Least ConcernWhite-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
One of the 2 pudus on WAnimals
Mammals · Artiodactyla · Cervidae
Pudella mephistophiles
At high risk of extinction in the wild over the medium term.
The northern pudu is the smallest deer in the world: it stands barely 35 centimetres at the shoulder. It lives in the cloud forests and páramo of the Andes of Ecuador, Colombia and northern Peru, where it moves along tunnels it opens through dense vegetation. It is solitary, extremely unobtrusive and feeds on leaves, tender shoots and fallen fruit. Its compact body, short legs and dark brown coat are adaptations to a closed, humid understorey where agility matters less than going unnoticed.
Weight
3.3 kg – 6 kg
Size
60 cm – 80 cm
Life expectancy
10 years
Diet
Herbivore
Feeds mainly on plants.
Activity
Crepuscular
Active mainly at dawn and dusk.
Social structure
Solitary
Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.
Sources consulted: IUCN Red List · Animal Diversity Web · Wikipedia (es)
The pins mark the parks where its presence is documented.
Parks and dive sites where this species has been documented.
Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Northern Pudu — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.
The northern pudu is classified as vulnerable. Organisations such as the IUCN, WWF and the Wildlife Conservation Society work specifically on its conservation and that of its habitat; looking into their programmes is a good starting point if you want to get involved.
It's documented in 10 protected areas — one reason why protecting these places matters for its conservation.
Based on what we already know about northern pudu.
