ORYX VOL 32 NO 1 JANUARY 1998 Status and conservation of the giant muntjac Megamuntiacus vuquangensis, and notes on other muntjac species in Laos R. J. Timmins, T. D. Evans, Khamkhoun Khounboline and Chainoi Sisomphone The large-antlered, or giant, muntjac Megamuntiacus vuquangensis was described from Vietnam in 1994 and found concurrently in the Annamite Mountains and nearby hill ranges of central and southern Laos. The northerly and southerly range limits are still unknown. It may occupy a wide range of habitats and is found sympatrically with the common muntjac Muntiacus muntjak. Another muntjac species, the taxonomic affinity of which is as yet undetermined, was recently discovered to occur within its range. The large-antlered muntjac is probably not threatened with extinction in the near future, but in view of its restricted range and threats from habitat degradation and hunting, it should be classified as Vulnerable in the Red Data Book. Its future in Laos is largely dependent on the recently created protected-areas system to maintain large tracts of habitat and reduce hunting pressure. Introduction and is distributed widely in Laos, including throughout the entire known range of the Megamuntiacus vuquangensis, the giant munt- giant muntjac. In addition to these species, a jac, was discovered in Vietnam and Laos in third, smaller species of muntjac, whose ident- 1994. It was described from the Vu Quang ity remains undetermined, has been found Nature Reserve in early 1994 (Tuoc et al., 1994) within the range of the giant muntjac and was found concurrently in central Laos (Timmins, 1996). The one other species known (Duckworth et al., 1994; Evans and Timmins, from Laos, RooseveltÕs muntjac Muntiacus roo- 1995). This paper presents current information seveltorum, is known from a single, immature, on its distribution, habitat and conservation in male specimen collected on 16 May 1929 from Laos based on wildlife surveys conducted be- Ban Muangyo (21û30'N, 101û50'E) in the far tween 1992 and 1996. Recent information on north (Osgood, 1932). There is no recent infor- all other species of muntjac known from Laos mation on this species. It is possible is also given. that other species are present; the Gongshan The giant muntjac shares almost all the muntjac Muntiacus gongshanensis has been re- characteristics listed by Groves and Grubb ported from areas of southern Yunnan, China, (1990) for the genus Muntiacus, which includes relatively close to Laos (Grubb, 1977; Groves all other muntjacs. The genus Megamuntiacus and Grubb, 1990). was created largely on the basis of its distinc- tive antlers and pedicles (Tuoc et al., 1994), a justification that might not be valid (Schaller Survey methods and Vrba, 1996; Timmins et al., unpubl. data). The common, or Indian, muntjac Muntiacus An extensive series of wildlife surveys has muntjak is found throughout much of the been carried out in Laos, east and south of Indo-Malayan realm (Corbet and Hill, 1992), Vientiane since 1992 (Thewlis et al., in press). © 1998 FFI, Oryx, 32 (1), 59–67 59 R. J. TIMMINS ET AL. Observations were recorded from diurnal and from the region could be potentially valuable. nocturnal surveys on foot or by small boat The features in Table 1 represent the most use- (e.g. Duckworth et al., 1994; Thewlis et al., ful field characters, which should be noted 1996). Muntjacs were the most commonly ob- during any muntjac field observations. served ungulates, yet sighting frequency was Examination of museum specimens suggests less than one per observer-month, including that these features are relatively conservative many individuals unidentified because of in animals of a taxon from the same area. The fleeting or poor views. Most field information features are provisional, and are represented on muntjacs came from tracks and calls, here to provide a basis and guide for field- neither of which can be identified to species. workers to expand upon. Most information came from the examin- The antlers and pedicles are the most easily ation of remains, principally antlers and pedi- identifiable characters of the different species cles attached to partial skulls found in villages (Figure 1 and Table 1), allowing trophies to be and at huntersÕ campsites. Antlers of the giant identified easily, with some exceptions. muntjac are easily distinguished from those of RooseveltÕs muntjac is predicted to have small other muntjac species (Table 1; Figure 1). antlers, either like those of the small undeter- Indications of abundance were derived from mined species or like small antlers of the com- the relative proportions of trophies seen of dif- mon muntjac, but its pedicles are short like ferent species. Interviews with villagers were those of the small undetermined species. undertaken frequently but the results were not Furthermore, trophies of the common muntjac used in this analysis for several reasons. In some are difficult to separate from FeaÕs muntjac villages, examination of trophies and other Muntiacus feae or the Gongshan muntjac. It is material was hampered by peopleÕs apprehen- these species that any additional species