Southern pudu
Pudu puda
Pudu are one of the smallest members of the true deer family. They live in small herds often made up of a male, female and young and are active by night and day. Because of their small size, they often stand on their hind legs or on top of fallen trees to reach the foliage. They can go long periods of time without drinking, getting most of their water from succulent plants.
The males grow small antlers in the breeding season that shed annually. Young are born a light brown colour and their fur is covered with small white spots, to help them camouflage in the undergrowth when they are left alone while the mother feeds.
Pudus measure up to 83 centimetres (cm) in length. They are around 43cm high and can weigh up to 13 kilograms.
IUCN red list status
The IUCN status of the southern pudu is near threatened.
For more information on classifications visit www.iucnredlist.org (link opens in new window).
Animal class
Mammal
Conservation status
The IUCN believes the southern pudu faces a high risk of extinction in the wild. The species is listed under Appendix I of CITES.
Habitat
Forest
Population
There is no official estimate of how many pudu are left in the wild, but experts believe it could be less than 10,000.
Diet
Herbivore. Pudu eat fruit, ferns, vines, flowers, buds and small tree foliage.