The family Moschidae, commonly known as musk deer, belongs to the order Artiodactyla, which includes even-toed ungulates. Musk deer are small, primitive deer-like mammals native to forested and mountainous regions of Asia, particularly the Himalayas and Siberia. Unlike true deer, they lack antlers but have elongated canine teeth, especially prominent in males, and a musk gland used for scent marking and communication. These nocturnal and shy herbivores feed mainly on leaves, flowers, and grasses, and their secretive habits make them difficult to observe in the wild. Musk deer are of particular ecological and economic importance due to the musk they produce, historically valued for perfumes and traditional medicine, though overhunting has led to population declines in several species.