in sion or disinterest. Information from inter- Laos are most likely to resemble. views with hunters was confounded by the The uniformity of pelage and lack of con- variable local nomenclature, where different trastingly dark tail make the common muntjac names can be given to the sexes, and to young relatively easy to identify in the field. Extreme and old animals. In many villages with tro- caution should be used when identifying any phies of both species, residents referred to a dark-tailed animals, and perhaps at present large, dark form and a small, reddish form, only male giant muntjacs or males of the small but were unable to identify individual tro- undetermined species in which the pedicles phies of the giant muntjac. They assigned and antlers, other pelage and tail features are these to both large and small forms, and did seen, should be positively identified. the same for trophies of the common muntjac. Differences in body size are not sufficient to In some villages with trophies of both species, be a reliable field character in any of the local people recognized only a single form. species known from Laos. In two areas of Desai and Lic Vuthy (1996) also found that in Laos, muntjacs with long blackish tails con- Cambodia, villagers could not distinguish be- trasting with the hind quarters were observed. tween the two species. The uncertainties sur- These observations fit none of the species in rounding verbal information, vagueness of Table 1, but suggest either further taxa or locality descriptions and in many cases simply greater variability than is presented here in the villager not remembering, made it very the pelage of the taxa known from Laos. difficult to determine the precise locality or habitat type from which a trophy had come. Distribution and ecology Field recognition Currently, the known range of the giant munt- jac corresponds with the furthest points sur- Given the paucity of information on all but the veyed in central and southern Laos (15û25'N to common muntjac, any muntjac observations 18û40'N), principally in the Annamite 60 © 1998 FFI, Oryx, 32 (1), 59–67 THE GIANT MUNTJAC MEGAMUNTIACUS VUQUANGENSIS IN LAOS Mountains, which form the border with giant muntjacÕs Lao distribution and its popu- Vietnam (Figure 2). The species has been lationÕs core area. Nakai-Nam Theun NBCA is found in Cambodia (Desai and Lic Vuthy, the only site where trophies of the large- 1996), and in Vietnam it has been found as far antlered muntjac outnumbered those of the south as the Dalat Plateau in central Annam common muntjac (by a ratio of c. 2 : 1; more (c. 12ûN; Ha Dien Duc, pers. comm.), consider- than 50 giant muntjac trophies were found in ably further south than the records from Laos. this area). Given the frequency of muntjac The most extensive forests in this range lie tracks and calls, it seems probable that the between 17û30' and 19û10'N. The Nakai-Nam species is relatively common in this area. In Theun National Biodiversity Conservation other areas where both species occur, there Area (NBCA) may be both a centre of the were typically less than half as many giant Figure 1. Line drawings of giant muntjac Megamuntiacus vuquangensis and common muntjac Muntiacus muntjak trophies. © 1998 FFI, Oryx, 32 (1), 59–67 61 R. 62 Table 1. Provisional field characters of the muntjac species known from Laos J. TIMMINS Body size cf. with Pedicle common Brow Flank Crown, and crown, Species muntjac Antlers à tines Pedicles colour Tail Limbs ¤ females males ¦ ET AL. Giant- Larger Bowing gently Long, Short- Agouti Relatively short, Dark brown- Dark brown Blackish outwards and parallel medium brown, broad but tapering blackish centre with stripes up backwards then or 30Ð77 darker (almost triangular), darker than orange sides. pedicles. inwards and diverging mm dorsally very dark brown, flanks, No hair tuft No hair forwards distally, from midline with broad white particularly tuft but rarely if ever at base, fringe; darker forelimbs recurving at the tips 67 (7Ð126) and contrasting (frequently >180 mm) mm with hindquarters Common Ð Short backward Short Long Reddish, Long, narrower than As flanks or Bright Blackish curve, then curving converging 45Ð103 uniform others, reddish (as darker, even orange. stripes up slightly forwards from mm some with flanks) with a narrow blackish in No hair tuft pedicles for most of length, midline slight white fringe; no some races No hair tuft strongly curving at base agouti contrast with inwards, backwards 20 (3Ð38) pelage and hindquarters and down at the mm darker tips (rarely >110 mm) dorsum RooseveltÕs* Smaller Unknown. Probably Unknown. Short Agouti Darker brown than Slightly Unknown. Dark brown small, with shape Probably 48Ð51 brown, flanks; some darker Probably rich stripes up either like the short and mm somewhat contrast with than brown to pedicles, common muntjac converging darker hindquarters flanks blackish, hair short hair or the small dorsally tuft over tuft between undetermined species centre with pedicles orange sides © Undeterm.* Smaller Very small, spike-like Not present Short Dark Long and quite broad, Blackish Unknown.