Southern Red Muntjac

A distinctive mark of the Southern Red Muntjac is the existence of two bony protrusions on its head, forming the base of its small shafts, which extend into the face. The females have only small protrusions with tufts of hair. They have canines that curve outward from the mouth. The coat is golden on the dorsal area and white on the ventral area. Males are larger than females.

Although they sometimes walk in pairs or small groups, adult Southern Red Muntjac individuals are solitary. When they sense danger, they emit dog-like barking sounds, often for more than an hour, to scare off predators. They are very easily frightened by any movement. They are diurnal and extremely territorial animals. Males fight for females using their antlers or their canines, which are more dangerous.

Southern Red Muntjac is widely hunted across its range, and it is the most sought-after wild meat in Peninsular Malaysia and is among the most preferred in Indonesia. However, there is no strong evidence that either hunting or habitat disruption are threats to the survival of populations except in the case of islands such as Singapore, where it is now extinct. In some areas, where the population of Southern Red Muntjacs is large, these animals destroy many trees by stripping the bark. This factor can lead to the loss of food sources and the loss of wood that can be used to provide shelter.