# Southern pudu (*Pudu puda*) The Southern pudu is the smallest deer in the world! They are shy and like to hide in the bushes of the forest. With their tiny size, they are super cute and love to munch on leaves and fruits. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Southern pudu](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Pudupuda_hem_8_FdoVidal_Villarr_08Abr06-PhotoJimenez.JPG&width=800) Photo: Jaime E. Jimenez, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pudupuda_hem_8_FdoVidal_Villarr_08Abr06-PhotoJimenez.JPG) ## Appearance The Southern pudu is a tiny deer with a stocky body, short legs, and a reddish-brown coat. Males grow small, spiky antlers. Its compact size and dense fur help it navigate thick undergrowth. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Artiodactyla - **Family:** Cervidae - **Genus:** Pudu ## Interesting facts - Male pudus grow small, spiky antlers that they shed and regrow every year. - Southern pudus are excellent at hiding, freezing perfectly still to avoid being seen! - The Southern pudu is the world's smallest deer, barely taller than a common house cat! - When threatened, these tiny deer sometimes blush with bright red cheeks! ## Special abilities - **Forest Camouflage:** Southern pudu has a reddish-brown coat that helps them blend perfectly into the dense undergrowth of their forest home. - **Zig-Zag Escape:** Southern pudu can run in a fast zig-zag pattern through thick bushes that helps them lose predators quickly. - **Tiny Leaps:** Southern pudu can jump onto and over fallen logs that helps them move through cluttered forest floors with ease. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 60-85 cm - **Weight:** 6.5-13.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 8-10 years - **Speed:** 20 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 200-210 days ## Diet & Feeding This tiny deer munches on leaves, twigs, fruits, and tasty fungi found in its forest home. - **Primary Foods:** Leaves, Twigs, Bark, Berries, Fungi, Fallen Fruits - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Puma (*Puma concolor*) — A primary predator of adult pudu in their habitat. - **Eaten by:** Culpeo Fox (*Lycalopex culpaeus*) — Hunts young pudu fawns and smaller adults. - **Eats:** Coihue (*Nothofagus dombeyi*) — Pudu browse on its leaves and bark. - **Eats:** Saffron Milkcap (*Lactarius deliciosus*) — Pudu forage for various forest fungi like this one. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch from a distance and do not try to touch wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Southern pudu? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Southern pudu? 60-85 cm ### How much does Southern pudu weigh? 6.5-13.5 kg ### How long does Southern pudu live? 8-10 years ### How fast can Southern pudu move? 20 km/h ### What does Southern pudu eat? This tiny deer munches on leaves, twigs, fruits, and tasty fungi found in its forest home. ### Where is Southern pudu usually found? Forests ### How does Southern pudu hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Queens Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/queens-zoo) — New York, US · Zoo ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Southern pudu: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/southern-pudu)