Meet the Mouse Deer; The Smallest Hoofed Animal in the World

The world full of inexhaustible living creatures that are quite unique. In this article, we'll take a look at a rare animal species known as the mouse deer also known as the chevrotain.

Chevrotains are actually the smallest hoofed animals in the world. They look like a breed of the deer and mice. They are ruminants with a four-chambered stomach and only give birth to one fawn at a time similar to other hoofed mammals. They also breast feed thier young ones like goats do.

These small creatures have thin, pencil-like legs, brown fur, sometimes with black stripes, especially along the neck. Males have long downward-facing canines are used for protection.

They like to inhabit th dense vegetated areas as they are herbivores. They also live near water sources.

Mouse deer are likely to be found in; Southeast Asia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, India, West and Central Africa. They face hunting threats from birds of prey, snakes and feral cats.