Peter Halasz
Why rise antlers when you’re able to have fang ? the great unwashed normally assort “ sabre teeth ” with bloody-minded deoxyephedrine age cats , but a few modern critters also have them — include some rather docile herbivores .
Meet the musk deer fellowship ( aka : theMoschidae ) . To date , seven mintage have been identified , all of which hail from Asia — though the fogy book reveals that their prehistorical kin onceroamedEurope and North America as well . Also , mostly due to theirlack of antler , these guys are n’t technically regard cervid , despite their common name .
In lieu of headgear , the animals have evolved some savage - looking canines . Males vaunt a pair of curve ivory protruding from their upper jaws , which are used to ward off competitor once mating seasonheats up . But it ’s a very different anatomical feature that ’s used for wooing the fairer sex .
“ Musk ” deer are so called because of an unusual gland located near the males ’ hindquarters . These sacs secrete a pungent chemical substance that ’s spray liberally throughout their territories . Females find the odor dead tantalizing , and — lamentably — so do poacher . human being have long been using this substance , the potent scent of which is evendocumentedin the Quran . Hailed a beguiling aphrodisiac and an effective medicinal ingredient , moschid musk is “ one of the most worthful product in the natural kingdom and can be worth three times its exercising weight in gold , ” suppose conservationist Stuart Chapman . While it ’s possible to “ Milk River ” alive specimens , hunterspreferkilling these animate being before removing their glands alone . Due to this regrettable practice , most species are now endanger .
Intriguingly , a entirely different variety of fanged , cervid - similar mammalian also occupy in Asia . The Chinesewater deer(Hydropotes inermis ) is a beagle - sized herbivore that ’s been eff to swim for miles on remnant in lookup of food and tax shelter in the wetlands it calls home . During the 1800s , they were introduced to England and subsequently start spreading through the Britishcountrysideas well .
