Tragulus nigricans

Taxonomy (Name)

Picture

Distribution, Range

On current knowledge, this species is endemic to the Philippines, where it is known only from Balabac, Bugsuc and Ramos Islands (Oliver, 1993; Heaney et al., 2002; Grubb, 2005). It has also been introduced to Apulit and Calauit Island (Meijaard and Groves, 2004; Rico and Oliver, 2008).

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Map

Country

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

Status

International Status

IUCN Red List Category

ENIUCN

Justification

Listed as Endangered because its extent of occurrence is less than 5,000 km2, all individuals are in fewer than five locations, and there is continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat, and in the number of mature individuals.

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CITES

CMS

National Status

Ecology Discription

Appearance

Habitat

The species occurs in primary and secondary lowland forest and shrubland, and may frequent mangroves and more open areas to forage.

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Population size

The latest survey was in 1993 (Oliver, 1993), when the population was reputed to be quite stable and available information suggested that those on Balabac were seemingly able to withstand sustained hunting pressure. However, more recent information from local hunters indicates that it is now more difficult to capture these animals, suggesting a likely decline.

In the late 1990?s, a small stock of eight mouse deer escaped from their enclosures on Calauit Island, where the species had been maintained and bred since 1982. These animals were reported to have increased to at least free-living 21 individuals by 2006 (Rico and Oliver, 2008).

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Behavior

Diet

Reproduction

Threat

Major Threat(s)

The species is subject to poaching for food, and there is minor domestic trade in live animals for local zoos and private collectors. The species is also affected by habitat loss due to conversion of former habitat to coconut plantations and other agriculture.

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Conservation and Measurement

International

National

Mouse deer are surprisingly well-known within the Philippines and constitute a potentially ideal vehicle for promoting increased future conservation, research and education activities in this region (Grubb and Gardiner, 1998), though little or no effective action has been taken to date. The species is fully protected under both Philippine national law and various local (provincial and municipal) ordinances (NRMC, 1985), but these are mostly ineffectively enforced at the present time. The species would undoubtedly also benefit from the establishment of effectively protected areas (it is not currently known from any), and the enhanced enforcement of laws on hunting and trade. Research is needed on its habitat requirements, threats and conservation needs throughout it is extremely limited range; the latter therefore also including Bugsuc Island, much of which is privately-owned and inaccessible to researchers without prior permission. Existing captive populations of this species could be more usefully utilized as the basis for a properly structured conservation breeding programme; though any such initiative should be linked to related in-situ conservation management and applied research requirements.

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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.

Grubb, P. and Gardiner, A. L. 1998. List of species and subspecies of the families Tragulidae, Moschidae and Cervidae. In: Wemmer, C. (ed.), Deer - Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan, pp. 6-16. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.

Heaney, L. R. 1986. Biogeography of mammals in south-east Asia: Estimates of rates of colonization, extinction and speciation. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 28: 127-165.

Heaney, L. R., Walker, E. K., Tabaranza Jr., B. R. and Ingle, N. 2002. Mammalian diversity in the Philippines: an assessment of the adequacy of current data. Sylvatrop, The Philippine Forest Research Journal 10: 6-27.

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

Meijaard, I. and Groves, C. P. 2004. Morphometrical relationships between South-east Asian deer (Cervidae, tribe Cervini): evolutionary and biogeographic implications. Journal of Zoology (London) 263: 179-196.

NRMC. 1985. A Compilation of Laws Pertaining to the Protection of Wildlife and the Preservation of Game Refuges and Sanctuaries; Vol. 6: Study on Game Refuge and Bird Sanctuary Laws and Enactments. Resource Policy and Strategy Research Division, Natural Resources Management Center, Ministry of Natural Resources, Manila.

Oliver, W. L. R. 1993. Threatened endemic artiodactyls of the Philippines: status and future priorities. International Zoo Yearbook 32: 131-144.

Rabor, D. S. 1977. Philippine birds and mammals. University of the Philippines Science Education Center, Quezon City.

Rico, E. L. and Oliver, W. L. R. 2008. Biodiversity conservation priorities in the Calamian Islands ? gaps and opportunities. Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD, Government of the Philippines).

Sanborn, C. C. 1952. Philippine Zoological Expedition 1946-1947. Fieldiana: Zoology 33: 89-158.

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