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Monitoring of the existence of the Javan Leopard (Panthera pardus melas) in the Nusakambangan Timur Nature Reserve, Cilacap Regency, has been carried out in July-November 2020. Monitoring is carried out using the method of collecting signs of animal presence and installing camera traps. Photos / videos caught on camera traps are counted on the encounter rate. The monitoring results obtained 97 videos which were divided into 6 videos of P.p. melas, 15 videos of wild boar (Sus scrofa), 1 video of mouse deer (Tragulus javanicus), 2 videos of mountain squirrels (Tupaia montana), 1 video of mice (Apodemus sp.) 20 videos of human activities, and 47 videos of non detection. The result of the Encounter Rate calculation shows the result of P.p. melas 4.44 / 100 days; wild boar 11.85 / 100 days; Squirrels 1.48 / 100 days; rats and mouse deer 0.74 / 100 days, respectively. Meanwhile, for the trail of P.p. melas found 2 impurities.

The lesser mouse-deer Tragulus kanchil Raffles, 1821 is a small, herbivorous mammal inhabiting regions of Southeast Asia. Unlike other species belonging to the same genus, the lesser mouse-deer is not critically endangered, however the biology and population size of the species are not studied well enough. So far no methods of monitoring of the species condition have been developed and for this reason, an exemplary protocol of the monitoring of lesser mouse-deer is presented in the paper below. The main goal of such studies is to estimate the population size and density, as well as to assess the quality of the habitat occupied by the animals. In order to evaluate the species condition, population and habitat indicators were developed. The methodology of studies is mostly based on counting specimens in transects, together with assessing the habitat quality and availability of food supply. Supplementary methods were suggested, such as genetic testing and using camera traps. Conducting such research is believed to aid in better understanding of the environmental requirements and possible threats, which may have a significant impact on the lesser mouse- -deer population. In the future, methods suggested in this paper can be improved or extended, so that the matter is examined as comprehensively as possible and suitable conservation measures can be applied.

The following mammal assemblage was identified among the materials collected in 2020 from the Pleistocene of the Lang Trang cave (northern Vietnam): the primates Pongo sp., Trachypithecus sp., Macaca cf. nemestrina (Linnaeus, 1766), and Macaca sp.; the carnivorans Arctonyx collaris rostratus Matthew et Granger, 1923 and Panthera sp.; the chiropteran Ia io Thomas, 1902; the rodent Hystrix kiangsenensis Wang, 1931; the proboscidean Elephas sp.; the perissodactyls Tapirus indicus (Desmarest, 1819) and Dicerorhinus sumatrensis (Fischer, 1814); the artiodactyls Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758, S. barbatus Muller, 1838, Tragulus kanchil (Raffles, 1821), Hydropotes inermis Swinhoe, 1870, Muntiacus muntjak (Zimmermann, 1780), Axis porcinus (Zimmermann, 1780), Rusa unicolor (Kerr, 1792), and Capricornis sumatraensis (Bechstein, 1799). I. io, S. barbatus, T. kanchil, H. inermis, and A. porcinus were detected in the Lang Trang fauna for the first time. The mammal assemblage is dominated by inhabitants of tropical forests (from lowlands to mountains), subtropical forms are also present.

The mouse-deer or chevrotains are the smallest of the ungulates and ruminants. They are characterized by a number of traits which are considered plesiomorphic for the Artiodactyla order. The objective of this study was to examine sleep in the lesser mouse-deer (Tragulus kanchil), which is the smallest in this group (body mass < 2.2 kg). Electroencephalogram, nuchal electromyogram, electrooculogram, and body acceleration were recorded in four adult mouse-deer females using a telemetry system in Bu Gia Map National Park in Vietnam. The mouse-deer spent on average 49.7 ± 3.0% of 24 h in non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. REM sleep occupied 1.7 ± 0.3% of 24 h or 3.2 ± 0.5% of total sleep time. The average duration of REM sleep episodes was 2.0 ± 0.2 min, the average maximum was 5.1 ± 1.1 min, and the longest episodes lasted 8 min. NREM sleep occurred in sternal recumbency with the head held above the ground while 64.7 ± 6.4% of REM sleep occurred with the head resting on the ground. The eyes were open throughout most of the NREM sleep period. The mouse-deer displayed polyphasic sleep and crepuscular peaks in activity (04:00–06:00 and 18:00–19:00). The largest amounts of NREM occurred in the morning (06:00–09:00) and the smallest before dusk (at 04:00–06:00). REM sleep occurred throughout most of the daylight hours (08:00–16:00) and in the first half of the night (19:00–02:00). We suggest that the pattern and timing of sleep in the lesser mouse-deer is adapted to the survival of a small herbivorous animal, subject to predation, living in high environmental temperatures in the tropical forest undergrowth.

