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All Sampled Thai Red Muntjacs Belonged to the Northern Red Muntjac Lineage

Wild female Northern Red Muntjac in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand
Research · Genetics & genomics

A comparative genomics study published in 2026 found that all red muntjacs sampled in Thailand belonged to the northern red muntjac (Muntiacus vaginalis) lineage. The work combined a newly assembled genome of the threatened Fea’s muntjac (Muntiacus feae) with genome-wide SNP data and existing red muntjac genomes to examine relationships, population structure and genetic purity. SNPs are single-base differences in DNA that can be used to compare ancestry and genetic variation among individuals.

The researchers generated a 2.47-gigabase reference genome for Fea’s muntjac containing 26,901 predicted protein-coding genes. Comparative genomics found expanded gene families related to olfaction and spermatogenesis, which the authors interpret as signs of adaptive evolution. Phylogenetic analyses also suggested that Fea’s muntjac diverged earlier than expected, around periods of climatic and geological change. The team then compared Fea’s muntjacs with red muntjacs from Thailand and with reference genomes assigned to northern and southern red muntjac lineages.

All Thai red muntjacs grouped with the northern lineage

All Thai red muntjacs in the study grouped with northern red muntjac. The analysis also found that reference genomes labelled as southern red muntjac closely resembled the northern lineage, highlighting unresolved genomic distinctions within the red muntjac complex. The sampled red muntjacs showed greater genetic diversity than the small captive Fea’s muntjac population.

One first-generation hybrid was also detected

An ancestry analysis (admixture analysis) identified one first-generation hybrid between Fea’s muntjac and red muntjac. The authors found high inbreeding among captive Fea’s muntjacs, a population with fewer than three breeding pairs in Thailand, reflecting its extremely restricted founder base. They argue that the genomic data can support future genetic management of both Fea’s and red muntjacs in Thailand.

Sources and image credit

  1. Supapannachart, P., Jenjaroenpun, P., Wongsurawat, T., Tangphatsornruang, S., Pootakham, W., Sonthirod, C., Tongsima, S., Wangkumhang, P., Wilantho, A., Thongphakdee, A., Sanannu, S., Vechmanus, T., Panyalert, S., Wongsodchuen, A., Pumpitakkul, V., Buthasane, W., Suriyaphol, P., & Suriyaphol, G. (2026). Genome assembly of the threatened Fea’s muntjac (Muntiacus feae) reveals adaptive evolution and comparative population genomics of Fea’s and red muntjacs. Animal Genetics, 57(2), e70093. https://doi.org/10.1002/age.70093Primary peer-reviewed research article first published 28 March 2026. Comparative genomic analyses found that all sampled Thai red muntjacs belonged to the northern red muntjac lineage; one Fea’s muntjac–red muntjac F1 hybrid was also identified.

Image: Tontan Travel / Wikimedia Commons / Flickr — wild female Northern Red Muntjac photographed in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand; representative Thai species image, not one of the sampled animals · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Source

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