Water deer Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Water deer

Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Family:	Cervidae
Genus:	Hydropotes
Binomial name
*Hydropotes inermis*

This is a stuffed male water deer. You can see its long upper canine teeth, which look like the teeth of a musk deer.

The water deer (Hydropotes inermis) is a special type of mammal that belongs to the deer family. It's known as an even-toed ungulate, which means it has hooves with an even number of toes. This deer is the only member of its unique group, called Hydropotinae. There are two main kinds of water deer: the Chinese water deer (Hydropotes inermis inermis) and the Korean water deer (Hydropotes inermis argyropus).

What Do Water Deer Look Like?
- Do Water Deer Have Antlers?
Where Do Water Deer Live?
- What is the Water Deer's Habitat?
Water Deer Life and Habits
- How Water Deer Live Together
- Water Deer Babies and Life Cycle
Images for kids
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What Do Water Deer Look Like?

Water deer are quite small. They are usually about 90 centimeters long and stand around 50 centimeters tall at the shoulder. They weigh about 13 kilograms, which is like a small dog. Their fur is a yellowish-brown color, and they have a white chin and throat.

Do Water Deer Have Antlers?

Unlike most other deer, both male and female water deer do not grow antlers. Instead, the male water deer have long upper canine teeth. These teeth are often called "tusks" and can grow up to 5 centimeters long! They use these tusks during fights with other males.

Where Do Water Deer Live?

Water deer originally came from China and Korea. These days, you can also find small groups of them living in the wild in England and France.

What is the Water Deer's Habitat?

Water deer love to live near water. Their favorite places are swamps and the edges of rivers and lakes. Being close to water helps them find food and stay hidden.

Water Deer Life and Habits

Water deer are mostly plant-eaters. They enjoy eating different kinds of grasses and reeds. They also sometimes eat grains and vegetables from nearby fields.

How Water Deer Live Together

Most of the time, water deer prefer to live alone. However, sometimes you might see them forming small groups, especially when they are feeding or resting.

Water Deer Babies and Life Cycle

After a pregnancy of about 200 days (which is a little over six months), a female water deer gives birth. She usually has 2 to 4 babies at a time.

When they are born, water deer babies have special white dots and stripes on their fur. These markings help them blend in with their surroundings and stay safe from predators. These dots and stripes usually disappear after about 8 weeks. The young deer drink their mother's milk for about 3 months. By the time they are 6 months old, they are ready to live on their own and leave their mothers. Water deer become fully grown and can have their own babies when they are about 1 year old.