Gongshan muntjac

Gongshan muntjac
Gongshan Muntjac
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Cervidae
Subfamily: Muntiacinae
Genus: Muntiacus
Species: M. gongshanensis
Binomial name
Muntiacus gongshanensis
Ma, 1990

The Gongshan muntjac (Muntiacus gongshanensis)[2] was recently identified by Chinese scientists as a new species of muntjac, a type of deer, living in the Gongshan mountains in northwestern Yunnan, southeast Tibet and northern Myanmar. Recently, it has also been found to occur in Arunachal Pradesh in northeastern India.[3]The earlier references of occurrence of the Black muntjak Muntiacus crinifrons in Arunachal Pradesh are actually Gongshan muntjakc[4]. More recently, genetic studies have shown it to be very closely related to the hairy-fronted muntjac, possibly close enough to be considered the same species despite different coloration[citation needed]. Ongoing hunting is a major threat to its survival.

References

  1. ^ Timmins, R.J., Duckworth, J.W. & Zaw, T. (2008). Muntiacus gongshanensis. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 5 April 2009. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of data deficient.
  2. ^ Grubb, Peter (16 November 2005). Wilson, Don E., and Reeder, DeeAnn M., eds. ed. Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2 vols. (2142 pp.). ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3/browse.asp?id=14200404. 
  3. ^ Choudhury, A.U. (2009). Records and distribution of Gongshan and leaf muntjacs in India. Deer Specialist Group News 23: 2-7.
  4. ^ Choudhury, A.U. (2003). The mammals of Arunachal Pradesh. Regency Publications, New Delhi. 140pp