In Partial Fulfilment
Of The Requirements
In General zoology
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Balabac Mouse Deer
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Submitted to: Mr. John Lemuel Noche
Submitted by: Kim N. Fabia, BSBio3

August 13, 2015
Balabac Mouse Deer
April 6, 2008
General Description
The small, Balabac mouse deer or Chevrotain does not belong to Family Cervidae, the true deer family, but is a member of the Chevrotain family. Chevrotain is a French word meaning “little goat”.
When meat is cooked with “ogsom”, a fruit used to remove the characteristic odor of the mouse deer, the natives found it delicious. Its consumption by the locals caused endangerment to the population.
Physical Characteristics
Balabac mouse deer are ruminants without horns with small canines oriented sideways. They have horizontally-oriented pupil adapted to night activity. The body is generally covered with brown fur, with blotches of dark-brown and white bands at the throat. The ears stand erect with white undersides.
Habitat
The above mouse deer was captured near the shore when dogs cornered it. It is however difficult to find during the day. It is known to occur in dense areas of primary as well as secondary forests.
At night, they could be detected using a flashlight because their eyes shine brightly. They may also be encountered along roads bound by thick forests.
A native recounted that the mouse deer lives in its burrows sometimes protected by pythons which co-inhabit with it. When disturbed, the mouse deer takes refuge in its burrow while the python lies in wait to deal with the intruder which eventually becomes its prey.
Food
Tubog, a tree with hard, berry-like fruit which grows even at the base of the tree buried under the sand, is the main food of the pilandok. They also