Southern pudu

At the Detroit Zoo
T. Roy and Carol have been here since 2008 and are the parents of Hamill Girl, born in 2012.  The family can be found across from the anteaters in the American Grasslands.

Description
The southern pudu is the smallest deer in the world. It is distinguished by short thick legs, small eyes and ears and a thick reddish- brown coat.  Its legs and undercoat tend to be lighter in color than other deer species and its tail is very short. The male southern pudu has short-spiked antlers that are shed annually in July.

Scientific name: Pudu puda
Continent: South America
Habitat: Temperate rainforests consisting of short dry summers, and mild wet winters. The southern pudu prefers to live in dense underbrush or bamboo groves to hide from predators.
Size: 15-18 inches tall at the shoulder
Weight: 15-30 pounds
Diet: The southern pudu is an herbivore with a diet consisting of small trees, shrubs, vines and other wild vegetation.
Reproduction: Gestation seven months; single birth
Lifespan: Eight to 10 years
Conservation Status: Vulnerable

FUN FACTS

When the southern pudu is chased, it runs in a zig-zag pattern in hopes of getting away.