The pattern of sleep and circadian activity of the lesser mouse-deer (Tragulus kanchil) that is the smallest (body mass between 1.5 and 2.2 kg) representative of the basal group (Tragulidae) of even-toed ungulates which evolved 40–50 Ma were studied. In naturalistic conditions, a total of 30 days of full-day video of the animal behavior and 15 days of 24-h polysomnographic data were collected in 6 animals. The mouse-deer were active less than 20% of 24 h and were quiescent during 60–80% of the remaining time. Slow wave sleep (SWS) accounted for on average 49.7 ± 3.7% of 24 h and paradoxical (rapid eye movement, REM) sleep accounted for 1.7 ± 0.3% of 24 h. During the majority of SWS (87.0 ± 4.4%) the eyes were open. The most of SWS and REM sleep occurred during the daytime hours (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and in the first half of the night (8 p.m. to 2 a.m.); the animals were most active during twilight hours (4–6 a.m. and 6–7 p.m.). We suggest that the main features of sleep in the mouse-deer are largely determined by ecological factors, including environmental temperature and predation, as well as the size and physiology of the mouse-deer.

Mouse-deer, represented by the extant genera Tragulus, Moschiola and Hyemoschus, are among the smallest living ruminants. Today these animals are exclusively distributed in the Indo-Malayan and Afrotropical regions. For the past sixty years, the taxonomic classification of mouse-deer included the species H. aquaticus, T./M. meminna, T. kanchil/T. javanicus, and T. javanicus/T. napu, and these species names were therefore used widely to label material stored in scientific collections. However, recent revisions based on broad phenomic analyses of specimens from collections in Asia, Europe, and North America indicate that there are in fact seven species in Tragulus and three (or four) in Moschiola, and thus challenge works with collection specimens named based on the older classification. This paper presents the results from an independent, multivariate morphometrical analysis of a small sample set of 43 Tragulus and Moschiola skulls kept in public collections in Basel, Munich, Stuttgart, and Vienna that was conducted to explore character diversity. Our results revealed three morphometric clusters in Tragulus and two in Moschiola that concur with some of the recently revised species concepts, i.e. T. napu ('our' Borneo, Sumatra, and Sunda Islands specimens), T. kanchil ('our' Sumatra and Thailand specimens), T. javanicus ('our' Java specimens), M. indica ('our' India specimens) and M. meminna/M. kathygre ('our' Sri Lanka specimens). To assist keepers of osteological collections with the identification of tragulids based on the most recent taxonomy, we have assembled a chart providing revised taxonomic assessments of all 43 specimens included in our analysis. In addition, we have quantified a hitherto undocumented difference in the neurocranium geometry among Asian tragulids. Individuals with a globose neurocranium are shown to belong to T. javanicus and T. kanchil, while those possessing a non-globose neurocranium are in Moschiola spp. and T. napu.

The mitochondrial genome of Indian mouse deer (Moschiola indica) was sequenced, assembled and characterized for the first time using 22 pairs of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers. The mitogenome of M. indica which is 16,444 bp in size was found very similar to most vertebrates in organisation that harbours 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA, 2 ribosomal RNA and 1A + T-rich region. Its comparison with over 52 mitogenomes of the order Artiodactyla, showed a conserved nature of gene organisation, codon usage, gene orientation and evolutionary rates of proteins except that M. indica possesses an extra copy of trnF. The complete mitogenome and protein-coding genes of M. indica were found to be highly A + T biased. Rate of protein evolution was highest in atp8 and lowest in cox3. Further, a higher purifying selection pressure was found to be acting on family Tragulidae compared to Bovidae and Cervidae. The phylogenetic analysis of M. indica placed the Tragulidae as sister-group of all other ruminants, similar to previous analyses. Moschiola forms the sister-group to the other two tragulid genera Tragulus (from Asia) and Hyemoschus (from Africa), which is unexpected as usually the Asian species are thought to form a monophyletic group.

