk deer in such forests are areas with dense undergrowth and thickets of bushes with rocky outcrops. The density of musk deer in the dark coniferous taiga, which corresponds to the ecological characteristics of this species, can reach 30 individuals per 1000 hectares. However, our East Siberian taiga forests do not always meet the requirements necessary for musk deer; it is their variegated mosaic of vegetation that causes greater uneven distribution. Musk deer can also be found in secondary forests that arise on old burnt areas, but the places of their presence are always tied to the remains of old dark coniferous forests. The plasticity of the musk deer as a species lies in the fact that it is able to live in forests without rocky outcrops. If the taiga is windy, where there are many refuges and shelters in the form of fallen trunks, musk deer can live there with the same density as in rugged mountainous terrain.

Northern forests, or, as they are also called, boreal (named after the Greek god of the north wind Boreas), grow in one of the harshest climates on the planet. The temperature range in the Eastern Siberian taiga ranges from - 50°C to + 35°C, and, nevertheless, this deer was able to master these spaces in the process of evolution. Throughout the entire territory from the right bank of the great Siberian river Yenisei to the Pacific Ocean there is a continuous series of vast plateaus and ridges connected to each other by spurs. Here grow endless taiga forests, three quarters of which are in the permafrost zone, consisting of cedar, spruce, fir, larch, growing here in continuous massifs. Dark cedars and dense thickets of fir and spruce to blackness - this is the musk deer taiga. Only larch forests transform such a taiga, but even here dark coniferous giants grow along the valleys of rivers and streams flowing from the mountain slopes. In these gloomy forests, only narrow animal paths littered with dead trees allow a traveler on foot to pass. The world of the musk deer is the taiga, where mosses and lichens climb high on trees and dress them in a whimsical manner, sometimes completely covering the trunks, sometimes hanging from the branches with tassels and fringes, making them even more unattractive to the human eye. Strange, depressing forests.
In the gloomy thickets littered with fallen trees, even the eternal enemies of the musk deer - wolverine, lynx or the beautiful Far Eastern marten Kharza (a native of the Himalayas) - have a hard time sneaking up on the musk deer. Large predators- a brown bear, a wolf - almost never manages to catch a musk deer. Common sounds that warn musk deer about possible danger in such a forest, it’s the crackling of branches, the rustling of leaves, the creaking of snow. Only when the wind rages in the taiga, breaking off old branches and knocking down the snow pile, does the musk deer react to the noise to a lesser extent, and the predator has a chance to catch this deer, sneaking up close to it, and instead of chasing it for a long time, starving it out. Constantly on the alert, ready to instantly take off, possessing swiftness over short distances and evasiveness, the musk deer simply physically cannot run for long. All its evolutionary abilities to survive in the taiga did not require endurance; during prolonged pursuit, the musk deer develops shortness of breath, and is forced to make frequent stops to rest. The relentless pursuit of the predator inevitably led the musk deer to death, and here it developed a special tactic. Winding and confusing the trail, she goes to the sludge. Making its way along ledges and narrow cornices, it climbs into a place inaccessible to the predator and remains there until the threat to its life has passed. In addition to jumping from ledge to ledge, musk deer are capable of walking along overhanging cornices, the width of which often does not exceed several tens of centimeters. And if you consider that the trail is at a considerable altitude, then this is a serious test for the musk deer itself. It is on this ability of the musk deer to escape from danger that hunting for it is often based. A good animal husky chases a musk deer and does not get confused, succumbing to all sorts of tricks that the animal plays. Constant persecution forces the musk deer to retire. The hunter can only go out to intercept, sensitively listening to the sounds of the chase, or approach the barking of his four-legged assistant. Knowing the places of settling, you can approach in advance and hear the approach of the musk deer by the sound of hooves and rapid breathing. This method of hunting musk deer is the most interesting and exciting, as it allows you to enjoy the work of the bestial husky.

Young musk deer learn this method of protection from their mother. In May–June, before calving, females stay close to shelters. Having brought one or two, and occasionally three cubs weighing only 300-500 grams, the mother almost immediately begins teaching them to survive. At first, she teaches them to hide, but already at the age of 3-5 weeks, the musk deer begins to teach young musk deer to go into the sludge. To do this, the female gives a false danger signal and quickly climbs onto the rocks; the cubs, in an effort to keep up with the mother, repeat all her movements. Unadapted, weak musk deer may die if they fall from a narrow cornice, but this is a peculiar natural selection. The musk deer's favorite food is various types of terrestrial and tree lichens. The musk deer moves with its head slightly lowered in search of food. Having discovered a lichen, she raises her head, sometimes crouches, and can stand on her hind legs, while stretching her legs and dancing. The musk deer can remain in this position for up to 10 seconds. Sometimes he uses low horizontal tree branches or the trunks themselves as support, throwing his front legs over them to comfortable conditions cut off the most delicious strands of lichens with sharp incisors. When searching for food in its area, the musk deer clearly focuses on dense and dark places where lichens grow in abundance. A leisurely transition from one fallen tree to another is a typical manner of movement of the musk deer. It is the excess of tree lichens that determines the presence and density of musk deer in a particular area of ​​the taiga. An amazing sense of balance and natural agility allow the musk deer to climb behind lichens along inclined tree trunks to a height of up to 5 meters, deftly clinging to bark and branches with its sharp hooves. The musk deer does not always perform these circus exercises, preferring to collect scraps of lichen from the surface of the snow cover. Constant replenishment of musk deer feed in winter time occurs due to the fall of scraps of lichens and branches overgrown with lichens under the influence strong winds or snow. Musk deer prefers to eat small fragments of lichens 1-2 cm in size. It eats only part of larger strands, which gives it the opportunity to reuse them in the future. This is a very important adaptation of the musk deer to living in a permanent territory. Wild ungulates, unlike domestic animals, always leave part of their food behind when moving from place to place, rather than eating it completely. During the snowless period, musk deer willingly switches to the leaves of shrubs, herbaceous plants and mushrooms; it seems to give the lichens the opportunity to rest and recover. In the conditions of the dark coniferous mountain taiga, musk deer have practically no competitors in food. IN summer time Musk deer, like other ungulates, suffers from heat and emerging midges. It is in the summer that it migrates to the char zone, in search of salvation from blood-sucking insects. For the winter, she will again descend into the taiga, into the lower and middle zones of the mountains, although she often lingers at the upper border of the forest. When heavy snow falls, and in eastern Siberia it does not pack, musk deer move to steep slopes and mountain ridges, where the snow is either blown away by the wind or slides under its own weight. Musk deer roost during the day in places protected from the cold wind.
Musk deer prefer to live in permanent areas without making any significant migrations. It is active, as a rule, at dusk and at night. Only in winter can one trace its daily activity, feeding habits, degree of use of the occupied territory, favorite crossing routes, and daytime resting places by following its tracks. According to the observations of game scientists and commercial hunters, the size of habitats for musk deer of different sexes and ages is different. Adult males have the largest ranges (up to 300 hectares), starting from 3 years of age. In female juveniles of both sexes, the areas are 5-10 times smaller. Already in the second year of life in males they begin to increase almost 2 times. In the areas of males older than 2 years in different years inhabited by one to four females. The role of adult males is very important for the musk deer population, and therefore for the preservation of the entire species; Thus, along the border of males’ territories, females and young of the year occupy places with strong intervals, coniferous undergrowth, where food and protective resources are highest. The distribution and movement of males, starting from the third year of life, depend on the nature of the forest to a lesser extent. Adult males respond primarily to the dispersal of females and neighboring males. During the day, males “patrol” their habitat and travel long distances - up to 5 km. The life of an adult male is much to a greater extent are exposed to danger, they are more often attacked by predators, but this is the price to pay for the right to pass on their genes to the next generations of musk deer. Females and young of the year, especially on cold winter days, move little.

