South Pudu
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South Pudu ( Pudu puda ) |
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| ( Molina , 1782) |
The southern pudu ( Pudu puda , Syn . : Pudu pudu ), also called southern pudu , is a small deer .
Appearance
With a shoulder height of 35 to 38 cm, a head-trunk length of 80 cm, a tail length of approx. 2 cm and a weight of 6 to 8 kg, the South Pudu is one of the smallest members of the deer family ; but it is somewhat larger than its northern cousin, the northern pudu . Its antlers are very short (5–10 cm long), not branched and more reminiscent of small horns. The body is short and stocky. The animals have a reddish fur in summer and brown in winter. The belly and legs are light brown, the tail is colored white.
Occurrence
The species lives in the mountain forests of the South American Andes up to an altitude of 1,700 meters. It occurs in Chile between the Río Mataquito in the north and the Laguna San Rafael in the south, about between 35 and 47 ° south latitude. In neighboring Argentina , the southern end of its range is in the Los Acerces National Park in the province of Chubut . The habitat consists of pristine temperate rainforests and secondary forests, with the South Pudu preferring higher elevations.
Way of life
The South Pudu is predominantly crepuscular, but can also be observed during the day. He uses action areas of 15 to 25 ha in size, which are larger, if he actively defends them, and thanks to his compact body is able to move through dense vegetation. He fights against conspecifics by jumping, biting and striking with his front legs. The predators include the puma , the Chilean forest cat , foxes (such as the Darwin fox ) and the Magellanic eagle owl . The South Pudu feeds on the leaves and the shoots of young trees, flowering plants, and does not disdain fruit and nuts.
Reproduction
Females become sexually mature at the latest at one and a half, males at two years. The rut depends on the seasons and is between March and April. During this time, males court the female by crouching down with their belly almost touching the ground. The gestation period until the birth of the individual, 700 to 900 g heavy young animal is 195 days. The young animal is brownish in color and has several lines of white spots on its back, but this youthful fur pattern disappears after three months. The youngster is already eating solid food after twelve days, and weaning takes place very early after only two months. The first antlers are formed when they are no more than one year old. The highest life expectancy in captivity is between 17 and 18 years.
Hazards and protective measures
This species is threatened due to illegal hunting, habitat destruction, displacement by domestic animals and introduced, alien deer species as well as the fragmentation of the individual populations in their population. The total population is estimated at around 10,000 individuals. The IUCN lists the South Pudu as "endangered" ( vulnerable ). Protected areas have been designated to preserve the deer species, and several research projects are ongoing to clarify further protective measures for this species.
swell
- Encyclopedia of Mammals. Könemann, 2003, ISBN 3-89731-928-4 , pp. 504-519.
- Encyclopedia of Mammals. Weltbild, Augsburg 1999, ISBN 3-8289-1556-6 , pp. 200-203.
- Wilhelm owner (ed.), Erna Mohr: Encyclopedia of the animals. Volume 2, Weltbild, Augsburg 1991, ISBN 978-3-89350-361-2 , pp. 483-484.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e S. Mattioli: Family Cervidae (Deer). In: Don E. Wilson and Russell A. Mittermeier (eds.): Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Volume 2: Hooved Mammals. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2011, ISBN 978-84-96553-77-4 , p. 438
- ↑ J. Jimenez and E. Ramilo: Pudu puda. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. ( [1] ), last accessed on October 8, 2013
Web links
- Pudu puda in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2008. Posted by: Jimenez, J. & Ramilo, E., 2008. Accessed June 7, 2013.