In an age of mass extinctions, confirming the survival of lost species provides rare second chances for biodiversity conservation. The silver-backed chevrotain Tragulus versicolor, a diminutive species of ungulate known only from Vietnam, has been lost to science for almost three decades. Here, we provide evidence that the silver-backed chevrotain still exists and the first photographs of the species in the wild, and urge immediate conservation actions to ensure its survival.

Mouse deer are primitive, forest ungulates found in Asia and Africa. Both the lesser mouse deer (Tragulus javanicus) and the Philippine mouse deer (T. nigricans) are managed in European zoos, but inconsistent breeding success between institutions, high neonatal mortality and a general lack of research on their husbandry and behaviour were identified by the coordinators of the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) and the European Studbook (ESB) for each species, respectively. This study is the first to provide a behavioural description for the Philippine mouse deer and to compile a detailed behavioural repertoire for both species. Our aim was to identify the effects of current husbandry and management practices on the reproduction, behaviour and welfare of zoo-housed mouse deer. Questionnaires on husbandry and management practices were sent to all institutions in the EEP and ESB for the lesser and Philippine mouse deer, respectively, and behavioural data were collected in 15 of these zoos. For the lesser mouse deer, results show a positive effect of vegetation cover on breeding success, foraging and moving behaviours. The provision of enrichment and presence of water ponds also positively affected these behaviours. The time that pairs spent in close proximity had a negative effect on breeding success, but animals in more vegetated enclosures spent less time in close proximity to each other. Results could be partially explained by the natural habitat of this usually solitary species being tropical forest, which provides local water sources and undergrowth for cover from predators. For the Philippine mouse deer there were differences in activity measures recorded between zoos, but the sample size was small with differences in training, enrichment and vegetation cover likely to have been important. In conclusion, since mouse deer inhabit overlapping male and female territories, the usual practice of housing breeding pairs together may be appropriate, but we suggest that they should be provided with opportunities to avoid each other in complex enclosures with ample vegetation cover to maximise their natural behavioural repertoire and breeding success.

Genus Tragulus in Indonesia is consisted of three species, namely Tragulus javanicus, T. napu, and T.kanchil. These three species are distributed in Kalimantan (Borneo), Java, Sumatra and Lesser Sundaislands. Taxonomically, based on morphological characteristic,T. javanicus is the same species as T. kanchil,while T. napu have differences in body size compared to the previous species. The status of genus Tragulusin Indonesia are protected by the law and categorized as least concern for T. napu and data deficient for T.javanicus in the IUCN Redlist. The aims of this study was to look at genetic variation among species andkinship based on mitochondrial DNA gene genus Tragulus. Genes used in this study was 12S ribosomalRNA with 300 bp long, using eight samples orginated from Singkep Islands (four individuals), MountHalimun, West Java (three individuals) and East Kalimantan (one individual). As a comparisons, publishednucleotide sequence of each species from GeneBank database were used. The results showed that thegenetic distances (d) between individuals is high d = 0.322 ± 0.023 with the nucleotide diversity (ð) =0.2402 which indicates that samples was consisted of samples from different species. Phylogenetic treebased on the nucleotide analysis indicatedthat these samples composed of three species namely T. javanicus,T. kanchil and T. napu. Samples from Mt. Halimun and East Kalimantan are clustered in one group,namely T. kanchil (Borneo) and T. javanicus (Mt. Halimun). Two samples from Singkep are clustered indifferent groups with the possibility as T. napu.

