What is Water deer?
{{Taxobox | name = Water deer | status = VU | status_system = iucn3.1 | image = Shammy.jpg | image_width = 250px | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | classis = [[Mammal]]ia | ordo = [[Artiodactyla]] | familia = [[Cervidae]] | genus = '''''Hydropotes''''' | binomial = ''Hydropotes inermis''}} [[File:Chinese water deer Stuffed specimen 2.jpg|thumb|A stuffed specimen of a male ''H. inermis'' shows the long canine teeth from the upper jaw like the canines of [[musk deer]]]] The '''water deer''' (''Hydropotes inermis'') is an [[even-toed ungulate]] [[mammal]] of the [[deer]] [[family (biology)|family]]. It is the only member of the subfamily Hydropotinae. There are two subspecies: the '''Chinese water deer''' (''Hydropotes inermis inermis'') and the '''Korean water deer''' (''Hydropotes inermis argyropus''). == Appearance == Water deer are small deer: they are about 90 [[centimeter|cm]] long and about 50&nbsp;cm high. They weigh about 13 [[kilogram|kg]]. The water deer has yellowish-brown [[fur]], with a white chin and throat. Both males and females do not have [[antlers]]. Males have long upper [[canine tooth|canine teeth]] (called tusks), which can be up to 5&nbsp;cm long. == Habitat == The water deer originally lived in [[China]] and [[Korea]]. Today there are also small wild populations in [[England]] and [[France]]. Water deer live close to water: in [[swamp]]s and on the shores of [[river]]s and [[lake]]s. == Life == Water deer eat [[grass]]es and [[Reed (plant)|reeds]]. They also eat [[grains]] and [[vegetable]]s from fields. Water deer live alone, but sometimes they form small groups. After a [[pregnancy]] of 200 days the female gives birth to 2-4 babies. A water deer baby has white dots and stripes on its fur, which disappear after 8 weeks. They drink [[milk]] for 3 months. When the young water deer are 6 months old they are independent and leave their mothers. They become mature when they are 1 year old. {{commons|Hydropotes inermis}} {{wikispecies|Hydropotes inermis}} [[Category:Deer]] [[Category:Mammals o