The Pudu is one of the world's smallest deer (the smallest true deer). Shown here is the Southern Pudu
(Pudu puda/u), some 17/18 inches high at the shoulder (taller than the Lesser Mouse-deer, a chevrotain).
It is native to mountain forests of southern Chile and southwest Argentina.
Pair
Spotted Pudu fawn
Fawn
The rarer Northern Pudu (Pudu mephistophiles) of the Andes of Peru, Ecuador and Colombia
is the world's smallest true deer, up to 14 inches at the shoulder. It is taller than the smallest
antelope -- the Silver Dikdik is at 12/13 inches at the shoulder and the Royal Antelope is only 10 inches.
Males have small, pointed horns, shed and re-grown annually.
Unlike some other small deer, they do not have extended canine tusks.
They are solitary or live in pairs, shy and crepuscular. They are endangered by hunting and deforestation.