Fauna
Mammal · GBIF taxon 5706462

Silver-backed Chevrotain

Tragulus versicolor

Also known as Vietnam Mouse-deer

Silver-backed chevrotains are diminutive, solitary forest ungulates that forage quietly along the ground for fallen fruits, tender shoots, and seeds. Males defend small territories using elongated canine tusks instead of antlers, navigating dense thickets on pencil-thin legs. After vanishing from scientific records for nearly three decades, camera traps confirmed their continued survival in dry lowland coastal forests of southern Vietnam.

NocturnalHerbivorousSolitary
Silver-backed Chevrotain reference
Licensed reference(c) User:מנחם.אל, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Data DeficientConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXData Deficient — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Fallen figs
  • Hard-shelled seeds
  • Herbaceous leaves
Predators
  • Leopard Cat
  • Large civets
  • Reticulated Python
ThreatsIndiscriminate wire-snare poaching and habitat fragmentation
HabitatsDry lowland coastal forest and thorn scrub
Life span8–12 years
Classification
  1. OrderArtiodactyla
  2. FamilyTragulidae
  3. GenusTragulus
  4. SpeciesTragulus versicolor
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice
Recognized by a sharp contrast between its reddish-brown front and silvery-grey rump, standing under 30 centimeters tall.
Support conservation
Do not enter sensitive coastal scrub habitats or publish precise GPS coordinates of camera trap sightings.
Responsible observation
  • Monitoring Protocol: Rely on non-invasive motion-triggered camera traps rather than active foot searches.
  • Habitat Protection: Avoid trampling brittle understory in dry coastal scrub to preserve delicate microhabitats.
Related species
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?

Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.

Checking your Fauna account…