Tragulus: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
|||
| Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
==Taxonomy== |
==Taxonomy== |
||
Traditionally, only two species of mouse-deer in the genus ''Tragulus'' have been recognized: The relatively large ''T. napu'' and the |
Traditionally, only two species of mouse-deer in the genus ''Tragulus'' have been recognized: The relatively large ''T. napu'' and the small ''T. javanicus''. Following a review in 2004, ''T. nigricans'' and ''T. versicolor'' were [[Lumpers and splitters|split]] from ''T. napu'', and ''T. kanchil'' and ''T. williamsoni'' were split from ''T. javanicus''.<ref>Meijaard, I., and C. P. Groves (2004). ''A taxonomic revision of the Tragulus mouse-deer.'' Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 140: 63-102.</ref> |
||
* [[Java Mouse-deer]] (''Tragulus javanicus'') |
* [[Java Mouse-deer]] (''Tragulus javanicus'') |
||
Revision as of 12:02, 11 October 2010
| Tragulus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | Tragulus Brisson, 1762
|
Tragulus is a genus of even-toed ungulates in the Tragulidae family that are known as mouse-deer.[1] Tragos refers to a goat in Greek, while –ulus in Latin means 'tiny'. With a weight of 0.7–8.0 kilograms (1.5–17.6 lb) and a length of 40–75 centimetres (16–30 in) they are the smallest ungulates in the world, though the largest species of mouse-deer surpass some species of Neotragus antelopes in size.[2] The mouse-deer are restricted to southeast Asia from far southern China (Yunnan) to the Philippines (Balabac) and Java.[2] Following recent taxonomic changes, several of the species in this genus are poorly known, but all are believed to be mainly nocturnal and feed on leaves, fruits, grass and other vegetation in the dense forest undergrowth.[2] They are solitary or live in pairs, and the males have elongated canine teeth (neither gender has horns) that are used in fights.[2]
Taxonomy
Traditionally, only two species of mouse-deer in the genus Tragulus have been recognized: The relatively large T. napu and the small T. javanicus. Following a review in 2004, T. nigricans and T. versicolor were split from T. napu, and T. kanchil and T. williamsoni were split from T. javanicus.[3]
- Java Mouse-deer (Tragulus javanicus)
- Lesser Mouse-deer (Tragulus kanchil)
- Greater Mouse-deer (Tragulus napu)
- Philippine Mouse-deer (Tragulus nigricans)
- Vietnam Mouse-deer (Tragulus versicolor)
- Williamson's Mouse-deer (Tragulus williamsoni)
References
- ^ Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M., eds. (2005). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
- ^ a b c d Nowak, R. M. (eds) (1999). Walker's Mammals of the World. 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press.
- ^ Meijaard, I., and C. P. Groves (2004). A taxonomic revision of the Tragulus mouse-deer. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 140: 63-102.
.png){kind=small} | This article about an even-toed ungulate is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |