Behavioral patterns of captive alpine musk deer: sex-specific behavior comparisons

Lin LU; Peishi YAN; Xiuxiang MENG; Jinchao FENG; Hongfa XU; Qisen YANG; Zuojian FENG

doi:10.1007/s11703-009-0055-5

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Front. Agric. China ›› 2009, Vol. 3 ›› Issue (3) : 300-303. DOI: 10.1007/s11703-009-0055-5

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Behavioral patterns of captive alpine musk deer: sex-specific behavior comparisons

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to document the behavior of captive alpine musk deer and to determine if daily behavior patterns varied between females and males. From August 2002 to January 2003, focal sampling was used to observe 32 adult captive alpine musk deer (13 female and 19 male) at Xinglongshan Musk Deer Farm (XMDF), Xinglongshan National Nature Reserve, Gansu Province. Results indicated similar behavior patterns for males and females, with only two out of 12 recorded behaviors showing significant sex differences. In comparison to females, males rested for a longer duration and exhibited tail pasting more frequently. This study also provided the first recording of tail pasting by female musk deer.

Keywords

alpine musk deer (Moschus sifanicus) / behavior pattern / captivity / sex difference

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Lin LU, Peishi YAN, Xiuxiang MENG, Jinchao FENG, Hongfa XU, Qisen YANG, Zuojian FENG. Behavioral patterns of captive alpine musk deer: sex-specific behavior comparisons. Front Agric Chin, 2009, 3(3): 300‒303 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11703-009-0055-5

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (Grant Nos. 30770286, 30811120554). Previous versions of the manuscript also benefited from comments by anonymous reviewers.