Despite its growing use in anatomical and ecological studies, the morphological variability and ontogenetic development of the bony labyrinth have very rarely been investigated in ruminants. Here we study its morphology in 15 adult and 10 juvenile specimens in the three extant tragulid ruminant genera. Intraspecific and interspecific variability is quantified using morphometric and 3D geometric morphometrics analyses. The bony labyrinth of Tragulus, Hyemoschus, and Moschiola is strikingly different, clustering in clearly different morphospaces despite similar ecological adaptations. Although the bony labyrinths within two species of the same genus cannot be distinguished from each other based on the chosen semi-landmarks, discrete interspecific differences exist. We were able to show for the first time that an artiodactyl mammal in a late fetal stage possesses an almost fully formed bony labyrinth similar to that of adults. No significant change either occurs in size or morphology after ossification of the petrosal bone. Some intraspecific variation is observed on the shape of the lateral semi-circular canal, the size and shape of the common crus, the coil of the cochlea or the stapedial ratio. Variable structures are expected to be highly informative characters for a large cladistic analysis. They can be used for phylogenetic studies in ruminants. Incorporating juvenile specimens in studies is not problematic, as they fall within the morphological range of adults.

Large areas are converted into commercial land use such as agriculture and urban as a result from the increasing economic and population demand. This situation is largely affecting wildlife and its habitat. Malaysia as one of the largest oil palm-producing countries, should take precaution into conserving its forest and wildlife diversity. Although big mammal such as elephant and tiger are significant for wildlife diversity, medium and small mammals also contribute to the biological richness in Malaysia. This study aims to predict suitable habitat of medium mammal, Tragulus napu and Tragulus javanicus in the study area and identify its habitat characteristics. The method applied in this study uses maximum entropy (MaxEnt) modeling which utilized species distribution data and selected environmental variables to alienate potential habitat in the study area. The characteristic of the habitat was identified from the result of MaxEnt analysis. This method of habitat modeling shows different extent of predicted suitable habitat in the study area of both species in which Tragulus napu has a limited distribution compared to Tragulus javanicus. However, some characteristics are similar in both habitats. The knowledge on species habitat characteristics is important to predict wildlife habitat in order to make best decision on land use management and conservation.

Mousedeer is one of the primitive mammals that can be found mainly in Southeast-Asia region. There are two species of mousedeer in Malaysia which are Tragulus kanchil and Tragulus napu. Both species can be distinguish by size, coat coloration, and throat pattern but clear diagnosis still cannot be found. The objective of the study is to show the genetic distance relationship between T. kanchil and T. napu and their population based on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and D-loop region. There are 42 sample of mousedeer were used in this study collected by PERHILITAN from different locality. Another 29 D-loop sequence were retrieved from Genbank for comparative analysis. All sample were amplified using universal primer and species-specific primer for COI and D-loop genes via PCR process. The amplified sequences were analyzed to determine genetic distance of T. kanchil and T. napu. From the analysis, the average genetic distance between T. kanchil and T. napu based on locus COI and D-loop were 0.145 and 0.128 respectively. The genetic distance between populations of T. kanchil based on locus COI was between 0.003-0.013. For locus D-loop, genetic distance analysis showed distance in relationship between west-coast populations to east-coast population of T. kanchil. COI and D-loop mtDNA region provided a clear picture on the relationship within the mousedeer species. Last but not least, conservation effort toward protecting this species can be done by study the molecular genetics and prevent the extinction of this species.

Introduction and methods Tragulus, the mouse deer, is considered the most primitive ruminant, with a diffuse placenta grossly quite unlike the cotyledonary type of the other ruminants. This immunocytochemical investigation of placental transporters was designed to elucidate possible mechanisms of evolution to the cotyledonary form. Results and discussion Tragulus expresses several of the major transport systems characteristic of the ruminants: the trophoblast binucleate cell (BNC) dynamics, the requirement for two isoforms, GT1 and GT3, for glucose transport, the provision of Aquaporin 3 for water control, and uterine milk and histiotrophic secretion from uterine glands. However whereas the expression of the 9kD Calcium Binding Protein (9CBP) for calcium transport in ruminants is restricted to the intercotyledonary trophoblast with its areolae, Tragulus, having no intercotyledonary area, expresses 9CBP throughout the villus trophoblast. There is some localised development of areolar-like structures in the mid term Tragulus but it is insignificant at term. The strong expression of Glucose Transporter 1 (GT1) in the BNC granules is unique to Tragulus. Conclusion Tragulus relies on essentially similar transport and BNC dynamics as the other ruminants. Thus the evolutionary pressures driving the development of the cotyledonary placenta probably lie in the increase in body size and the consequent need for a larger placental area to ensure sufficient glucose for the fetus. The delivery in Tragulus of GT1 to the maternal facing side may be this species unique solution to maintain the glucose supply.

