The world’s smallest and cutest deer
The smallest species of deer in the world, these tiny creatures are about the size of a domestic dog.
There are two species of pudu, both of which may be found in South America.
The southern pudu is indigenous to Argentina and Chile, while the northern pudu is endemic to Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Colombia.
They can stand on their hind legs to obtain plants or, unlike their larger deer relatives, they can climb trees when necessary.
Pudus are cautious animals that are always on the lookout for danger.
They sprint in a zigzag manner when being pursued, making it more challenging for larger predators to catch them.
Whenever necessary, they can also climb and jump.
These lonesome creatures build a complex network of routes to help them move through the dense undergrowth where they live in the deep South American woods.
Only when pudus are mating, which normally occurs in the fall before giving birth to one or two fawns in the spring, can they seen together.
Similar to their larger deer cousins, male pudus can be identified by their antlers.
Their average lifespan is 8 to 10 years, although this is in jeopardy for a number of external factors, including habitat deterioration, diseases, and parasites brought in by domestic dogs.