Individual areas of musk deer of the same sex can overlap each other, and they overlap to the greatest extent in males during the rutting period. Close contacts between individuals occur infrequently, but when numbers are high they do occur. This is mainly the breeding season when pairs are formed. Males take part in the rut from the third year of life, and females can bear offspring already at the age of two. Mainly solitary musk deer live a constant way of communicating through communication based on smells. Marking of the habitat is carried out in males in two ways: by applying specific marks with the smell of glands on various towering objects and by leaving pungently smelling excrement. Males leave both marks all year round. Adult males mark their habitats most intensively in late November - December - up to 50 marks per day. At this time, the rut begins; during this season, males develop the largest territory. It is then that in the frosty air the male musk deer emits a pleasant smell of musk. In January, the activity of males decreases, and the individual territory shrinks again. Reaction of males of different ages to marks, both their own and those of others, left in different time, are not the same. Since strong adult males with grown fangs are the owners of the territories, in the absence of horns, the upper fangs acquire a special role in the struggle for possession of the female, and therefore in protecting their individual territory from rivals. When two males meet in the same territory during the rut, conflicts occur. Basically there is intimidation of the enemy. Two males, equal in strength and age, walk in a circle at a distance of 6-7 m from one another and, raising their heads up, bare and show their fangs to each other. At the same time, the fur stands on end, increasing the true size of each. Most demonstrations end with one person running away, usually a young one, but sometimes fights break out. Males use their fangs to strike at the enemy’s body; the fangs often break off. During fights, males hit each other on the ridge and rump with their front legs, jumping high at the same time. Broken fangs of males and scars on the body are confirmation of the seriousness of tournament fights between equals. physical strength and the age of the males. During deep snow, all musk deer living in this area use the trails, and, unfortunately, poachers take advantage of this by setting their snares on musk deer. Hundreds and thousands of musk deer die in vain in snares.
The musk gland, which produces a secretion created by evolution for the prosperity of the species, and which has become a curse for the musk deer due to endless persecution by people, is located under the skin of the abdomen between the navel and the genitals. Musk deer stream has long been valued in the East, and with the advent of the cosmetic and perfume industry - in Europe. In traditional oriental medicine, musk is considered an unrivaled analgesic and remedy for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, helps with colds and rheumatism, and increases potency. In China alone, more than 400 are known medicines, in the production of which musk is used. Musk musk is mentioned in the writings of ancient Arab doctors. The Greeks and Romans used it to make fragrant ointments.

The musk gland begins to produce musk when male musk deer reach maturity, that is, from 2 years of age, and the gland is actively functioning until 11 years of age. Mined in wildlife musk deer extracted the musk gland and dried it in the sun. From the dried musk gland you can get from 20 to 50 grams of musk powder.

After a significant reduction in the number of musk deer in the wild, Asian countries began to seriously engage in keeping and breeding musk deer in captivity. And although musk deer is considered a difficult species to breed, musk deer began to be successfully bred in China in 1958. Currently in this country there are more than two dozen large and small farms specializing in musk deer breeding, and the number of livestock is more than two thousand. There are similar farms in South Korea, India, Mongolia, Nepal and Bhutan, which also receive precious musk from captive deer.

To be fair, it should be noted that for the first time, musk deer breeding in captivity began in Russia. In Altai, back in the 18th century (one of the periods when there was an extraordinary demand for musk, and the number of the animal was undermined everywhere), the first musk deer farms appeared. It was from Altai in 1772 that musk deer were brought to Western Europe, to the Paris Zoo.

