does anyone have muntjac skull

[Gill Catton]

Hello!
I have a couple of mystery lower jaw bones and I suspet they may be muntjac, does anyone have a decent specimen or a photograph of a muntjac skull?
The bones are very strange I have never seen anything quite like them! I'll put some photographs on later at lunchtime if I can stand the smell from the bones!!

[thunder]

I have one somewhere about the house - will try to track it down! In the meantime, does

Muntiacus reevesi - Chinese Muntjac Deer

help?

henrya

[RobinP]

I think those photos are of the Chinese Water Deer, or possibly a hybrid, certainly not Muntjac, who do not have the downwards-facing tusks.

[Gill Catton]

Right the bones - these are the oddest lower jaw bones I have ever seen!









Come on then all you mammal fans what's your best suggestion?!!

[thunder]

Originally Posted by RobinP

I think those photos are of the Chinese Water Deer, or possibly a hybrid, certainly not Muntjac, who do not have the downwards-facing tusks.

Oh yes they do! Chinese Water Deer have big canines as wel, but bigger and better, on the whole, and they don't have antlers. Male Muntjac certainly have both tusks and antlers.

henrya

[thunder]

I think these may be from a very young animal, judging by the crowding of the teeth. I have the skull of a foetal muntac - all I have to do is find it! I will search at the weekend - keep your fingers crossed! Were there any other bones about?

henrya

[Shiner]

I have one no lower jaw though Ill put a pic or two in the library

[Gill Catton]

I did think it was probably a young animal but the browness in the teeth suggests it ate vegetable matter maybe?
There was a vertebra and that's all. Its the splay of the jaw that seems strange, when you hold the bones as they would be attached... very odd....

I'm not sure its not some kind of martian herbivore!!

[thunder]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

I did think it was probably a young animal but the browness in the teeth suggests it ate vegetable matter maybe?
There was a vertebra and that's all. Its the splay of the jaw that seems strange, when you hold the bones as they would be attached... very odd....

I'm not sure its not some kind of martian herbivore!!

I think the brown stains may just be decay stains! I think the odd shape may be from it's extreme youth. Did you retain the vertebra?

henrya

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by thunder

I think the brown stains may just be decay stains! I think the odd shape may be from it's extreme youth. Did you retain the vertebra?

henrya

Yes but a pick of that will have to wait until a week after next now as I am on leave. I did try to take a pic but it smelt pretty awful and turned my stomach a little I shall have to approach it again with a sterner frame of mind!