From 'Alien' Sightings to Rhino Face-off: the Rise of the Muntjac Deer Phenomenon

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The unusual face of the muntjac holds another surprise: sharp, downward-pointing canine tusks. In males, these teeth protrude noticeably from the upper jaw, reaching lengths of up to an inch. They are loosely socketed, allowing slight flexibility during strikes to avoid snapping against bone.

Most modern cervids discarded long canines millions of years ago in favor of branching antlers. Muntjacs chose a different path. Belonging to the oldest deer lineages on Earth, with fossil records stretching back 15 to 35 million years into the Miocene epoch, they maintain an evolutionary split strategy. They possess small, ribbed antlers atop hair-covered bony pedestals, but rely on their tusks for real combat.

Male muntjacs slash at rivals' necks and faces during territorial disputes. This combat approach is paired with a sharp, booming alarm call that sounds remarkably like a hound's bark. This defensive yell gave rise to their common moniker: the barking deer. The call warns predators that they have been spotted while signaling neighbors to stay alert.