Chinese Water Deer

Hydropotes inermis

Common & widespread in East Anglia.

Introduced from China.

The powerful hind legs are longer than the front legs so that the haunches are carried higher than the shoulders.

They run with rabbit-like jumps.

In the groin of each leg is an gland used for scent marking; this Deer is the only member of the Cervidae to possess such glands.

The short tail is no more than 5–10 cm (2.0–3.9 in) in length and is almost invisible, except when it is held raised by the Male during the rut.

The ears are short and very rounded, and both sexes lack antlers.

The main call is a bark, which has more of a growling tone when compared with the sharper yap of a Muntjac.