Moschus moschiferus Linnaeus, 1758

Jo, Yeong-Seok, Baccus, John T. & Koprowski, John L., 2018, Mammals of Korea: a review of their taxonomy, distribution and conservation status, Zootaxa 4522 (1), pp. 1-216 : 103

Moschus moschiferus Linnaeus, 1758 —Siberian Musk Deer

Moschus moschiferus Linnaeus, 1758 p.66 ; Type locality- Chinese Tatary; Ellerman & Morrison-Scott, 1951 p.353; Won, 1968 p.354; Corbet, 1978 p.198; Han, 1994 p.46; Won & Smith, 1999 p.21; Oh, 2004b p.260.

M. parvipes Hollister, 1911 p.1 ; Type locality- Mokpo, Korea.

M. moschiferus parvipes: Kishida & Mori, 1931 p.380 ; Kuroda, 1938 p.4; Tate, 1947 p.330; Ellerman & Morrison-Scott, 1951 p.354; Won, 1958 p.430; Won, 1967 p.37; Won, 1968 p.355.

M. moschiferus moschiferus: Corbet, 1978 p.198 ; Yoon, 1992 p.124.

Range: M. moschiferus occupied the high mountain ranges throughout the Korean Peninsula from the southern tip to northern areas, except Jeju Island ( Won 1967). However, a few individuals were recently observed in several high mountains in the Baekdudaegan Mountain Range that form the spine of the Korean Peninsula from Mt. Baekdu in the extreme north to Mt. Jiri at the southern tip (NIBR 2015; Fig. 67 ).

Remarks: Revision by Sokolov and Prikhod'ko (1997, 1998) delineated five subspecies, including M. m. parvipes in Korea.

Conservation status: Both South Korea and North Korea designated M. moschiferus a Natural Monument. Also, the Ministry of Environment added the Siberian musk deer to the South Korean Endangered Species list in 1997. The South Korean Red Data Book considered M. moschiferus as ‘Critically Endangered’ (NIBR 2012) and the North Korean Red Data Book classified this species as ‘Vulnerable’ (MAB National Committee of DPR Korea 2002). The North Korean population was common at least in some areas of Mt. Myohyang until the 1970s, but the populations declined and became almost extinct through illegal snaring (Dr. William Duckworth, IUCN; pers. comm.).

Figures

FIGURE 67. Range map of Moschus moschiferus in Korea.