Artiodactyla is a wild animal that has an important role in ecology. The purpose of this study was to determine the diversity and abundance of species of order Artiodactyla in the Forest Management Unit (KPH) I Pesisir Barat. 19 units of camera traps were installed randomly within 14 observation stations (grid cells). Images of animals captured by camera traps on each grid cell were used to analyze the diversity and relative abundance of each species. The results of the diversity analysis showed that the Artiodactyla species found consisted of wild boar (Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758), muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak Zimmermann, 1780), lesser oriental chevrotain (Tragulus kanchil Raffles, 1821), sambar deer (Rusa unicolor Kerr, 1792), greater oriental chevrotain (Tragulus napu Cuvier, 1822), and Sumatran serow (Capricornis sumatraensis Bechstein, 1799). Species with the highest relative abundance were wild boar (42,33%) while the lowest was Sumatran wild goats (0,41%). The existence of Artiodactyla could play a role in maintaining the stability of the ecosystem particularly as a seed disperser and supports the presence of predators in the food chain process. Therefore, the KPH I Pesisir Barat forest areas as a habitat for wildlife must be sustainably managed.Keywords: Artiodactyla, diversity, abundance, camera trap

Temporal partitioning of resources according to feeding period occurs in situation of food type specialization, such as for the use of salt licks by ecologically similar animal species. Camera traps placed at salt licks can be used to determine animal activity patterns. This study was carried in a logging concession area in central Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. Sampling was carried from September 2010 to January 2011, and May to September 2011. Activity data at salt lick sites showed that sambar deer Rusa unicolor was mostly nocturnal, with high number of records occurring after dark from 20:00hrs onwards, peaking after midnight before slowly decreasing until early morning at 08:00hrs. Bornean yellow muntjac's Muntiacus antherodes activity was restricted to during the day, which peaked at 11:00 to 12:00hrs. There was no clear pattern observable in mousedeer Tragulus spp. and bearded pig Sus barbatus activity data. Significant differences between the proportion of daily activity were observed between Bornean yellow muntjac and bearded pig (Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test, W=165.5, p=0.004), followed by sambar deer (W=195.5, p=0.053) and mousedeer (W=213, p=0.074). Human presence and hunting pressure may affect the behaviour of some game species, such as the Bornean yellow muntjac which showed peak activity periods during the earlier part of the day, and over a much shorter time span in more human accessible salt lick sites.

The effects of different levels of dietary fiber on feed intake, digestibility, mean retention times of solute and particle and heat production were studied in twelve male lesser mouse deer (Tragulus javanicus). The animals were randomly assigned into four groups of three mouse deer each and fed on individual basis. Four diets, namely A, B, C and D were prepared in pellet forms. Each diet contained ∼14% crude protein and ∼18 kJ/g gross energy. The crude fiber contents of diet A, B, C and D were 4.2, 11.3, 16.8 and 22.5%, respectively. The results showed that the crude fiber intake of mouse deer was 1.4 ± 0.04, 3.8 ± 0.4, 5.8 ± 0.7 and 6.0 ± 0.6 g/kg W0.75/d fed diet A, B, C and D, respectively. Mouse deer fed diet D had significantly lower DM intake than those fed lower levels of fiber. The digestibility values of DM decreased gradually with increasing levels of fiber in the diet. The mean retention times (MRTs) of particles (∼1.5 mm) in the reticulorumen were in the range of (19.0–22.9 h), with the shortest time for mouse deer fed diet D. However mouse deer fed diet C and D showed significant shorter solute MRT in the reticulorumen (17.1–18.5 h) when compared to mouse deer fed lower fiber diets (21.4–21.9 h). The selectivity factor in the reticulorumen was in the range of 1.04–1.18, indicating the mouse deer to be a ‘moose-type’ ruminant. Fiber levels had no significant effect on water intake of mouse deer. Heat production tended to decrease with increasing levels of fiber (448.3–435.7 kJ/kg W0.75/d) but differences among the mouse deer fed the four diets were not significant.

