Chevrotain, << SHEHV ruh tayn or SHEHV ruh tuhn, >> is the name of a group of hoofed mammals that resemble small deer. Often called mouse deer, chevrotains live in tropical forests of Africa and Asia. They grow no more than 3 feet (90 centimeters) long and have short brown fur with white markings. Chevrotains possess high arching backs, small legs, and four-toed hoofs. Their pointed heads have large eyes and rounded ears but no horns or antlers. Long upper canine teeth stick out of their mouths. These teeth grow especially long in males. 
Chevrotains usually live alone, but they meet to mate. Females normally give birth to one young at a time. The animals feed at night on such plant foods as fruits, grasses, and leaves. Birds of prey, snakes, and human beings hunt chevrotains. One species, the water chevrotain, can escape from predators (hunting animals) by entering rivers. Water chevrotains live in tropical Africa from Sierra Leone to Uganda. Another species, the lesser mouse deer of Southeast Asia, ranks as the smallest even-toed hoofed mammal. It grows as little as 15 inches (40 centimeters) long. 
