Miniature Deer????

[christina]

Hi all

We had a conifer tree blow down and in amongst the other trees (the fallen tree allowing us to see inside the circle of trees lol) I found this bone. I think it looks like a tiny deer head with antlers. The small single piece is a vertebrae. Does anyone know or have any idea what it is? I have placed my mobile phone next to it to give you some kind of scale. Many thanks

[eeyore]

I think thats probably a muntjac / chineese water deer skull - they arent particularly big (arround the size of a labrador) and its worth remembering that the skull always appears smaller than the animal on account of the flesh etc on the head

[thunder]

Originally Posted by eeyore

I think thats probably a muntjac / chineese water deer skull - they arent particularly big (arround the size of a labrador) and its worth remembering that the skull always appears smaller than the animal on account of the flesh etc on the head

Definitely a Muntjac skull (Chinese Water Deer don't have antlers). I think the vertebra is the first neck vertebra - the atlas

henrya

[christina]

Thankyou Eeyore and Henrya. We do have Muntjac in the area but just didn't realise that their skulls were soo very wee. Bless. We shall give it a decent funeral. Thanks again.

[ChrisJB]

I've only seen a few of muntjac over the years, all down south. Strange little things they are, like small skulking dogs.

Regards, Chris