THE INDIAN CHEVROTAIN | MOUSE DEER | Tragulus meminna

THE INDIAN CHEVROTAIN OR MOUSE DEER
Nocturnal, solitary and moves in areas with undergrowth. Rare and difficult to sight due to the camouflaging colouration. The only way to identify the presence of the species is by looking at the pellets and occational hoof marks.

Scientific name : Tragulus meminna

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Tragulidae
Genus: Moschiola
Species: M. indica
Binomial name: Moschiola indica

Local names : Kooran, Kooraman.

Habitat : Wet evergreen and deciduous forests.

Distribution : All over Kerala. Reported from Silent Valley National Park, Parambikulam, Chimmony and Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuaries and Periyar Tiger Reserve.

Indirect evidences : Pellets and hoof marks.

Faecal matters : Small pellets.

Foot prints : Very small and difficult to detect in the field. Similar to the marks made with two small sticks on the ground.