ScienceAugust 31, 2026

musk

MUSK

Definition

A strong-smelling, reddish-brown substance secreted by a gland in male musk deer, historically valued for its use in perfumes and traditional medicine.

Etymology

Derived from the Middle French 'musc,' ultimately from the Sanskrit 'muska,' meaning 'testicle,' which refers to the gland's location and shape.

In the news

The article describes how the valuable musk pod carried by male deer led to intense poaching and population declines, making the species highly elusive today.

A fanged “vampire deer” thought gone from West Bengal for nearly 70 years has appeared on a camera trap — proving musk deer still survive in the Himalayan forest, but leaving scientists unsure how many remain

Read the full article ↗

ScienceBlog.com

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