- Southern Pudu
Taxobox
name = Southern PuduMSW3 Grubb | pages = 659-660 | id = 14200326]
status = VU
status_system = IUCN2.3
status_ref = IUCN2007 | assessors = Deer Specialist Group | year = 1996 | title = Pudu puda | id = 18848 | downloaded =2008-09-03 ]
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis =Mammal ia
ordo =Artiodactyla
familia =Cervidae
genus = "Pudu "
species = "P. puda"
binomial = "Pudu puda"
binomial_authority = (Molina, 1782)The Southern Pudu ("Pudu puda") is a species of
even-toed ungulate in theCervidae family.Range
This deer is found in the Southern
Andes ofChile andArgentina .It lives on high mountainsides, up to 2,000 metres, but can also be found at much lower altitudes, and can be found along the coast. Rather than living in open habitats, it prefers woodlands and forest that offer it a good degree of cover from predators. It will however, venture out into more open habitats to feed.
Appearance
Small, stocky and quiet, it has a small rounded body, delicate legs, the antlers are short simple spikes 7-10 cm long and are shed annually in July/August and begin to regrow immediately. The Southern Pudu's coat varies from reddish to dark brown in colour and is lighter at the sides and lower legs. Thick and dense, it offers good protection from the harsh habitat in which it lives. The ears are small and rounded, and the tail is short.
The fawns are spotted with white spots, probably for camouflage
Measurements
Head & Body Length - up to 90 cm
Shoulder Height - up to 35 cm
Weight - 9 to 15 kilogramsThe world's smallest species of deer.
Conservation Status
The Southern Pudu is now classified as a vulnerable species. Its numbers have declined due to its primary temperate rainforest habitat being destroyed and cleared for cattle ranching and other human developments.
References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
