The
water deer (
Hydropotes inermis) is a small deer superficially more similar to a
musk deer than a
true deer. Native to
China and
Korea, there are two
subspecies: the
Chinese water deer (
Hydropotes inermis inermis) and the
Korean water deer (
Hydropotes inermis argyropus). Despite its lack of
antlers and certain other
anatomical anomalies—including a pair of prominent
tusks (downward-pointing
canine teeth), it is classified as a cervid. Its unique anatomical characteristics have caused it to be classified in its own
genus (
Hydropotes) as well as its own subfamily (
Hydropotinae). However, a study of mitochondrial
cytochrome b sequences placed it near
Capreolus within an Old World section of the subfamily
Capreolinae. Its prominent tusks (elongated
canines), similar to those of
musk deer, have led to both being colloquially named
vampire deer in English-speaking areas to which they have been imported. The species is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.
