Siberian Musk Deer Article Index for
Siberian
Website Links For
Siberian
 

Information About

Siberian Musk Deer




  Name Musk deer
  Regnum Animal ia
  Phylum Chordata
  Classis Mammal ia
  Ordo Artiodactyla
  Familia Moschidae
  Genus ''''' Moschus '''''
  Species '''''M moschiferus'''''
  Binomial ''Moschus mosciferus''
  Binomial Authority Linnaeus , 1758


The Siberian musk deer (''Moschus moschiferus'') is a Musk Deer found in the mountain forests of Northeast Asia . Its is most common in the Taiga of southern Siberia , but is also found in parts of Mongolia , Inner Mongolia , Manchuria and the Korean Peninsula . It is largely nocturnal, and migrates only over short distances. It prefers altitudes of more than 2600 m. Adults are small, weighing 7-17 kg.

The Siberian musk deer is classified as threatened by the IUCN . It is hunted for its Musk gland, which fetches prices as high as $45,000 per kilogram. Only a few tens of grams can be extracted from an adult male. It is possible to remove the gland without killing the deer, but this is seldom done.

A distinct subspecies roams the island of Sakhalin .


EXTERNAL LINKS