In 1976, a farm was built at the Chernogolovka scientific base in the Moscow region, where 2 males and 3 female musk deer were brought, from which they received the first offspring the following year. Over the entire existence of the farm, more than 200 musk deer were born here, including individuals of the 7th generation. All these facts indicate that with proper care, the musk deer is a very flexible species; it is capable of living in new places where it has never been found before. The main difficulty in breeding musk deer is the need to be as close to natural conditions as possible. Musk deer need to live in areas of dark coniferous forest with windfall trees, and under the canopy - thickets of bushes and clearings with grass. Mature coniferous trees provide constant shade. Shrubs or tall grass provide shelter and a source of food. In addition, the litter of a dark coniferous forest contains a specific set of microorganisms that are part of the intestinal microflora of musk deer in the first days of life. In flat conditions European forests rocks and rocky places are imitated by boardwalks at a height of 2.5 - 3.0 meters, where musk deer considers itself safe and escapes from mosquitoes, horseflies and midges. Musk deer were once the main game animal in the vast expanses of Eastern Siberia, providing livelihoods for many generations of Siberians. The history of hunting for this animal tells that musk deer has repeatedly lost its commercial importance due to overhunting. But again and again, like the phoenix bird, it restored its numbers, confirming plasticity and survival, especially evident with proper protection or a drop in demand for musk deer. Currently, the number of musk deer in Russia is probably about 150 thousand individuals. It would seem that there is no particular reason for concern, but last years In addition to poaching, a new threat to its existence has emerged - commercial logging of taiga forests, especially in the Far East. And yet I would like to end the essay about the musk deer on an optimistic note. The musk deer could also live in other territories of Russia, where historically it has never lived. These could be the Kamchatka Peninsula, Ural Mountains, and other suitable territories. But this requires resuscitation of the national program to restore the number of wild animals. An ancient and very interesting hunting object of Russian fauna, musk deer deserves to be the prey of not only commercial hunters, but also acquire the status of a popular trophy species. This deer makes it possible not only to hunt it in dense taiga, virgin forests, but also to bring significant income to the regions where it lives. This requires a reorientation of Russian hunting and game management towards sport, and not fishing, as it once was in our country. And this has been proven in countries where hunting brings both joy to numerous trophy hunters and money, partly returned to the wild. Russian hunters must understand for themselves that musk deer, a deer with “saber-toothed fangs,” is a real hunting trophy!

Why does a musk deer need tusks? The answer to this question is not entirely obvious, if only because these animals are loners, and also extremely shy. Seeing them in the wild is quite for a long time did not succeed, and the shamans of the peoples of Siberia used musk deer tusks as amulets.

Such secrecy and mystery gave rise to many speculations, even to the point that the musk deer is supposedly a predator that drinks the blood of other animals. Of course, this is complete nonsense and today there can be no unscientific speculation on this topic. Scientists have long established that musk deer are herbivores.

By the way, only male musk deer have fangs: they replace the missing horns. Their length sometimes reaches 9 cm and this is a very impressive weapon, albeit a “tournament” weapon. During the rutting period, male musk deer, fighting for primacy, inflict serious damage on each other. Sometimes the wounds received from an opponent are so severe that the animal dies.

“Well, a deer has fangs instead of antlers. So what?” Oddly enough, the musk deer not only looks quite unusual for a herbivore. Male musk deer have a musk gland on their belly. Actually, for the sake of musk, the musk deer, as well as the muskrat, was hunted very actively until it was under threat of destruction.

Musk- a strong-smelling aromatic substance of animal origin. The aroma is sharp, tart, persistent. It is used both in oriental medicine and in perfume production.

In the Middle Ages, musk was used as a preventive and therapeutic agent during epidemics of cholera and plague. During the Tudor dynasty in Great Britain, musk was added to medicines for melancholy. European doctors, until the mid-19th century, prescribed musk for paralysis, nervous disorders, infectious diseases, bronchial asthma, as an anticonvulsant for epilepsy, various spasms of smooth muscles, colic.

Today in China, musk is included in more than 200 medicines. Studies conducted in India have shown that this substance has a general stimulating effect on the heart and central nervous system, and is also effective as an anti-inflammatory agent.

When it was discovered that the musk deer had a musk gland, a hunt began for these animals. Moreover, hunters were interested exclusively in glands. It got to the point that, having obtained what they wanted, the killed animals were simply left in the forest. This led to a reduction in the musk deer population. For the sake of preserving this species, the musk deer was included in the list of specially protected species. Of the subspecies living in the territory Russian Federation, the Sakhalin musk deer is listed in the Red Book, and the Himalayan musk deer is listed in the International Red Book.

However, the desired musk is still mined. And in a completely legal way: from the beginning of the 20th century, musk deer began to be bred on farms. For the first time, such an experiment was carried out in Saudi Arabia - quite successfully. Of course, such farming is a costly business, but the profit from it is also significant.

In some regions of the Russian Federation, hunting musk deer for the purpose of obtaining musk is allowed. The annual harvest limit is about 1,500 animals, and only males are hunted.

Musk deer, escaping from pursuit, can confuse their tracks, like a hare.
-Already in a jump, the animal is able to turn 90 degrees and change the direction of movement or stop completely silently while running.
-The water deer lives in China. These animals are very similar to musk deer.
-The main exporters of dry musk are Russia and China.
-In 1845, the number of musk deer in the Russian part of the range was 250 thousand individuals. And in the first third of the 20th century it did not exceed 10 thousand.

Musk deer or Siberian musk deer is a small even-toed, deer-like animal, a member of the musk deer family.

Appearance of musk deer

In its appearance and behavior, the musk deer occupies an intermediate position between fawns and deer. The length of its body is up to 1 m, the tail is 4-6 cm, the height at the withers is up to 70 cm; weight - 11-18 kg. The hind legs are unusually long, so the sacrum of a standing musk deer is 5-10 cm higher than the withers. The tail is short.

Unlike deer, which the musk deer is sometimes classified as, it does not have antlers. Males have long curved fangs protruding from under the upper lip by 7-9 cm; serve as a tournament weapon. They also have an abdominal gland that produces musk.

The musk gland can contain up to 20 grams of a strong-smelling precious product.

The musk deer's fur is thick and long, but brittle. The color is brown or brown. Young animals have fuzzy light gray spots scattered on their sides and back. The general build resembles that of a deer. The hooves are thin, sharp and can move apart greatly, and the animal also relies on underdeveloped hooves.

Musk deer habitat

Almost the entire world population of musk deer is distributed in northern Russia. The habitat of the species is the Altai and Sayan mountains, the mountain systems of Eastern Siberia and Yakutia, the Far East and Sakhalin. Musk deer live in all taiga forests of mountainous areas.

In the southern territories, the species lives in small pockets in Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, China, Korea, and Nepal. The musk deer was also found in India, at the foothills of the Himalayas, but has now been practically exterminated there.

