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Water chevrotain - HYEMOSCHUS AOUATICUS
Possibly Endangered
Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
The Name "Chevrotain": "Chevrotain" is a French word "chevre," which means "goat," and it is then made diminutive to denote a "kid." It is not closely related to a goat.
Location: West and central Africa.
Habitat: Terrestrial. Dense tropical forest, near waterways.
Description: The coat pattern is unmistakable: the basic color is reddish brown, and there are six or seven vertical rows of white spots on the back. In addition, a white line runs horizontally along each side from shoulder to rump. On the face, the black and white bands form a distinctive mask. Its head is small, the snout is pointed, and in adult males the upper canines are long and slightly curved. Its tail is short, and its high body is set on long thin legs. This animal grows to about 40 inches, fourteen inches at the shoulder, and it weighs about 30 pounds.
Behavior: It is a very able swimmer, and will plunge into the water when disturbed. It lives alone except during a brief social period when mating occurs. It rarely strays far from its small home range. It is nocturnal, which when added to its preference for dense forests makes it difficult to observe. It is, nevertheless, quite common. It is vegetarian, but may, when necessary, become omnivorous.
Reproduction: Gestation lasts for about 120 days.
Note:Its major enemy is man, who hunts it with dogs, snakes, and long nets.
Go to the Artiodactyla Page to learn more about all the even-toed hoofed animals.
Go to the Indian Chevrotain for the only other Chevrotain listed in America Zoo.
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