Musk deer

Musk deer are small, antlerless ruminant mammals native to Asia. Males have a musk gland whose secretion has been prized in perfumery and traditional medicine.

Moschidae: The mammal family containing the living musk deer species. Musk deer are the sole living members of this family.
Musk: A strongly scented secretion produced by the male musk deer’s musk gland. The gland’s secretion carries chemical signals and is harvested for its fragrance.
Perfumery: The art and practice of creating fragrances from aromatic materials. Musk has long been valued as a fragrance ingredient and fixative.
Siberian musk deer: A musk deer species found across parts of northeastern and central Asia. It is among the most widespread musk deer and a major source of traded musk.
Illegal wildlife trade: The unlawful buying, selling, or movement of wild animals, plants, or their products. Illegal demand for musk continues to threaten wild populations.
Ruminant: A hoofed mammal that digests plant material through microbial fermentation, usually by regurgitating and rechewing it. Musk deer share the multi-chambered stomach and plant-digesting strategy of other ruminants.
Pheromone: A chemical released by an animal that influences the behavior or physiology of other members of its species. Musk and other scent signals help communicate reproductive and territorial information.
Traditional Chinese medicine: A diverse system of healing practices developed in China, including herbal remedies and other treatments. Musk has been used as an ingredient in some traditional remedies.
Alpine musk deer: A musk deer species inhabiting mountainous regions of China and neighboring parts of Asia. Its high-elevation habitat illustrates the family’s adaptation to rugged terrain.
Overexploitation: The use of a biological resource faster than it can recover or reproduce. Musk deer reproduce slowly, making sustained hunting especially damaging.

Linked from 1 page

TuskRelated: Musk deer show that conspicuous tusks can serve as display and fighting structures without being incisors.