The same fate befell him in the mountains of Vietnam. Musk deer live in dense forests on steep mountain slopes. Most often you can find it at an altitude of 600-900 meters, but they are also found at 3000 meters in the mountains of the Himalayas and Tibet.

Musk deer migrate very rarely, preferring to stay in the selected area of ​​the territory. Females and young-of-the-year deer have a small territory, while adult males, older than three years old, occupy up to 30 hectares. taiga forest for their lands.

Females and young of the year are mainly guided by the amount of food, and the habitat of individual males depends on the number of females in the territory, and the absence of other males. Each male’s territory is usually home to one to three females.

Musk deer have adapted to life even in boreal northern forests. Temperature fluctuations in the Eastern Siberian taiga are very high: from -50 to +35 C⁰, but still these artiodactyls live there too.

Starting from the right bank of the Siberian Yenisei and to the Pacific Ocean, gloomy, endless taiga grows, three quarters of which are located in the permafrost belt. Vast plateaus and ridges, covered with dense forests of fir, cedar, and spruce, are completely impassable.

And only narrow animal trails between fallen trees will help the traveler find a landmark. These dreary, cold, empty forests, completely overgrown with lichens and mosses, have chosen musk deer as their home.

Musk deer lifestyle and nutrition

The musk deer is an excellent jumper, with almost no equal in maneuverability. She is capable of changing the direction of travel by 90° while galloping, without slowing down. Fleeing from its pursuer, the musk deer, like a hare, confuses its tracks.

The musk deer's diet is dominated by epiphytic and terrestrial lichens. In winter, their share in her diet is 65-95%. This feeding feature determines the distribution of musk deer across isolated areas. As a supplement to the diet, it also eats fir and cedar needles, some umbelliferae, blueberry leaves, ferns, horsetails and other plant foods. Typically, animals feed near windfall trees covered with lichens, eat them from fallen branches and collect lichen litter from the surface of the snow. A musk deer collecting food can climb an inclined tree trunk or jump from branch to branch to a height of 3-4 m.

Musk deer have a lot natural enemies. In the Far East, its main enemy is the kharza, which hunts musk deer in families. Lynx often lie in wait for musk deer to feed; pursued by wolverine and fox.

On days of snowstorms and winds, when the forest cracks and branches break, musk deer do not always hear the sneaking predator. The musk deer has a chance to escape if it manages to do so within a short distance.

The musk deer cannot run for long; physically its body is very resourceful, but high speed Shortness of breath quickly appears, the musk deer is forced to stop to rest, and on straight ground it cannot hide from the fleet-footed and hardy lynx or wolverine.

But in mountainous areas, musk deer have developed their own tactics for protecting themselves from persecution. She confuses the trail, meanders, and goes into places inaccessible to her enemies, making her way there along narrow cornices and ledges.

In a safe place, the musk deer awaits danger. Natural characteristics allow the musk deer to jump from ledge to ledge and walk along narrow cornices, only a few tens of centimeters long.

Social structure and reproduction of musk deer

Musk deer live alone, less often in groups up to three goals. In family groups, contacts between animals are peaceful, but they are extremely aggressive towards strangers. During the rut, real fights take place between males of the same age - the animals seem to chase each other, trying to hit the enemy’s croup, ridge or neck with their front legs or fangs. During long fights, one of the fighters often knocks the other to the ground, kicks him, and then sinks his fangs into him, which can lead to the death of the vanquished.

Musk deer mate in December-January. After 185-195 days, females give birth to 1-2 cubs.

Young musk deer reach sexual maturity at the age of 15-18 months. Their lifespan in nature is 4-5 years, 10-14 years in captivity.

Myths and legends about musk deer

Because of its fangs growing from its upper jaw, the musk deer has long been considered a vampire that drinks the blood of other animals.

In ancient times, people considered him an evil spirit, and shamans tried to get his fangs as a trophy. The name musk deer translated from Greek means “bearing musk.” The appearance of the musk deer has attracted naturalists since ancient times, and many are still willing to travel hundreds of kilometers along mountain paths to see it in person.

Population status and protection of musk deer

The popularity and high cost of musk marked the beginning of the mass extermination of musk deer. Due to uncontrolled fishing and poaching, the number of musk deer in Russia is rapidly falling. If in 1988 it was estimated at 160-170 thousand, then by 2002 it dropped to a level of 32-40.5 thousand individuals.

Musk deer is included in the International Red Data Book with the status of “vulnerable species”. Trade in its musk is controlled by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES): due to its low numbers, the Himalayan musk deer is listed in Appendix I to the Convention and trade in its musk is prohibited. Musk from the Chinese and Siberian subspecies of musk deer, which are listed in Appendix II, is allowed for sale, but under strict international control.

The Siberian musk deer species in Russia is on the verge of extinction and is listed in the Red Book of Russia.

Musk deer is an animal that has given rise to many myths and superstitions. Its extraordinary appearance has long attracted the attention of naturalists, who were ready to easily travel hundreds of kilometers through mountainous terrain just to see this creature in person. And even today interest in him has not waned.

What kind of miracle animal is the musk deer, the description of which has so many interesting facts? Why is it so remarkable? And why is it under protection? World Organization for the protection of animal rights?

What a wondrous beast?

The animal musk deer is one of the True, it is very different from its closest relatives both in size and appearance. Another name for it is musk deer. The musk deer animal gained its fame due to two reasons: unusual fangs and musk.

This deer has two front canines that grow from the upper jaw. Because of them, the musk deer acquired the reputation of a vampire hunting other animals. Moreover, people used to believe that this beast was an evil spirit, and shamans often hunted it in order to get teeth as a magical trophy.

The time of superstitions has sunk into oblivion, but the persecution of these animals has not stopped. After all, the animal musk deer is known for one more feature, namely musk. It was this substance that became the target of many poachers who were ready to destroy an entire species just to get such a coveted reward.

Appearance

What does a musk deer look like? In the photo, the animal resembles a cross between a roe deer and a deer, although without horns. It just so happens that this species is completely devoid of bone growths on the head, as well as tear pits under the eyes.

