Top 15 Weirdest Animals in the World
#10 Musk Deer (Moschus)
Facts
- Class: Mammals
- Order: Even-toed ungulates (Artiodactyla)
- Family: Musk deer (Moschidae)
- Distribution: Himalayas, Korea, China, Siberia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia
- Habitat: Mountain forests
Greetings from Count Dracula: The Deer with Vampire Teeth
Musk deer originally hail from Transylvania, are strictly nocturnal, suck fresh blood, and have a terrible fear of garlic or crosses… Just kidding! However, when you first gaze deeply into the face of a musk deer (also known as musk stag), it can indeed be a bit startling. The male's upper jaw features two long, dagger-like tusks that can grow up to 10 cm in length. They resemble the fangs of a vampire!
But rest assured, the musk deer has no interest in our blood. These creatures are entirely herbivorous, peacefully feeding on lichens, moss, leaves, and buds. Their eerie teeth serve a completely different and very important purpose in the animal kingdom.
Rustling in the Underbrush: What Purpose Do the Canines Serve?
It is well-known that many deer sport magnificent antlers on their heads, which they use to compete during the autumn season. However, the musk deer lacks such a decorative antler entirely. Instead, nature has equipped it with extremely long canines as a means of defense.
These teeth are primarily utilized during the mating season. When two males encounter each other in the dense mountain forest, they attempt to impress one another. If intimidation fails, a fight ensues: the rivals charge at each other with their sharp canines, aiming to stab the opponent in the neck or back until one of them flees. To prevent injuries in their daily lives, these long teeth are actually anchored in the jaw in a flexible manner, allowing them to be easily folded back.
The Scent That Gives Them Their Name: More Precious Than Gold
The animals owe their name to a unique gland that only the males possess on their bellies. This gland produces a highly fragrant secretion known as musk. They use this scent to mark their territory and attract females.
Unfortunately, this aromatic substance has led to their downfall. Genuine musk is highly sought after in traditional Asian medicine and the perfume industry. On the black market, it can sometimes fetch a price higher than pure gold. Despite being strictly protected, these animals are frequently hunted by poachers. Today, nearly all species of musk animals are considered critically endangered.
Next up at spot 11: The giant vacuum cleaner of the sea!
We leave the mountain forests of Asia and dive back into the warm saltwater of the Indian Ocean. Here lives a massive, gentle mammal that has a face resembling a giant vacuum cleaner attachment. It consumes tons of grass but lives underwater! Click now to discover the fascinating dugong!
Sources:
- The distribution, status and conservation of the Himalayan musk deer Moschus chrysogaster (https://www.sciencedirect.com)
- [The taxonomy of the musk deer (Artiodactyla, Mammalia)] (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- Table of Contents:
- 0. Introduction
- 1. Longhorn Cowfish
- 2. Glass Frog
- 3. Sawfish
- 4. Fried Egg Jellyfish
- 5. Streaked Tenrec
- 6. Red-Lipped Batfish
- 7. Saiga
- 8. Spook Fish
- 9. Clearwing Moth
- 10. Musk Deer
- 11. Dugong
- 12. Blue Ocean Slug
- 13. Giant Isopod
- 14. Leafy Seadragon
- 15. Leaf-Tailed Gecko
