Moschus cupreus, Grubb, 1982

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2011, Moschidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 2 Hoofed Mammals, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 336-348 : 347

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.5720521

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5720545

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03C6E250-FFBE-F058-FFCC-FDAD1BF5F7A7

treatment provided by

Conny

scientific name

Moschus cupreus
status

 

4. View On

Kashmir Musk-deer

Moschus cupreus View in CoL

French: Porte-musc du Cachemire / German: Kaschmir-Moschustier / Spanish: Ciervo almizclero de Cachemira

Taxonomy. Moschus cupreus Grubb, 1982 View in CoL ,

Kashmir.

Initially considered to be a subspecies of the Alpine Musk-deer M. chrysogaster . Monotypic.

Distribution. Afghanistan (Nuristan Province) and Kashmir (NE Pakistan and NW India). View Figure

Descriptive notes. Head—body 85-100 cm, tail 4-6 cm; weight 12-17 kg. Skull length is 15-15. 5 cm. Gray brown, often vaguely spotted, with a conspicuous coppery reddish unspeckled dorsal “saddle”; rump very dark gray; underside light gray; throat white; lower segments of limbs whitish. Ears dark brown, white at base, with frosted rims. Hairs with long white bases; 33-38 mm long on withers, 37-58 mm on rump. As in Himalayan and Alpine Musk-deer, the lachrymal is longer than it is high.

Habitat. Musk-deer of what is probably this species live in conifer and oak forests at 1500-3000 m in Nuristan, Afghanistan. In Pakistan, they are known from subalpine shrub between 3000 m and 4000 m in Gilgit-Baltistan; in Dachigam National Park and elsewhere in Kashmir, it lives between 2710 m and 3110 m, and in Pir Panjal Range somewhat lower, between 2530 m and 2650 m.

Food and Feeding. Nothing is known about the way oflife ofthis species, but it is not likely to differ greatly from that of M. leucogaster and relatives.

Breeding. Nothing known.

Activity patterns. No data available, but probably like related species, which tend to stay in more dense cover during the day, and use more open areas at night when they are more active.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Nothing known, but probably similar to M. leucogaster .

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix I. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List. Conservation measures are uncertain for this species given its limited range. The value of the musk suggests that conservation will require effective anti-poaching activity. It may occur in some protected areas in India and Pakistan. The Government of Afghanistan has listed M. cupreus on their Protected Species List, banning all hunting and trading ofthis species in that country.

Bibliography. Groves et al. (1995), Grubb (1982).

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Artiodactyla

Family

Moschidae

Genus

Moschus

Loc

Moschus cupreus

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier 2011
2011
Loc

Moschus cupreus

Grubb 1982
1982
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