Musk deer rarely grow more than one meter in length. As for its height, at the moment the largest spotted individual was no more than 80 cm. Moreover, its weight ranges from 12 to 18 kilograms. The color of the coat can vary from dark brown to light brown.

The musk deer is an animal known for its long tusks. True, only males have them and can reach up to 7 cm in length. For musk deer they serve as a tool of protection, and only in mating season gentlemen can use them as a way to prove their superiority over others.

Musk deer animal: habitat

This animal prefers mountainous terrain, and therefore its main habitat is marked by the mountains of China and Tibet. But you can also meet him in Russia. Thus, musk deer are found over a very vast territory: starting from the lower Altai and ending with the Amur itself.

The musk deer's favorite place is the forest. Therefore, this is where the animal spends most of its time. However, this does not mean that deer do not wander high into the mountains. Thus, there is evidence that some individuals live in the Himalayas, at an altitude of more than 3000 m above sea level.

Habits of the musk deer

This type of deer is accustomed to a solitary lifestyle. This rule is violated only during the mating season, and then not for long. By the way, during mating games, male musk deer become very aggressive towards each other. Quite often, their skirmishes lead to bloody fang fights, which can sometimes lead to death.

During the rest of the year they lead a quiet and measured lifestyle. They feed mainly on moss and fresh leaves. Therefore, the rumor that musk deer drink blood is just an empty superstition that has nothing to do with the truth.

In addition, the musk deer is very timid; any danger makes it run away without looking back. At the same time, it is almost impossible to catch up with him. Thanks to the special structure of his body, he can change his running trajectory without even slowing down.

Hunting for musk

In the old days, the musk deer population was not threatened. Its meat was not suitable for consumption as it had an unpleasant aftertaste. As for the skin, although it retained heat, it was still much worse than that of other animals. So the only enemies of the deer were shamans and mystics who collected their fangs. But everything changed the moment Chinese alchemists began to use musk in their medicines.

For those who don't know, musk is a viscous substance that has a tart odor. Each male musk deer has a special gland that secretes this secretion. It was she who became the object of hunting for many healers and healers. According to Chinese folk medicine, then there are more than 200 potions and ointments infused with musk.

A little later, this substance began to be used in perfumery. Thanks to the tartness of the aroma, it quickly gained popularity among fashionistas and fashionistas of the time. Consequently, the pursuit of musk only intensified.

Ultimately, musk deer were hunted by everyone who wanted to make a quick buck. This led to the fact that the number of these animals decreased to such a limit that they were on the verge of complete extinction.

The fight for musk deer rights

Fortunately, the world is not without good people. This decline in musk deer numbers has caused outrage among animal rights activists. And so they began to take active steps to protect them.

Thanks to their intervention, musk deer was listed in the Red Book, and poachers hunting it were punished to the fullest extent of the law. Such measures saved the animal from extinction, although a complete restoration of the musk deer population will not happen soon.

Beast in Captivity

However, with the advent of the hunting ban, the need for musk did not disappear. And so farmers tried to breed a species that could live in captivity. The first attempts were unsuccessful, as the musk deer died very quickly. But over time, it was still possible to develop a breed that lives according to human rules.

True, as the farmers themselves assure, caring for it is still a lot of work. In particular, a lot of trouble arises during the period when males are ready to mate. Nevertheless, this approach greatly helped wild musk deer by reducing the demand for their glands.

• Previously, the appearance of a musk deer in the vicinity of a village foreshadowed grief. Therefore, after such a visit, shamans performed rituals to drive away evil spirits.
• When running away from an enemy, a musk deer behaves like a real hare. It meanders from side to side, and if a predator approaches, it can jump high and change its running trajectory by 90 degrees at lightning speed.
• In 1845, the musk deer population was more than 250 thousand individuals. A hundred years later, this number had dropped to 10 thousand, which became a signal for the salvation of the musk deer.

Have you ever seen a deer with fangs? No? Then meet the musk deer. This adorable little animal is similar to a deer, it is endangered and needs our protection.

Appearance of a toothy deer

The musk deer has a body no more than a meter long, its height does not reach 70 cm at the withers, and its body weight is 11-18 kg.

The animal has quite long and thick fur of a brownish-brown color. Juveniles may have light gray or tan spots on their sides and back.

The musk deer's tail is so small that it is almost invisible from under the fur.

One of distinctive features animal - very long legs. Thanks to them, musk deer can climb tree trunks to get food for themselves - lichens or the needles of some trees.

Why does a musk deer need tusks?

Both males and females have fangs. However, in females they are small and rarely protrude beyond the edges of the upper lip. But the male musk deer’s fangs grow throughout his life, reaching a length of 10 cm!

Animals use them to intimidate their opponents. Two males walk around each other, at a distance of 6-7 meters, and, raising their heads, expose their fangs, showing them to the enemy. They try to take on a frightening appearance, raising their fur “on end”. Sometimes these demonstration games end in a fight. Then the stronger and more dexterous one plunges its sharp fangs into the enemy’s body. Often the fangs break in a fight, and the front legs are used: the opponents hit each other on the ridge with them, jumping up at the same time.

How to distinguish a female from a male

In addition to the fangs, the structure of the skull distinguishes the male from the female. The male musk deer has a more massive and wider anterior section, pronounced supraorbital processes and arches.

Males differ from females very slightly in size and weight.

Habitat

The historical habitat of the musk deer is the eastern part of Asia (with the exception of deserts and lowland areas). But today the places where musk deer live represent two isolated areas:

• northern (Altai, Sayan, Eastern Siberia mountains);
• southern (Mongolia, China, Tibet, Eastern Himalayas).

Individuals are also found in Korea and the Far East.

Depending on their habitat, there are several types of musk deer:

• Siberian;
• Sakhalin;
• Far Eastern;
• Verkhoyansk, or Arctic;
• Korean.

As you already understand, the first 4 species live on the territory of our country.

Musk deer are adapted to living in mountain taiga. Thanks to long legs she easily climbs and jumps on rocks.

Like any other animal, the musk deer has a well-developed instinct of self-preservation, so it lives in places that are difficult for humans to reach: in thickets of bushes, spruce or fir, on steep slopes of hills or hills.

