Water deer
The water deer is a small deer species native to Korea and China. It has prominent tusks, similar to those of musk deer. It was first described to the Western world by Robert Swinhoe in 1870.
Taxonomy
The two subspecies are the Chinese water deer and the Korean water deer. The water deer is superficially more similar to a musk deer than a true deer; despite anatomical peculiarities, including a pair of prominent tusks and its lack of antlers, it is classified as a cervid, yet its unique anatomical characteristics have caused it to be classified in its own genus, as well as historically its own subfamily. However, studies of mitochondrial control region and cytochrome b DNA sequences placed it near Capreolus within an Old World section of the subfamily Capreolinae, and all later molecular analyses show that Hydropotes is a sister taxon of Capreolus.Etymology
The genus name Hydropotes corresponds to the ancient Greek word, meaning "water-drinker", and presumably refers to the preference of this cervid for rivers and swamps.The etymology of the species name corresponds to the Latin word inermis meaning unarmed, defenceless, itself constructed from the prefix in- meaning without, and the stem arma meaning defensive arms, armour, and presumably refers to the water deer's lack of antlers.
Habitat and distribution
Archeological studies indicate water deer were once distributed among much broader range than currently during the Pleistocene and the Holocene periods; records have been obtained from eastern Tibet in the west, Inner Mongolia and northeastern China in the north, southeastern Korean Peninsula and Japanese archipelago in the east, southern China and northern Vietnam in the south. Water deer also inhabited Taiwan historically, however this population presumably became extinct as late as the early 19th century.Water deer are indigenous to the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, coastal Jiangsu province, and islands of Zhejiang of east-central China, and in Korea, where the demilitarized zone has provided a protected habitat for a large number. The Korean water deer is one of the two subspecies of water deer. While the population of Chinese subspecies is critically endangered in China, the Korean subspecies is known to number 700,000 throughout South Korea. In China, water deer are found in Zhoushan Islands in the Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Hubei, Henan, Anhui, Guangdong, Fujian, Poyang Lake in Jiangxi, Shanghai, and Guangxi. They are now extinct in southern and western China. Since 2006, water deer have been reintroduced in Shanghai, with a population increase from 21 individuals in 2007 to 227–299 individuals in 2013. In Korea, water deer are found nationwide and are known as gorani.
Water deer inhabit the land alongside rivers, where they are protected from sight by the tall reeds and rushes. They are also seen on mountains, swamps, grasslands, and even open cultivated fields. Water deer are proficient swimmers, and can swim several miles to reach remote river islands. An introduced population of Chinese water deer exists in the United Kingdom and another was extirpated from France.
South Korea
Despite a listing of "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in South Korea, the animal is thriving because of the extinction of natural predators, such as Korean tigers and leopards. Since 1994, Korean water deer have been designated as "harmful wildlife", a term given by the Ministry of Environment to wild creatures that can cause harm to humans or their property. Currently, certain local governments offer bounties from 30,000 to 50,000 won during the farming season. However, the hunting of water deer is not restricted to the warm season, as 18 hunting grounds were in operation in the winter of 2018.| 1971 | 1990 | 1999 | 2005 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | |
| Density per 100 ha of individuals | 0.4 | 3.7 | 5.3 | 6.2 | 6.6 | 7.3 | 7.5 | 6.9 | 8.2 | 7.8 | 8.0 | 8.3 |
| Deer kill | 11,269 | 29,756 | 50,333 | 58,786 | 88,041 | 113,763 | ||||||
| Deer kill | 1,500 | 13,904 | 3,943 | 10,944 | 14,982 | |||||||
| Deer kill | 60,000 |
Britain
Chinese water deer were first introduced into Great Britain in the 1870s. The animals were kept in the London Zoo until 1896, when the Duke of Bedford oversaw their transfer to Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire. More of the animals were imported and added to the herd over the next three decades. In 1929 and 1930, 32 deer were transferred from Woburn to Whipsnade, also in Bedfordshire, and released into the park. The current population of Chinese water deer at Whipsnade is estimated to be more than 600, while the population at Woburn is probably more than 250.The majority of the current population of Chinese water deer in Britain derives from escapees, with the remainder being descended from many deliberate releases. Most of these animals still reside close to Woburn Abbey. The deer's apparent strong preference for a particular habitat – tall reed and grass areas in rich alluvial deltas - has restricted its potential to colonize further afield. The main area of distribution is from Woburn east into Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, and North Essex, and south towards Whipsnade. Small colonies have been reported in other areas. The British Deer Society coordinated a survey of wild deer in the United Kingdom between 2005 and 2007 and identified the Chinese water deer as "notably increasing its range" since the previous census in 2000.
France
A small population existed in France originating from animals that had escaped an enclosure in 1960 in western France. The population was reinforced in 1965 and 1970 and the species has been protected since 1973. Despite efforts to locate the animals with the help of local hunters, no sightings have occurred since 2000, and the population is assumed to be extinct.Russia
On April 1, 2019, a water deer was spotted using a photo trap in the "Land of the Leopard" national park in the Khasan district of Primorsky Krai, Russia, 4.5 km from the border with China. In 2022, the population of water deer in Primorsky Krai was about 170 individuals. Thus, the water deer became the newest, and 327th, mammal species to be listed among the fauna of Russia.Morphology
Physical attributes
| Body length | Shoulder height | Tail length | Weight |
| 77.5–100 cm | 42–65 cm | 6–7.5 cm | 9–14 kg |
| 2.5–3.3 ft | 18–22 in | 2.4–3 in | 20–31 lbs |
The water deer has narrow pectoral and pelvic girdles, long legs, and a long neck. The powerful hind legs are longer than the front legs so that the haunches are carried higher than the shoulders. They run with rabbit-like jumps. In the groin of each leg is an gland used for scent marking; this deer is the only member of the Cervidae to possess such glands. The short tail is no more than in length and is almost invisible, except when it is held raised by the male during the rut. The ears are short and very rounded, and both sexes lack antlers.
The coat is an overall golden-brown color and may be interspersed with black hairs, while the undersides are white. The strongly tapered face is reddish-brown or gray, and the chin and upper throat are cream-colored. The hair is longest on the flanks and rump. In the fall, the summer coat is gradually replaced by a thicker, coarse-haired winter coat that varies from light brown to grayish brown. Neither the head nor the tail poles are well differentiated as in gregarious deer; consequently, this deer's coat is little differentiated. Young are born dark brown with white stripes and spots along their upper torsos.
Teeth
The water deer have developed long canine teeth which protrude from the upper jaw like the canines of musk deer. The canines are fairly large in the bucks, ranging in length from on average to as long as. Does, in comparison, have tiny canines that are an average of in length.The teeth usually erupt in the autumn of the deer's first year around 6–7 months of age. By early spring, the recently erupted tusks reach about 50% of their final length. As the tusks develop, the root remains open until the deer is about 18 to 24 months old. When fully grown, only about 60% of the tusk is visible below the gum.
These canines are held loosely in their sockets, with their movements controlled by facial muscles. The buck can draw them backwards out of the way when eating. In aggressive encounters, he thrusts his canines out and draws in his lower lip to pull his teeth closer together. He then presents an impressive, two-pronged weapon to rival males. Due to these teeth, this animal is sometimes referred to as a "vampire deer".