Pudu
Pudu Temporal range: Pleistocene – recent
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Southern pudu (P. puda) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Artiodactyla |
Family: | Cervidae |
Subfamily: | Capreolinae |
Tribe: | Odocoileini |
Genus: | Pudu Gray, 1852 |
Type species | |
Capra puda Molina, 1782
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Species | |
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Geographic range of Pudu puda | |
Geographic range of Pudu mephistophiles | |
Synonyms | |
Pudua Garrod, 1877 |
The pudus (
Taxonomy
The genus Pudu was first erected by English naturalist
Two similar species of pudús are recognised:
Image | Scientific name | Common name | Distribution | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pudu puda | Southern pudú |
Southern Andes of Chile and Argentina | Slightly larger than its sister species, the northern pudú, being 35 to 45 cm (14 to 18 in) tall at the shoulder and weighs 6.4 to 13.4 kg (14 to 30 lb).[14] The antlers of the southern pudú grow to be 5.3 to 9 cm (2.1 to 3.5 in) 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.[15] It is found at lower elevations than its sister species, from sea level to 2,000 m (6,600 ft). | |
Pudu mephistophiles | Northern pudú |
Andes of Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, and Ecuador | The smallest species of deer in the world, being 32 to 35 cm (13 to 14 in) tall at the shoulder and weighs 3.3 to 6 kg (7.3 to 13.2 lb).[14] The antlers of the northern pudú grow to about 6 cm (2.4 in) long, also curving backward. Its coat tends to be lighter than that of the southern pudú, but the face is darker compared to the coat.[14] It is found at higher altitudes than its sister species, from 2,000 to 4,000 m (6,600 to 13,100 ft) above sea level. |
Description
The pudus are the world's smallest deer, with the southern pudu being slightly larger than the northern pudu.
Habitat and distribution
The pudú inhabits
The climate of the pudú's habitat is composed of two main seasons: a damp, moderate winter and an arid summer. Annual precipitation in these areas of Argentina and Chile ranges from 2 to 4 m (6.6 to 13.1 ft).[19]
Behavior
Social
The pudú is a solitary animal whose behavior in the wild is largely unknown because of its secretive nature.
Predators of the pudús include the
Diet
The pudús are herbivorous,[13] consuming vines, leaves from low trees, shrubs, succulent sprouts, herbs, ferns, blossoms, buds, tree bark, and fallen fruit.[19][23][24] They can survive without drinking water for long periods due to the high water content of the succulent foliage in their diets.[5]
Pudús have various methods of obtaining the foliage they need. Their small stature and cautious nature create obstacles in attaining food.[24] They stop often while searching for food to stand on their hind legs and smell the wind, detecting food scents.[19][22] Females and fawns peel bark from saplings using their teeth, but mature males may use their spikelike antlers. The deer may use their front legs to press down on saplings until they snap or become low enough to the ground so they can reach the leaves. Forced to stand on their hind legs due to their small size, the deer climb branches and tree stumps to reach higher foliage.[16] They bend bamboo shoots horizontally in order to walk on them and eat from higher branches.[19]
Reproduction
Pudús are solitary and only come together for
Status and conservation
The southern pudu is currently listed as near threatened on the
Efforts to preserve the pudú species are being taken in order to prevent extinction. An international captive-breeding program for the southern pudú led by Concepcion University in Chile has been started.
Threats
Pudús are threatened due to the destruction of their rainforest habitat. The land is cleared for human development, cattle ranching, agriculture, logging, and exotic tree plantations.[5][16][18] Habitat fragmentation and road accidents cause pudú deaths. They are taken from the wild as pets, as well as exported illegally.[10][18] They are overhunted and killed for food by specially trained hunting dogs.[5][18][28] The recently
References
- ^ Molina, Giovanni Ignazio (1782). "Il Pudu, Capra Puda". Saggio sulla storia naturale del Chili. Bologna: S. Tommaso d'Aquino. pp. 308–309.
- ^ Molina, J. Ignatius (1809). The Geographical, Natural, and Civil History of Chili. Longman. p. 256.
- .
- ISBN 956-8287-99-X.
- ^ a b c d e f "Southern Pudu". Animal Planet. 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Benirschke, Kurt (2004). "Chilean (Southern) Pudu". University of California, San Diego. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
- ^ Huffman, Brent (2006). "Southern Pudu". Archived from the original on 2009-04-06. Retrieved 2009-09-17.
- ^ Hershkovitz, Philip (1982). Neotropical deer (Cervidae) : Part I. Pudus, genus Pudu Gray. Pp. 60-61. Fieldiana Zoology new series, no.11.
- OCLC 62265494.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Schürer, Ulrich (1986). "Pudu pudu" (PDF). Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Retrieved 17 September 2009.[dead link]
- ^ . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ .
- ^ a b c d e "Fauna of Patagonia: rainforest fauna – Chile". Elavellano Lodge. Archived from the original on May 15, 2008. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8117-0496-0.
- ^ "Forest South America". Animal Welfare Institute. Archived from the original on 2009-02-18. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f "Southern Pudu". Bristol Zoo. Archived from the original on 30 May 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
- .
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Southern Pudu". Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi. Arkive – Images of Life on Earth. Archived from the original on 2009-02-02. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Pollard, Sarah. "Pudu Puda". University of Michigan. Museum of Zoology. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
- ^ "The Wildlife of Northern Patagonia". Frontier Patagonia. Archived from the original on 16 December 2010. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
- ^ a b c "Southern Pudu". Brevard Zoo. 2009. Archived from the original on 22 January 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
- ^ a b c d Williams, Jasmin (22 May 2008). "Meet the World's Smallest Deer". New York Post. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
- ^ "Pudu". Chester Zoo. 2009. Archived from the original on April 19, 2008. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
- ^ a b "Southern Pudu". Los Angeles Zoo. Archived from the original on April 11, 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
- ^ CITES Appendix I, II, and III
- Species360 (2010) Pudu puda.Version 27 October 2010
- . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Chilean Pudu". Minnesota Zoo. 2009. Retrieved 17 September 2009.