The smallest species of deer in the world, these tiny creatures are roughly the size of a domestic dog.
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Pudu comes in two different species, both of which are native to South America.
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The southern pudu is native to Argentina and Chile, and the northern pudu to Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Colombia.
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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.
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They can either stand on their rear legs to reach vegetation, or unlike their larger deer relatives, they can even climb trees when necessary.
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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.
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These lonely creatures live in deep South American woods, where they create a complicated network of paths to assist them navigate the undergrowth.
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Pudus are only observed together during mating, which is usually in the fall, before giving birth to one or two fawns in the spring.
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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.
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