The Chinese Water Deer (Hydropotes inermis) is a deer species native to the river basins of China and Korea. It is distinguished by the absence of antlers in males, who instead possess long, tusk-like canine teeth that can protrude from the mouth. These small deer have a coarse, yellowish-brown coat adapted for colder climates and are often found in habitats with dense vegetation near water.
Primary Food Sources
The Chinese Water Deer is a herbivore with a highly selective diet. It is classified as a “concentrate selector.” This dietary strategy involves avoiding tough, mature vegetation in favor of tender, high-quality forage that is low in fiber but rich in proteins and soluble carbohydrates. Their preferred foods are found in the lush environments of river lowlands, swamps, and grasslands.
Their diet consists of a wide variety of plants, with a strong preference for succulent new growth. They actively consume young, sweet grasses, various herbs, and forbs. Reeds and sedges, commonly found in their preferred wetland habitats, are also a component of their food intake. Additionally, they will browse on the tender leaves and shoots of certain shrubs and brambles.
Seasonal Dietary Adaptations
The diet of the Chinese Water Deer shifts with the seasons and food availability. During the spring and summer, when vegetation is abundant, they have a wider and more varied diet. This period allows them to feast on a rich supply of fresh shoots, grasses, and herbaceous plants.
As autumn transitions into winter, the availability of lush, green food sources diminishes significantly. During these colder months, their diet may include more woody browse, stripping bark from trees, and consuming any hardy green shoots that remain. This adaptability extends to raiding agricultural areas, where they might feed on crops like winter wheat or root vegetables such as beets when natural forage is scarce.
Foraging Behavior and Digestion
Chinese Water Deer are primarily crepuscular, concentrating most of their feeding activity around dawn and dusk. This behavior allows them to avoid predators and human disturbance. They are generally solitary feeders, rarely gathering in large groups except in areas with exceptionally high population densities or an abundant food source, such as a farm field in winter. After feeding, they spend long periods resting and hiding in dense vegetation to ruminate.
While they possess a four-chambered stomach similar to other ruminants, their digestive system is less efficient at breaking down high-fiber plant material. Specifically, the rumen pillars, which are muscular folds that aid in mixing and fermenting food, are poorly developed. This physiological limitation explains their selective feeding strategy, as they must seek out high-quality, easily digestible plants to compensate for their inability to process tough cellulose.