The genus Tragulus means 'little goat' and the Philippine mouse-deer has been named so due to the horizontal pupils of the eyes.

Towards the chest, these black and white markings disappear into a broad brown band which crosses the lower throat.

Broad rufous or fulvous 'eyebrow' stripes extend from the anterior corners of the eyes to the base of ears.

They use their large, tusk-like canine teeth on the upper jaw for self-defense or territorial fights with other males.

The Philippine mouse-deer's main diet consists of leaves, flowers, and other vegetation in the dense forest undergrowth.

In a Maranao tale, the Philippine mouse-deer tricks a prince into giving up his bag of gold and facing a hive of angry bees.

[8] He is depicted as a clever guardian of the environment, using his wisdom as an advantage against those who destroy forests, seas, and wildlife.

[9] Due to this, Filipino Muslims, notably the Molbog people of southern Palawan, consider the mouse-deer as sacred.

[10] The Philippine mouse-deer is threatened due to a variety of reasons, such as poaching and capture for the wild animal trade.

Although no true estimates of the Philippine mouse-deer population have been made to date, they are assumed to be declining in numbers.