Southern Pudu
Pudu puda
Conservation Status
VulnerableMammalia · Artiodactyla · Cervidae
About
The pudus are two species of South American deer from the genus Pudu, and are the world's smallest deer. The chevrotains are smaller, but they are not true deer. The name is a loanword from Mapudungun, the language of the indigenous Mapuche people of central Chile and south-western Argentina. The two species of pudus are the northern pudu from Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, and the southern pudu from southern Chile and south-western Argentina. Pudus range in size from 32 to 44 centimeters tall, and up to 85 centimeters (33 in) long. The southern pudu is classified as near threatened, while the northern pudu is classified as Data Deficient in the IUCN Red List.
Fun Fact
Southern pudus are the world's smallest deer, standing just 35-45 cm at the shoulder — about the size of a housecat — and they create elaborate systems of tiny trails through dense undergrowth.
Quick Facts
Habitat
Temperate rainforests
Diet
Herbivore
Lifespan
8-10 years
Threats
- Illegal Wildlife Trade
- Poaching
- Deforestation