The pudú (Pudu spp.), considered to be the world's smallest deer, is a native of Argentina and Chile in South America. There are two species of pudú: the Northern Pudú (Pudu mephistophiles), which stands about 12 to 14 inches (32 to 35 cm) at the shoulder; and the Southern or Chilean Pudú (Pudu pudu or Pudu puda(Molina, 1782)), which averages between 14 to 16 inches (36 to 41 cm).

Both species of pudú subsist on a diet of grass, leaves, and fallen fruit. In the wild, their life expectancy is between eight and ten years. Both species are endangered, primarily due to hunting and habitat loss from human agriculture and land development.

The pudú has several interesting characteristics that distinguish it from other deer. It is able to climb fallen trees, and it is sometimes forced to do so, both to escape predators and reach food. Because of its small size, it is often forced to balance on its hind legs to reach foliage. When threatened, it barks in alarm.

Because it lives in the dense forests of South America, it requires an efficient way to travel throughout the undergrowth. Pudú maintain a complex system of paths and trails that allow them to quickly get from one place to another. Such paths often lead to excellent places to rest or find food.

It mates April to June, its gestation takes 200 to 220 days, and one (occasionally two) fawns are born.

References

External links

• UltimateUngulate.com entry on the Southern Pudú
• Animal Planet page on the Southern Pudú
• Bristol Zoo page on the Southern Pudú