Muntjac discovery of several new species. The Indian muntjac ("M. muntjak") is the mammal with the lowest recorded chromosome number: The male has a diploid number of 7, the female only 6 chromosomes. Reeves's muntjac ("M. reevesi"), in comparison, has a diploid number of 46 chromosomes. The genus "Muntiacus" has 12 recognized species: Muntjac Muntjacs, also known as barking deer and Mastreani deer, are small deer of the genus "Muntiacus". Muntjacs are thought to have begun appearing 15–35 million years ago, with remains found in Miocene deposits in France, Germany and Poland. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
Indian muntjac is among the most widespread but least known of all mammals in southern Asia. It is found in Bangladesh, southern China, northeastern India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Malay Peninsula, the Riau Archipelago, Sumatra, Bangka Island, Belitung, Java, Bali, and Borneo. The Indian muntjac is found in tropical and subtropical deciduous forests, grasslands, savannas, and scrub forests, as well as in the hilly country on the slopes of the Himalayas. They are found at altitudes ranging from sea level up to . They never wander far from water. "Muntiacua muntjac" is a terrestrial mammal. A close survey of