Water deer is a small deer from Asia.

It is not classified, unlike many of its apparent characteristics, among the musk deer.

This little deer is very fearful. The male, a little larger than the female, has large exposed canines, used during the fighting between males. Small may have a slightly spotted coat, while parents have a united coat. One of its notable features is that it is the only member of the deer family that does not have wood replaced with long canine teeth on the upper jaw.

Solitary and territorial, they use it to impress and tackle during the rut, when they go out to find a partner. Males also have the peculiarity of having a small gland fragrant, positioned either side of the groin, probably to attract females. They also differ from other deer up to 5 pups per litter, which is exceptional.

The hydropote, is an animal living permanently near water points. It spends most of its time grazing aquatic plants and hide in the tall grass to protect themselves from danger. Its particular morphology; shorter frontlegs tahn backlegs gives it an ideal profile to rush quickly and easily in this type of environment.

Originally from China, Korea and introduced in Britain, it is herbivorus and it feeds with grasses and aquatic plants.

Life expectancy is 10 to 12 years in the wild. Up to 15 years in captivity, its 6-month gestation period for a range of 1 to 5 young.