EXONUMI STATIC :

14.300.1538

EXONUMI # :

MYMAL.1979.3

Group Name :

National Animal Definitive Series

Item Name :

Lesser Melee Mouse Deer (Tragulus javanicus)

Item Type :

Postal Stamp

Issue Date :

04/01/1979

Printer :

Asher & Company Proprietary Limited, Melbourne, Australia

Printing :

Lithography

Designer :

Ong Soo Keat

Watermark :

Multiple Octagonal POS

Perforations :

15 x 14½

Separation Type :

Normal Perforations

Gum Type :

Gum

Face Value :

50 Sen

Shape :

Rectangular

Description :

The lesser melee mouse deer (Tragulus jananicus) is a common species in many countries in Southeast Asia. This small animal is no larger than a hare and weighs no more than 2.5 kilograms (5.5 pounds). This tiny reddish-brown deer is further distinguished by its extremely thin legs. Mouse deer are often seen singly or in paris along forest margins and on the borders of dense vegetation.

The animal behaves somewhat like a hare since it often sits on its haunches quietly watching its surroundings. The species seems particularly curious, and it is said that natives can attract the animal by simply tapping on the ground. The mouse deer then comes so close it can be easily killed. This tapping may mimic a natural sound created by the female during breeding display.

The mouse deer's gestation period seems to be about 140 days, and one to two young are born. The animals breed all year long and have high reproductive potential. They are strictly herbivores, feeding on grasses, leaves, shoots and wild berries or fruit.

Because of its small size, the mouse deer is ideal prey for predatory birds such as eagles or owls or any of the more than half-dozen cat species found throughout Southeast Asia. In addition, it is preyed upon by snaked, wild dogs and of course man. The lesser mouse deer has the distinction of being the smallest hoofed animal in Asia and the second smallest in the world. As might be expected of an animal with many island populations, there are many distinct races of mouse deer.