Muntjac Deer | Alien Deer

You might be wondering what on earth this creature is—it looks like an alien deer from a sci-fi movie. Meet the Muntjac Deer, also known as the alien deer. Muntjacs are small, miniature deer species native to Asia. The peculiar things on their faces are scent glands that play crucial roles in communication and territorial markings. They possess two pairs of scent glands: the frontal glands on the forehead, forming a V-shape with the horns, and the preorbital glands underneath the eyes. While some other hoofed animals also have preorbital glands, like sheep and muskoxen, Muntjacs' glands are more pronounced and can be turned inside out. They're also called barking deer due to their bark-like vocalizations. Fossil evidence suggests they've been around for at least 15 million years, making them one of the most bizarre-looking animals on Earth.