Moschus anhuiensis

Taxonomy (Name)

Picture

Distribution, Range

The species is found only in and around the Mount Dabie area of west Anhui province in China (Smith and Xie 2008). It might also occur in the Hubei section of Mount Dabei.

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Map

Country

Brunei Darussalam
Cambodia
China	IUCN
Indonesia
Japan
Lao PDR
Malaysia
Myanmar
Mongolia
Philippines
Singapore
Republic of Korea
Thailand
Vietnam

Status

International Status

IUCN Red List Category

ENIUCN

Justification

Listed as Endangered because of a probable serious population decline, estimated to be more than 50% over the last three generations (approximately 21 years), inferred from over-exploitation, shrinkage in distribution, and habitat destruction and degradation. Although there is no direct data available regarding recent declining population rates, the above-mentioned rate of decline seems reasonable based on the high levels of harvesting and habitat loss. It should also be noted that:
1) The last population assessment accounted for only 700 to 800 individuals living in the wild (Sheng 1998), though the basis for these numbers is not clear. However, if these numbers were correct at the time, and if there has been a subsequent significant decline, the species could perhaps also qualify for listing as Endangered under criteria C2a(i) or C2a(ii).
2) The distribution range of the species is not much greater than 5,000 km2. It probably qualifies for listing as Vulnerable under criterion B1ab(iii,v).

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CITES

Appendix IIIUCN

CMS

National Status

Ecology Discription

Appearance

Habitat

This species is poorly known; however, its natural history is likely similar to that of M. berezovskii and M. moschiferus (Smith and Xie 2008). It presumably therefore inhabits coniferous or broad-leaved forests, or mixed forests at high elevations According to Smith and Xie (2008), it is more likely than other musk deer to produce twins.

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Population size

There is no information available on the population size or trends. It is estimated by Wang Yingxiang (Kunming Institute of Zoology pers. comm., 2008) to have been reduced in geographic distribution by 70% in the 30 years between 1957 and 1977. According to Sheng (1998), the total population was only 700-800 in 1985. In Mazongling Nature Reserve, a survey in 1993 estimated that only 6-8 remained above 1,000 m asl. A 1995 survey suggested that the species was still declining, although Yang et al. (2003) suggested that its status has recently improved. There have been no published surveys since that time.

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Behavior

Diet

Reproduction

Females mature rapidly and are capable of breeding in their first year of life.

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Threat

Major Threat(s)

The major threats to this species include habitat loss and hunting, and it is especially at risk due to its limited distribution (Smith and Xie 2008). The musk produced by this genus of primitive deer is highly valued for its cosmetic and alleged pharmaceutical properties, and can fetch U.S. $45,000 per kilogram (2.2 pounds) on the international market. Although this musk, produced in a gland of the males, can be extracted from live animals, most "musk-gatherers" kill the animals to remove the entire sac, which yields only about 25 grams (1/40 of a kilogram) of the brown waxy substance. Such poaching is relatively easy to accomplish and difficult to stop using only legal means (Harris 2007).

Musk deer appear to require dense vegetation, either in the form of intact forests or shrublands; thus excessive forest clearing or grazing can preclude musk deer from using such lands (Yang et al. 2003).

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Conservation and Measurement

International

This species is listed on CITES Appendix II and on the First Category of State Key Protected Wildlife List in China since 2002, and as Endangered (B1ab(i,ii,iii)+2ab(i,ii,iii)) in the Chinese Red List (Wang and Xie 2004).

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National

This species is listed on CITES Appendix II and on the First Category of State Key Protected Wildlife List in China since 2002, and as Endangered (B1ab(i,ii,iii)+2ab(i,ii,iii)) in the Chinese Red List (Wang and Xie 2004). Measures, are urgently needed to control hunting in this species, and to protect its habitat on Mount Dabie. It is not known from any protected areas. There is a need to determine the species population size, natural history, and the extent of threats to the species.

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Conservation law

Protected Area

Other Coservation Projects

Citation

Grubb, P. 2005. Artiodactyla. In: D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder (eds), Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed), pp. 637-722. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, USA.

Harris, R. B. 2007. Wildlife Conservation in China: Preserving the Habitat of China's Wild West. M. E. Sharpe, Inc, Armonk, New York, USA.

IUCN. 2007. IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.

IUCN. 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 5 October 2008).

Li M., Li Y. G. and Sheng H. L. 1999. Taxonomic status of Anhui musk deer revisited [In Chinese]. Chinese Science Bulletin 44(2): 188-192.

Sheng, H. L. 1998. Moschus berezovskii. (Including M. anhuiensis). In: S. Wang (ed.), China Red Date Book of Endangered Animals, Science Press, Beijing, China.

Smith, A. and Xie, Y. 2008. The Mammals of China. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey.

Su, B., Wang, Y. X. and Wang, Q. S. 2001. Mitochondria DNA Sequences Imply Anhui musk deer a valid species in Genus Moschus. Zoological Research 22(3): 169-173.

Su, B., Wang, Y. X., Lan, H., Wang W. and Zhang, Y. P. 2001. Phylogenetic study of complete cytochrome b genes in Musk deer (Genus Moschus) using museum samples. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 12(3): 241-249.

Wang, S. and Xie, Y. (eds). 2004. China Species Red List. pp. 296 pp.. Higher Education Press, Beijing.

Wang Y. X. 2003. A Complete Checklist of Mammal Species and Subspecies in China, A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. China Forestry Publishing House, Beijing, China.

Yang, Q. S., Meng, X. X., Xia, L. and Lin Feng, Z. J. 2003. Conservation status and causes of decline of musk deer (Moschus spp.) in China. Biological Conservation 109: 333-342.

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