Mammals · Artiodactyla · Cervidae

Red Brocket

Mazama americana

Data Deficient

There is not enough information to assess its risk of extinction. See full glossary

The red brocket is the most widespread deer of the South American forest and one of the largest in the genus Mazama. With an intensely reddish coat and a compact body whose hindquarters stand higher than the forequarters, it is built for moving through dense undergrowth. It is solitary, very unobtrusive and mainly nocturnal in areas where it is hunted. It feeds on fallen fruit, fungi and shoots. It is one of the main prey of the jaguar and the puma, and of subsistence hunting.

Weight

24 kg – 48 kg

Size

1.1 m – 1.5 m

Lifespan

12 years

Diet

Herbivore

Feeds mainly on plants.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Unknown

RainforestHerbivore Nocturnal Solitary Rainforest Mammal

12countries 21parks23same family

Fun facts

The name red brocket almost certainly conceals a complex of several distinct species: genetic and chromosomal studies have revealed highly differentiated populations that are still being described.
It swims well and thinks nothing of crossing wide rivers; when chased, it often heads straight for the water.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Understorey of rainforest and dense woodland in South America, with access to water
Sexual maturity: 13 months
Gestation / incubation: 7.4 months
Litter / clutch size: 1.3 (average)

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazama_americana