Southern pudu
The southern pudu is a species of South American deer native to the Valdivian temperate forests of south-central Chile and adjacent Argentina. It is classified as Near Threatened in the IUCN Red List.
Description
The southern pudu is characterized by being the third smallest deer in the world. It is slightly larger than its sister species, the northern pudu and Pudella carlae, being tall at the shoulder and weighs. The antlers of the southern pudu grow to be long and tend to curve back, somewhat like a mountain goat. Its coat is a dark chestnut-brown, and tends to tuft in the front, covering the antlers.Range and habitat
The southern pudu lives in forests, including both mature and disturbed forests, typically with a dense understory, but it does nevertheless prefer open spaces with rich vegetation for feeding. It is found at lower elevations than its sister species, from sea level to elevation. In the Chilean Coast Range the pudu is found in primary and secondary broadleaf evergreen and alerce forests, and sometimes in Eucalyptus plantations. In the southern Andes of Chile and Argentina it is associated with thickets of bamboo and Nothofagus dombeyi forests.Foraging by southern pudu is thought to be detrimental for the regeneration of burned forests of Pilgerodendron uviferum.