Is it a mouse? Is it a deer? No, it's a mouse deer!

Well, technically it is a type of deer – but not like you’ve ever seen one before. Chester Zoo has become the first in Britain to house the rare Philippine mouse deer.

It truly is one of the most bizarre looking animals – with a tiny deer’s body, mouse-like head, and a pair of tiny fangs. None of which stops them being weirdly cute. (Chester Zoo)

The zoo hopes that their single male deer – who can already be seen in its “Islands in Danger” exhibit – will eventually be joined by a female, as part of a plans to take part in the worldwide endangered species breeding programme for these threatened animals.

“Our long-term aim is to learn more about what makes these animals tick and make a real impact in terms of the conservation breeding programme in zoos,” said Tim Rowlands, curator of mammals at the zoo. (Chester Zoo)

Here’s a quick look at the need-to-know facts about the mysterious mouse deer.

:: Despite being deer, they don’t grow much bigger than a rabbit, standing at just 18 centimetres tall and weighing about a kilo.

:: There are just six zoos in Europe in which you can see mouse deer. That’s a total of 15 mouse deer on the entire continent. (Chester Zoo)

:: Their main diet consists of leaves, flowers and other vegetation, foraged in the dense forest undergrowth.

:: Filipino folklore says that the mouse deer has a special mutual relationship with a species of python. The legend goes that the mouse deer provides the python a place to stay while python protects the mouse deer from its predators.