The smallest species of deer in the world, these tiny creatures are roughly the size of a domestic dog.
Pudu comes in two different species, both of which are native to South America.
The southern pudu is native to Argentina and Chile, and the northern pudu to Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Colombia.
Like the majority of grazing animals, pudus are herbivores and consume grass, seeds, leaves, and fallen fruit.
They only stand between 12 to 16 inches tall.
They can either stand on their rear legs to reach vegetation, or unlike their larger deer relatives, they can even climb trees when necessary.
Pudus are wary creatures who are constantly on the lookout for predators. Pudus sprint in a zigzag manner when chased, making them more difficult to catch by larger predators.
These lonely creatures live in deep South American woods, where they create a complicated network of paths to assist them navigate the undergrowth.
Pudus are only observed together during mating, which is usually in the fall, before giving birth to one or two fawns in the spring.
Their lifespan is usually between 8 to 10 years, although this is at risk due to many external factors such as loss of habitat, as well as diseases and parasites contracted from domestic dogs.
