MUSK DEER

(species Moschus moschiferus), small, compact deer, family Cervidae (order Artiodactyla). A solitary, shy animal, the musk deer lives in mountainous regions from Siberia to the Himalayas. It has large ears, a very short tail, no antlers and, unlike all other deer, a gall bladder. Grayish brown, with long, coarse, brittle hair, the musk deer stands 5060 cm (2024 inches) at the shoulder, slightly higher at the rump. The male has long upper canine teeth that project downward from the mouth as tusks and has a musk-producing organ, the musk pod, on its abdomen. The musk from this organ is valued for use in perfumes and soaps.