Balabac Mouse Deer

The Philippine mouse-deer (Tragulus nigricans), also known as the Balabac chevrotain or pilandok (in Filipino), is a small, nocturnal ruminant, which is endemic to Balabac and nearby smaller islands southwest of Palawan in the Philippines. The genus Tragulus means 'little goat' and the Philippine mouse-deer has been named so due to the horizontal pupils of the eyes. This position of the pupil allows for an increase in peripheral depth perception. It has traditionally been considered a subspecies of the greater mouse-deer. In 2004, though, T. nigricans was separated from T. napu as its own species due to differences in skull morphology (skull measurements). Contrary to its common name, the Philippine mouse-deer does not belong to the deer family Cervidae, but is a member of the chevrotain family.The Balabac mouse deer (Tragulus Nigricans) belongs to Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata. Under Class Mammalia. Order Artiodactyla means weight is borne approximately equally by the third and fourth toes, rather than mostly or entirely by the third as in Odd-toed ungulate (perissodactyls), such as horses. From the Family of Tragulidae means small ungulates. Genus Tragulus, means genus of even-toed ungulates in the Tragulidae family that are known as mouse-deer. Tragos refers to a goat in Greek, while –ulus in Latin means 'tiny' Species T.Nigricans.

Gross Morphology

Its head dark-brown in color. It is a ruminant without horns or any antlers. Ruminants are even-toed ungulate mammals. They use their large, tusk-like canine teeth on the upper jaw for self-defense or territorial fights with other males. They have horizontally-oriented pupil which is adapted to night vision. There is a dark brown line connecting from the bridge of the nose to the forehead. They have erected ears for greater sense of hearing with white underside. There is a dark line which runs from the ears to the eyes and to the nose. Its jaw is white in color. In its thorax, black and brown furs cover the body. Their throat has three narrow white stripes beginning from a white patch under the chin and extending down towards the chest. The abdomen covers the body with light brown fur. They have a slim leg with a hoof. The hoof is a horny part of the foot of an ungulate animal. They also have a short brown tail. They measure 40-50 cm from head to tail, then has a height of 18 cm.

Animal Description

Their habitat is the primary and secondary forest. When males are ready to mate, they rub their gland in their lower jaw against the female to ask whether she is ready for mating. If not, the female will walk away. The male mounts on top of the female to penetrate and inseminate the vagina. The gestation period or the time in which a fetus develops is 140-177 days. Female can give birth to a single fawn in any time of the year. They inspire and expire through their lungs. They excrete solid waste through their anus and they excrete urine through their urinary tract. Their main food is berry-like fruit that grows from the base of the tree called Tubog. They also eat fallen fruits, leaves, buds, and grasses.

Taxonomical Classification