426 EXTINCT AND VANISHING MAMMALS 



Powell-Cotton's Water Chevrotain 



HYEMOSCHUS AQUATICUS COTTONI (Lydekker) 



D[orcatherium] a\_quaticum] cottoni Lydekker, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 

 vol. 1, p. 133, June 7, 1906. (Ituri Forest, eastern Belgian Congo.) 



The Water Chevrotain, as its name implies, is closely associated 

 with the streams in heavy forest from the Gambia and Sierra Leone 

 in the west to the Ituri Forest at the eastern border of the Congo 

 Basin, and southward to the Cameroons. In addition to the typical 

 race, two others have been named, from the southern and eastern 



FIG. 44. Water Chevrotain (Hyemoschus aquations subsp.). After Brehm. 



corners, respectively, of the general range. A comparison of speci- 

 mens from these regions, however, reveals little constant difference, 

 so that it is doubtful if more than one form is distinguishable satis- 

 factorily. For this reason all three are treated together. 



The chevrotains are remarkable in that the long metapodial bones 

 of both fore and hind feet are complete in the second pair of small 

 outer digits, instead of being incomplete or absent as in typical 

 deer, camels, or antelopes. Further, the stomach is less complicated, 

 with only three instead of four compartments. The species of the 

 African forest is the largest living member of these primitive ungu- 

 lates, which are represented in the Oriental region by the little 

 Mouse-deer (Tragulus). About 3 feet long, with stumpy tail, and 

 standing some 14 inches high at the shoulder, this animal is of a 

 rich brown, marked on the body with several lengthwise rows of 