Tragulidae is a primitive ungulate family within the order Cetartiodactyla, suborder Ruminantia. Domestic ruminants such as cattle, sheep, and goat have two types of Peyer's patches (PP): jejunal and ileal PP, in which there are morphological and functional differences. In this study, lesser mouse deer (Tragulus javanicus) PP was studied by gross anatomical and histological procedures. At the fetal stage, both types of PP were formed in the small intestine. Ileal PP was observed as a single continuous aggregation of lymphatic follicles extending cranially from the ileo-caecal junction. However, jejunal PP was observed as multiple and discrete accumulations of lymphatic follicles. This study showed that the lesser mouse deer has two types of PP in the small intestine. In addition, the anatomical and histological characteristics of jejunal and ileal PP are quite similar to those of other ruminants' jejunal and ileal PP. Further studies are needed to analyze immune function of both PP in lesser mouse deer in order to determine the evolutionary process of Cetartiodactyla.

Although Tragulidae, as the basal family in Ruminantia phylogenetic tree, is the key taxon for understanding the early chromosome evolution of extant ruminants, comparative molecular cytogenetic data on the tragulids are scarce. Here, we present the first genome-wide comparative map of the Java mouse deer (Tragulus javanicus, Tragulidae) revealed by chromosome painting with human and dromedary probes. Together with the published comparative maps of major representative cetartiodactyl species established with the same set of probes, our results allowed us to reconstruct a 2n = 48 Ruminantia ancestral karyotype, which is similar to the cetartiodactyl ancestral karyotype. The karyotype evolution of T. javanicus has involved multiple rearrangements, most of which appear to be apomorphic and have not found in karyotype evolution of pecoran species (i.e., Ruminantia excluding Tragulidae). The rate of chromosome evolution of the mouse deer was rather low-0.4 R/Ma, while the estimated tempo of chromosome changes on the lineages leading from Cetartiodactyla ancestor to Ruminantia and from Ruminantia to Pecora were roughly the same (about 1.2 R/Ma).

There are differences in number and localization of nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) in genomes. In mammalian genomes, NORs are located on autosomes, which are often situated on short arms of acrocentric chromosomes and more rarely in telomeric, pericentromeric, or interstitial regions. In this work, we report the unique case of active NORs located on gonоsomes of a eutherian mammal, the Javan mouse-deer (Tragulus javanicus). We have investigated the position of NORs by FISH experiments with ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences (18S, 5.8S, and 28S) and show the presence of a single NOR site on the X and Y chromosomes. The NOR is localized interstitially on the p-arm of the X chromosome in close proximity with prominent C-positive heterochromatin blocks and in the pericentromeric area of mostly heterochromatic Y. The NOR sites are active on both the X and Y chromosomes in the studied individual and surrounded by GC enriched heterochromatin. We hypothesize that the surrounding heterochromatin might have played a role in the transfer of NORs from autosomes to sex chromosomes during the karyotype evolution of the Javan mouse-deer.

Camera trap data was used to study occurrence and daily activity patterns in the Endau Rompin Landscape of peninsular Malaysia during 2011, 2013 and 2015 to estimate Malayan Tiger Panthera tigris jacksoni population densities. By-catch data were also collected for seven ungulate species: Barking Deer Muntiacus muntjak, Bearded Pig Sus barbatus, Wild Boar Sus scrofa, Greater Mousedeer Tragulus napu, Lesser Mousedeer Tragulus kanchil, Malayan Tapir Tapirus indicus and Sambar Deer Rusa unicolor. Of these, Bayesian single-season occupancy analysis suggested that Barking Deer were the most widespread and Mousedeer spp. the least widespread during the study period. Bearded Pig, Malayan Tapir and Wild Boar were recorded in more than half of the camera trap area (Sambar Deer was excluded due to small sample size). Daily activity patterns based on independent captures in 2015 suggest that Barking Deer, Bearded Pig and Wild Boar are mostly diurnal, mousedeer species are crepuscular and Malayan Tapir strongly nocturnal.

