Moschus leucogaster

Taxonomy (Name)

Picture

Distribution, Range

This species occurs in the Himalayas of Bhutan, northern India (including Sikkim), Nepal, and China (southwest Xizang) (Groves et al. 1995; Grubb 2005). Its occurrence in China is almost marginal (Yang et al. 2003, where treated as M. chrysogaster).

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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, which is characteristic of this genus. 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. It should also be noted that the species has a relatively restricted range, and so its population is unlikely to be large.

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CITES

Appendix II (China) and Appendix I (all other countries)IUCN

CMS

National Status

Ecology Discription

Appearance

Habitat

This species inhabits high alpine environments, with Groves et al. (1995) recording a lowest altitude of 2,500 m asl. It is poorly known, but its natural history is likely to be similar to that of M. chrysogaster. M. chrysogaster is found on barren plateaus at high altitudes, where it occupies meadows, fell-fields, shrublands or fir forests.

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Population size

Little is known of the species's current status. There are very few in China, reflecting the small range there (Yang et al. 2003). It is believed to be declining throughout its range because of over-harvesting.

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Behavior

It is generally solitary and crepuscular (Harris and Cai 1993).

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Diet

It feeds mainly on grasses, shrubs, leaves, moss, lichens, shoots, and twigs (Green 1987).

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Reproduction

Threat

Major Threat(s)

There is a high trade in musk deer parts, particularly pods, into China and elsewhere in north-east Asia (see accounts for other Moschus species). Many relatively high-volume illicit wildlife trade links pass through M. leucogaster's range, so it is certain to be under some level of threat from trade. The unstable taxonomy hampers abilities to assess threat levels directly to species, especially as parts like pods are not readily identifiable to species anyway.

Besides hunting for meat, which is considered a delicacy locally, hunting of the muskdeer is primarily for trade of musk glands. 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.

There is also some forest loss within its range for agriculture, timber and human settlement.

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Conservation and Measurement

International

This species is listed on CITES Appendix II (China) and Appendix I (all other countries), but this does not prevent rampant trade in musk deer.

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National

It is considered to be rare in China. Perhaps through taxonomic uncertainties, it is on the China Red List as Not Evaluated, and the China Key List - II. The high value of the parts in trade mean that conservation requires effective hand-on anti-poaching activity. It occurs in a number of protected areas.

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Conservation law

Protected Area

Other Coservation Projects

Citation

Green, M. J. B. 1987. Some ecological aspects of a Himalayan population of musk deer. In: C. M. Wemmer (ed.), The Biology and Management of Cervidae, pp. 307-319. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D. C., USA.

Groves, C. P. and Grubb, P. 1987. Relationships of Living Deer. In: C. Wemmer (ed.), Biology and Management of the Cervidae, pp. 1-40. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D. C., USA.

Groves, C. P., Yingxiang, W. and Grubb, P. 1995. Taxonomy of Musk-Deer, Genus Moschus (Moschidae, Mammalia). Acta Theriologica Sinica 15(3): 181-197.

Grubb, P. 1990. List of deer species and subspecies. Deer, Journal of the British Deer Society 8: 153-155.

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. and Cai, G. Q. 1993. Autumn home range of musk deer in Baizha Forest, Tibetan plateau. Journal Bombay Natural History Society 90: 430-436.

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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