Small forest-dwelling mammals resembling deer. Horns are absent and they reach a maximum height at the shoulder of about 35 cm/14 in. They are active at night and feed mainly on plants and fruit.

There are four species in two genera, Tragulus and Hyemoschus. Tragulus contains three species of small animals, which have more or less the characteristics and habits of some rodents. They inhabit Asia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and India. Hyemoschus contains only one species, the African water chevrotain.

Classification
Chevrotains are members of the family Tragulidae in the mammalian order Artiodactyla.