Lesser mouse deer is a native animal, which is commonly found in the forest of Java and information concerning this animal is still limited. This research explored the quality of lesser mouse deer meat ( Tragulus javanicus ). Eight lesser mouse deer (four females and four males) were used in quality aspects of lesser mouse deer meat. The physical properties observed were pH, water holding capacity, tenderness, and cooking loss. While the chemical properties observed were proximate analysis, amino acids, fatty acids, cholesterol, and EPA-DHA of the meat. The results showed that meat samples had average of ultimate pH (6.32), water holding capacity (32.82%), tenderness (1.80 kg f/m2), and cooking loss (45.15%). The average meat chemical compositions namely content of water, protein, fat, ash and cholesterol were 76.33%, 21.42%, 0.51%, 1.20%, and 50.00 mg/100 g, respectively. Fatty acids consisted of lauric, miristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acid were in the amount of 1.04% 3.09%, 30.97%, 0.77%, 59.41%, 3.22%, and 1.12%, respectively. The total EPA and DHA was 0.13% and 0.05%. Respectively, the results showed that quality aspects of lesser mouse deer meat had a high ultimate pH, low water holding capacity, tenderness, high cooking loss, and high water content, high protein, low fat and high cholesterol.

We examined unique erythrocyte pits of the peripheral blood and bone marrow in the lesser mouse deer, Tragulus javanicus, using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Under the SEM observation, the pit was observed as a hole on both mature erythrocytes of the peripheral blood and immature erythrocytes of the bone marrow. By the TEM, the mature erythrocytes had a vacuole, which showed complicated shape and occupied considerable space within the cytoplasm. The vacuole was communicated extracellularly by perforation, which corresponded to the hole on the cell surface. In the bone marrow, erythroblast and reticulocytes have a cytoplasmic vacuole. This abnormal feature of the erythrocytes is peculiar to the mouse deer, and not found in other tropical ruminants. Despite the disadvantage of volume loss from the small erythrocytes, the mouse deer were healthy and showed no signs of anaemia.

The Tragulidae are the living relics of the basal ruminant stock. They have a diffuse placenta, with no aggregations of the placental villi into localised placentomes characteristic of all other ruminants. Despite this difference, this ultrastructural and immunocytochemical investigation demonstrates that in Tragulus the trophoblast binucleate cell (BNC) plays the same central role in development and structure as in all other ruminants. It shows an identical development and ultrastructure, produces granules reactive with bovine placental lactogen and pregnancy associated glycoprotein antibodies, and migrates when mature through the trophoblast tight junction to fuse into a mosaic of syncytial plaques from which the granules are released to the mother and which have replaced the uterine epithelium. Unlike the persistent plaques in the sheep and goat placenta, in Tragulus they are transient, dying by apoptosis with the fragments phagocytosed by the trophoblast. This brings the trophoblast into direct endotheliochorial apposition to maternal tissue until BNC migration and fusion replace the dead plaque. This intimate fetomaternal confrontation has not been shown in any other ruminant, and could be a relic of the evolutionary development of the synepitheliochorial from the original basic eutherian endo- or hemo-chorial placenta.

The intracranial carotid rete (or rete mirabile epidurale) is a unique blood vascular system supplying the brain of artiodactyls, which have either an involuted or no internal carotid artery. Although the lesser and greater mouse deer (Tragulus javanicus and T. napu, respectively) are ruminants, the rete mirabile epidurale is absent. In these animals, as in non-artiodactyls, such as canines, equines and humans, the complete internal carotid artery supplies the brain. It is currently uncertain whether the absence of the rete is confined to mouse deer among ruminants. The absence of the rete in mouse deer provides new insights into the evolution of the arterial system in artiodactyls.