Lifestyle

Musk deer feed on lichens, tree bark, pine needles, leaves, buds and plants.

Musk deer is a solitary animal. It is rare to see a flock of these deer consisting of 3-4 individuals. The main danger for them is the harza (predatory marten). They are also afraid of being persecuted by lynx, wolverine, fox, wolf, bear and sable.

The musk deer is unable to run away from its pursuer for a long time, therefore, like a hare, it confuses its tracks and hurries to some steep slope where predators cannot reach. There she can sit for a long time, waiting out danger.

These creatures have one amazing feature: they are able, even at high speed, to change the direction of movement by 90 degrees or stop and stand motionless without making a sound.

Reproduction

Musk deer mate in December - January. After 6-6.5 months, 1-2 cubs are born.

Before giving birth, the female occupies a special “birth” area - a forest area fenced with thickets of bushes or trees, and leads a secretive lifestyle. 5-9 hours after the birth of the offspring, the female takes the calves away from this place and leaves them alone. The cubs lie alone almost all the time. If danger arises, the female warns the calves with sound signals and jumps; when they see them, they must hide. Also, by jumping, the female distracts the attention of the predator and takes him away from her babies.

In the first few months, the female does not go far from the calves and feeds them twice a day. Breast-feeding lasts from 3 to 5 months, and then they move on to independent life.

Sexual maturity occurs at about one and a half years. In nature, musk deer live 4-5 years, but in captivity they can live 3 times longer.

Number

Back in 1988, there were about 170 thousand individuals in our country, but by 2002 their number had decreased by almost 5 times. Almost all subspecies of the Siberian musk deer were destroyed.

To avoid this completely disappearing rare species deer, the animal was listed in the Russian and world Red Books.

According to 2016 data, the number of musk deer in Russia is 125 thousand individuals.

Musk deer and man

Musk deer are a species whose survival is under threat, primarily due to human actions.

The main reasons for the population decline are hunting of animals and destruction of their habitat.

Today, musk deer are still a game species, but the limit is 1,500 individuals per year.

Why is musk deer valuable?

For a long time, musk deer among a number of Siberian peoples acted as an assistant to the shaman. His costume used animal skin, bones and, of course, fangs.

Amulets made from musk deer tusks are often discovered during excavations. For example, they were found in the burial of shamans of the Stone and Iron Ages.

About 5 thousand years ago, musk deer tusks were used to decorate the cradle to protect the baby from evil spirits. Tuvans, Telengits and Tofalars still use them as a talisman.

Musk

Today, musk deer are more prized for their musk, a thick, strong-smelling brown substance secreted by a musk gland located on the male's belly. This is the most expensive animal product. And one gland of an adult male contains up to 20 g of the mentioned secretion.

Musk deer musk is used in alternative medicine in some eastern countries, but greater distribution it was received in Europe as an odor fixative (in the perfume industry).

Humane Arabs

In the 50s of the last century, farms began to appear in Saudi Arabia where animals were raised and musk was obtained without injuring them.

How did they do it?

1. Bait, such as grain, was placed in a stationary trap box.
2. When the animal entered the box, its door slammed shut
3. Then the captured animal was moved to an immobilization block, which had a special design that immobilized the animal.
4. In this block, the male was anesthetized by injection for 40 minutes.
5. While the animal was sleeping, a silver spatula was inserted into the bag, along the groove of which the secretion flowed out.
6. After the musk was removed, the musk deer was kept in a special box for another 4-5 hours, until full recovery motor activity.

And finally, we will share with you some interesting facts about this amazing animal.

• Musk deer translated from Latin means “carrying musk.”
• Males need the musk gland to attract females for mating. During the rut (mating period), males leave “odorous” marks everywhere, intoxicating the female with aroma. The “intoxicated” female quickly finds, using this landmark, the place where the male musk deer lives. No wonder one famous brand perfume, with an emphasis on musk in the composition, is advertised with the words: “Notes of musk delight women.”
• Because of its fangs, the musk deer has long been considered a vampire that drinks the blood of other animals.
• The animal's spine is very flexible. Musk deer can stand on their hind legs for a long time.
• Musk deer “practice” two types of married couples - conservative and archaic. A conservative union involves the mating of an adult male with a young female. An archaic family - a pair of young individuals - can persist throughout their entire life. Adults of the same age often conflict and fight, so their union is short-lived.

The amazing features of the musk deer do not make it invulnerable to predators. But the main danger for her is still people. We can only hope that someday people will understand that the life of an animal is much more valuable than a bottle of perfume, even the most elite one.

Musk deer– lat. Moschus moschiferus Linnaeus, a species of large hornless vertebrate.

Musk deer body structure

The overall size of musk deer is small compared to other ungulates. The body length of adult specimens is 85-100 cm, rarely exceeding the last figure. The height at the withers ranges from 56 to 67 cm. Live weight, depending on fatness, is 10-17 kg; males usually have slightly more than females.

A characteristic feature of the external build of the musk deer is poor development the front part of the body, as well as the front limbs compared to the hind limbs. The sacrum is raised significantly higher than the withers and the back of the body is much wider and more massive than the shoulders and chest.

The head is small, evenly narrowing in the front part, but in males the muzzle is somewhat widened in the area of ​​​​the fangs. The bare space (“nasal planum”) on the upper lip also covers the circumference of the nostrils. By midline it is divided by a shallow groove. The pupils are round, but in bright light they can shrink into a narrow slit. The iris of the eyes is golden, dark brown or dark yellow. The tail is short, 4-6 cm long, hidden in the hair, flattened from top to bottom, covered with hair in females and young ones, naked in males, with only a tuft of hair at the end.

The neck, body and upper parts of the limbs of the musk deer are covered with thick, coarse and brittle hair with voids in the core part. The musk deer's fur is thicker and longer than the Chinese species; on the sacrum it can reach up to 85-95 mm. Both the length and coarseness of the hair increase from the head to the rump; the longest and thickest hair is on the rump, around the tail. Closer to the stomach, the hair becomes somewhat thinner; the softest hair is found in the armpits and groin, on the udder, scrotum, and also on inside ears. The hair around the opening of the musk gland in males is elongated and ends directed towards its middle. The bulk hairline The body consists of wavy curved hair, gradually thinning upward and having a sharply pointed, sometimes thread-like tip. The head and limbs below the carpal and hock joints are covered with much thinner, shorter and almost wavy hair. There is practically no undercoat between the main covering hair.

