| Giant muntjac | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Skull | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | Cervidae |
| Genus: | Muntiacus |
| Species: | M. vuquangensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Muntiacus vuquangensis (Tuoc, Dung, Dawson, Arctander and Mackinnon, 1994) | |
 | |
| Geographic range | |
| Synonyms | |
Megamuntiacus vuquangensis(Tuoc et al., 1994) | |
Thegiant muntjac (Muntiacus vuquangensis), sometimes referred to as thelarge-antlered muntjac, is a species ofmuntjacdeer. It is the largest muntjac species and was discovered in 1994 inVũ Quang,Hà Tĩnh Province ofVietnam and in centralLaos. During inundation of the Nakai Reservoir inKhammouane Province of Laos for theNam Theun 2 Multi-Purpose Project, 38 giant muntjac were captured, studied, and released into the adjacent Nakai-Nam Theun National Protected Area. Subsequent radio-tracking of a sample of these animals showed the relocation was successful.[3] The species is also located in parts of easternCambodia, as well as theAnnamite Mountains (Trường Sơn Mountains).[4]
The giant muntjac is commonly found inevergreen forests and weighs about 66–110 lb (30–50 kg).[5] It has a red-brown coat[4] and is aneven-toed ungulate. Due toslash-and-burn agriculture, combined with hunting, the giant muntjac is consideredcritically endangered.[4] It is preyed upon by animals such as thetiger andleopard.[4] It is most closely related toMuntiacus muntjak (common muntjac).[4]
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