[1] It was previously considered a subspecies of the Alpine musk deer, but was separated on the basis of different skull proportions.

[2] White-bellied musk deer are very well adapted for high altitudes; they demonstrate such adaptations as well-developed dew claws, broad toes that provide increased stability on steep slopes, and a dense coat of coarse hairs with air-filled cells to insulate against the extreme temperature.

[3] While they lack antlers, a trait notable among all musk deer, they do possess a pair of enlarged and easily broken canines that grow continuously.

[4][5] These deer have a stocky body type; their hind legs are also significantly longer and more muscular than their shorter, thinner forelimbs.

At night, they emerge to feed in more open habitats, and preferably select leaves of trees and shrubs with high protein and low fibre contents.

During the winter, they subsist on poorer quality lichens, and even climb small trees to feed upon leaves that would otherwise be out of reach.

The young musk deer live off their mother's milk until they are about six months old and able to eat regular foods available in the wild.

Only males produce the musk, so this creates a problem because females and young are caught in the traps and killed.