The color of the hairline varies significantly in detail, but the main background of the Siberian musk deer is created by brown tones from light reddish to very dark, black-brown. The details of coloring are determined by the distribution and quantitative ratio of differently colored individual hairs. The base of the hair is always light, pure white or light brown. There is a gradual darkening towards the top, and the intensity of the darkening of the apical parts of the hairs overlapping each other creates the main background of the color of the fur. A larger or smaller part of the hair in the upper third has a light, white or reddish ring, well delimited from the underlying and above dark areas. If hair of this type is distributed in large numbers evenly among the rest, then a uniform streaked color is obtained, typical of the Chinese musk deer. In the Siberian musk deer, hairs collected in groups with a white ring form sharply demarcated light spots on a brown general background. The spots are often located in rows or, merging, form stripes. The spotting is more pronounced in young animals, but in adults it is concentrated mainly on the sides of the rear part of the body (on the lower back and hips); in males it can almost disappear completely with age. Sometimes, however, rarely, light areas predominate, creating the main background against which dark areas appear. irregular shape stripes and spots. The hair on the lower part of the chest and abdomen is light brown with white tips, causing the grayish finely streaked color of these parts of the body. The head is light, brownish-brown in the middle part, brownish-gray on the sides due to the presence of a wide light ring on the pre-apical part of the brown hair. The outer side of the ears has the same color; the inside of the latter is covered with blond hair; the tips of the ears are black-brown. The upper parts of the limbs are colored the same as the body, below the carpal and hock joints they are brownish-brown with a grayish coating. A characteristic feature of the musk deer are paired white stripes on the sides of the lower side of the neck and head to the forelimbs, which are lost on the inside of the latter. These stripes are formed by the white tips of the hair, the main part having a light brown color. Over time, the hair fades, and the growing young coat is always colored noticeably darker than the old coat. Sexual dimorphism in coloration is weakly expressed; in females, spotting is only slightly more developed.

Juveniles up to six months old have pronounced spotting on a general brown background. Numerous spots of reddish-yellow and white color form transverse and longitudinal stripes. The latter are among several pairs, starting from the withers and shoulder blades, converging to the base of the tail.

Habitat and distribution of musk deer

IN general outline The musk deer range covers Altai, Sayan Mountains, eastern Siberia (except Kamchatka), Far East, Sakhalin, northern Mongolia, probably northern China and Korea. The exact southern boundaries of the species' distribution are not yet clear. Only within the modern range and only from the late Quaternary deposits (Neolithic) is the musk deer known in fossil form.

Musk deer are common and in some places numerous in the territory of the former Altai Nature Reserve, east of the river. Chulyshman, especially between Lake Teletskoye and the upper reaches of the Big and Small Abakan. It does not exist in treeless areas of Altai, for example in the Chui steppe.

The area of ​​continuous distribution of musk deer is represented by the Sayans; it is especially numerous in the junction of the Western and Eastern Sayans. On the left bank of the Yenisei there is a lot of this animal to the west of the river. Kantegira, in the southern part of the Khakass Autonomous Region. In the Western Sayan Mountains east of the Yenisei, the northern limit of distribution apparently lies in the middle reaches of the river. Oi (Kebezha). Absent in the Khakass-Minusinsk Basin. Common in all mountain spruce-cedar forests of the Tuva Autonomous Region.

Biology of musk deer

The biology of musk deer has not been sufficiently studied. The information provided by different people is contradictory. Musk deer are unevenly distributed throughout their range, as they have relatively narrow requirements for environmental conditions.

The distribution of musk deer is closely related to the mountain taiga. Its typical habitats are dark coniferous forests on steep mountain slopes adjacent to outcrops of rocks and rocky outcrops. Rocks and placers are used as a resting place and refuge if necessary to hide from enemies. The steeper the rocks, the more convenient they are for musk deer; but the musk deer does not go beyond the forest vegetation into the alpine zone, just as it never goes onto open ridges. In the Sayan Mountains, for example, its typical habitats are the rocky banks of mountain rivers, not far from the upper border of the forest. Much less often and, apparently, only in the summer, musk deer stays in the flat taiga, at the foot of the mountains, in the forests along river valleys. In Altai conditions, musk deer adheres to the dark coniferous taiga of slopes with a northern exposure; It also occurs in sunburnt areas, but less frequently. It rarely enters other stations and, as a rule, only in cases where there are lands typical for it in the neighborhood. Most often inhabits cedar, fir, spruce-cedar plantations or pure spruce forests; Avoids larch forests, especially sparse forests.

One of the important, if not necessary, habitat conditions for musk deer is also the presence of continuous ground moss cover.

musk deer food

The musk deer's diet consists of various lichens and mosses. In summer, species of Cladonia, Cetraria, Marschantia, and hypnum mosses are eaten. In addition to them, the food during this period is the leaves and thin branches of alder, aspen, horsetail, as well as some herbaceous plants such as cornflower, geranium, and china. In autumn, even pine nuts are eaten. In winter, mosses and lichens in some places constitute almost the only food. Due to the difficulty of obtaining food from under the snow, bearded lichens hanging from trees become of great importance at this time. In addition to them, dried parts (“rags”) of herbaceous plants are eaten: fireweed, mouse peas. Winter food also includes thin branches of honeysuckle, willow, aspen, young bark and needles of fir, pine and Siberian cedar. Fir needles and shoots made up the bulk of the stomach contents of musk deer caught in the period February-April in northeastern Transbaikalia. At the same time, lignified fir shoots 1-3 cm long and up to 2.5 mm thick, along with the needles sitting on them, were swallowed without being chewed. Escapes coniferous trees sometimes used by musk deer for food in the summer. In Altai, it visits salt licks along with other species of ungulates.

