Musk deer. 19th century engraving of a musk deer, Moschus moschiferus. These primitive deer are found in dense forest and alpine areas of Central and

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Musk deer. 19th century engraving of a musk deer, Moschus moschiferus. These primitive deer are found in dense forest and alpine areas of Central and Eastern Asia. They have no antlers but possess long tusks, which the males use in their fights in the rutting season. The males also possess musk pouches on their abdomens. The glands of these pouches secrete a strongly scented paste called musk which was used for thousands of years in Chinese perfume production. Musk glands were also exported to Europe; an average of 938 ounces, valued at #10,688, was being imported into Britain annually in the 1860s. Today, musk is artificially synthesized.

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Size: 5129px × 3543px
Photo credit: © GEORGE BERNARD/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, deer, engraving, mammal, musk, nature, perfume, wildlife, zoology