Ruminantia, the ruminating, hoofed mammals (cow, deer, giraffe and allies) are an unranked artiodactylan clade. Around 50-60 million years ago the BovB retrotransposon entered the ancestral ruminantian genome through horizontal gene transfer. A survey genome screen using 454-pyrosequencing of the Java mouse deer (Tragulus javanicus) and the lesser kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis) was done to investigate and to compare the landscape of transposable elements within Ruminantia. The family Tragulidae (mouse deer) is the only representative of Tragulina and phylogenetically important, because it represents the earliest divergence in Ruminantia. The data analyses show that, relative to other ruminantian species, the lesser kudu genome has seen an expansion of BovB Long INterspersed Elements (LINEs) and BovB related Short INterspersed Elements (SINEs) like BOVA2. In comparison the genome of Java mouse deer has fewer BovB elements than other ruminants, especially Bovinae, and has in addition a novel CHR-3 SINE most likely propagated by LINE-1. By contrast the other ruminants have low amounts of CHR SINEs but high numbers of actively propagating BovB-derived and BovB-propagated SINEs. The survey sequencing data suggest that the transposable element landscape in mouse deer (Tragulina) is unique among Ruminantia, suggesting a lineage specific evolutionary trajectory that does not involve BovB mediated retrotransposition. This shows that the genomic landscape of mobile genetic elements can rapidly change in any lineage.

The morphology of the intermandibular gland of the Lesser mouse deer (Tragulus javanicus), which plays an important function in marking area and territory and in the reproductive behaviour of the animal, was examined using immunohistochemistry, lectin histochemistry and scanning electron microscopy. The gland was composed of sebaceous and apocrine glandular material. Sebaceous glands occupied a greater area of the total gland and consisted of many large lobules with polyhedral cells having a pale cytoplasm. The sebaceous gland, being holocrine, possessed no special secretory ducts. The apocrine gland was lined by cuboid cells and the secretory products were often seen in the apical portions of the cells. Myoepithelial cells contained actin filaments lining the basal membranes of the apocrine gland and were surrounded by nerve fibres which immunostained with protein gene product 9.5. The secretion of the gland appears to be a mixture of larger amounts of lipid material from sebaceous glands, and glycoconjugates secreted by both sebaceous and apocrine glands. Lectin histochemistry detected these as galactose, N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, D-mannose and D-glucose. The male gland was larger in size and contained more N-acetyl galactosamine and N-acetyl glucosamine in its secretion than the gland of the female. This implied the presence of sexual differences in secretions in the intermandibular gland of the Lesser mouse deer.

This study investigates the transmission of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) 1f from a persistently infected (PI) lesser Malayan mousedeer to two bovine calves. Different contact routes to two calves were analysed: 1) aerosol contact between two adjacent pens without physical contact; 2) indirect contact by use of common utensils; 3) direct nose-to-nose contact for 30 seconds. One of the calves was infected either by aerosol or indirect contact. The virus sequence in 247 nucleotides in the 5'-UTR was 100% identical in mousedeer and calf. To elucidate the distribution of BVDV within the affected mousedeer family the captive population in a Zoo was analysed. The maternal line of PI animals was maintained, whereas a PI male was able to reproduce and have a non-PI calf. As a consequence of this, six female PI mousedeer were killed; subsequent autopsies did not reveal any lesions. Sequencing mousedeer BVD virus in the E2 region (420 nucleotides) through 4 generations showed only 7 mutations, which were maintained from mother to offspring.

An initial study on the habitat distribution and diversity of plants as feed resources for mouse deer (Tragulus javanicus) and barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak) was conducted at Gunung Halimun National Park. The survey was carried out by visiting places where mouse deer and barking deer are usually seen, and collecting specimens of the plant species on which those animals feed. In Gunung Kendeng the mouse deer prefers forest habitats up to a height of 1,100 m asl, such as dense bush, rock crevices or tree hollows, dense tea plantations, and bush areas not far from rivers. Barking deer prefer forests up to a height of 1,100 m asl in Gunung Kendeng, but up to 1,600 m asl in Gunung Botol. Barking deer prefer dense bush on the forest edges. Results showed 50 plant species consisting of 22 families as possible feed resources for mouse deer and barking deer.