Musk deer lifestyle

Unlike a number of other ungulates, the musk deer leads a sedentary lifestyle and does not make any significant daily or seasonal migrations. “If you don’t disturb her, but just watch her, then you can easily be convinced that the same musk deer is always found in the same favorite place. There are, however, indications that in autumn and winter musk deer prefer to stay in the rocky areas of the mountain taiga that are most difficult for humans to reach. In the summer, it can often be found at the foot of the slopes, in the valleys of mountain rivers. In these cases, it is likely that high air temperatures and a rocky substrate overheated by the sun force animals to seek refuge under the cover of dense forest in the lowlands. However, V.N. Skaloy claims that in the Bodaibinsky district Irkutsk region Females with their young spend the summer, on the contrary, in high rocky places (“slops”), and males spend the summer at the sources of rivers. In winter, musk deer naturally choose places where the snow is blown away by the wind or melts in the sun.

The musk deer, as a rule, lives alone, with the exception of the mating period, when the male gathers several females around him, or, conversely, several males look after one female. Apparently, even last year's young animals are rarely grazed with their mother. On the other hand, the indication that when hunting by imitating the voice of a cub, not only the female, but also the male often comes running to the call, seems to indicate that, at least during this period, animals live in pairs, and not alone . Occasionally, musk deer graze in pairs, but there are never several beds nearby. Living in the same places for a long time, musk deer trample down paths that are used by industrialists to set various kinds of traps. They usually feed in the mornings or evenings. During the day, as a rule, they rest. For resting and lying down, they choose small horizontal areas on steep slopes or inaccessible rock ledges, covered with lichens or mosses.

The usual method of movement is jumping. There are indications that even in captivity, musk deer move by jumping. At a fast pace, its running is somewhat reminiscent of the running of a hare. Jumping movements, with the help of which the musk deer can sharply change the direction of running, represents an adaptation to life in rocky landscapes. This is undoubtedly associated with the peculiarities of the proportions of the limbs (more powerful development of the hind limbs compared to the front ones), the curvature of the spine, and the shape and proportions of the pelvis. Whenever there is any danger or fear, the musk deer rushes into placers and rocks, where with extraordinary ease, making large jumps, it rushes along such steep slopes where no pursuer can keep up with it. With the help of widely spread hooves, she clings to the most insignificant protrusions and unevenness of the stone, climbs a sheer wall onto some inaccessible rock and freezes there motionless.

Reproduction of musk deer

Males reach sexual maturity at 3% of the age; By this age, their fangs grow and a musk gland develops, the contents of which begin to emit a specific odor. There is evidence that females are capable of fertilization already in the second or third year of life.

The musk deer's sexual season sometimes begins at the end of November, more often in December and lasts about a month. During this period, the male gathers several females around him; sometimes, on the contrary, several males follow the female. Fights occur between males; tournament weapons are the protruding upper fangs, with which the animals strike opponents from top to bottom, mainly on the neck and upper parts of the body.” There is an indication that the fight sometimes ends in severe injuries and even the death of one of the opponents. How long the estrus period lasts for individual animals is not known. The male constantly pursues and chases the female; even the very act of covering occurs, they say, on the fly. At the end of the rutting period, the male and female separate and again lead a solitary lifestyle.

Pregnancy lasts five or six months. Childbirth occurs in May or June. The female gives birth to one or two cubs. The mother does not arrange a special den for newborns, choosing for birth only the most secluded places under a canopy or in rock crevices. The musk deer, born helpless, at first lie and hide in shelters directly on the ground or stones. The mother visits them only for feeding. Until mid-summer, as Cherkasov (1950) reports, females are not found together with young ones, and the latter are found only in lairs.

Musk deer is a good mother. In case of danger, she tries to divert attention to herself and lead the hunter or other enemy away from the location of the cubs. The female feeds her children with milk for no more than two months, and later, supposedly, the cubs walk alone. This information is contradicted by the facts of hunting with decoy for musk deer until September.

The lifespan of the musk deer is unknown.

Economic importance of musk deer

The main product for which musk deer are hunted is the musk gland, or “musk deer stream,” of adult males, which was mentioned earlier. The contents of the musk sac - musk, when fresh, is a gelatinous mass of reddish-brown color, greasy to the touch, with a specific odor and, according to Turkin and Satunin, a sharp, bitter taste. Musk deer musk is considered the best type of natural musk of animal origin and is used mainly in the perfume industry. Its active odorous principle - muscone - is a liquid boiling at a temperature of 142-143 °, and chemically belongs to the group of cyclic ketones. In perfume production, musk is important as a fixative, that is, a means that retains the smell of perfume. Currently, synthetic substances are used that have properties similar to natural musk, but do not completely replace it. Therefore, the demand for the latter from the perfume industry remains the same, despite the high price.

The musk sac, cut entirely from a killed male, is air-dried and in this form is delivered to procurement points. The quality of the musk does not appear to depend on the season in which the musk deer are harvested, and therefore male musk deer can be harvested throughout the year.

There is no need to kill an animal to obtain musk. Musk can be easily extracted by inserting a tube into the opening of the gland and pressing the musk sac with your hand. This method could open up prospects for the development of musk deer farming. However, I am not aware of any cases of musk deer being kept for this purpose.

Musk deer meat, like food product, of great importance does not have due to its insignificant yield compared to other wild ungulates. In addition, it is tough, not tasty, and in males it has a musky aftertaste. Often, therefore, especially in the depths of the taiga, when harvesting musk deer, the carcass is simply thrown away. The skin also does not have a high price, due to the coarseness and fragility of the hair. Only sometimes they make seat mats from it. Hair removed from the skin can be used to stuff mattresses or upholstered furniture. Skin without hair is turned into suede, from which pouches, mittens, trousers, and sometimes even soft shoes are sewn (Emelyanov, 1927). In some places, musk deer tusks are used as an awl or as decoration, and hats are made from the skin of the paws.

Infraclass - placental

Family – musk deer

Genus - musk deer

Species - musk deer

Literature:

1. I.I. Sokolov "Fauna of the USSR, Hoofed Animals" Publishing House of the Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 1959.