Mouse deer inhabit a variety of environments, from evergreen forests to scrublands and plantations. These small, frugivorous ungulates are nocturnal and solitary, with a lifespan of around 7 years. Their habitats provide ample cover and refuge, and they have a small, permanent home range. Territorial by nature, this is likely due to the distribution of their food resources. Communication between males and females is believed to occur mainly during mating periods. They rely on dense vegetation and their cryptic appearance to evade predators like leopards and forest eagle owls, while also playing a crucial role in seed dispersal.