The pudu is the smallest true deer.
Active both in the day and at night, it lives in small herds, feeding mainly on leaves, but also on flowers, fruit, and buds.
Because of its diminutive size, it often must stand on its hindlegs, sometimes on top of fallen trees, to reach the foliage.
It can go for long periods of time without drinking, getting most of its water from succulent plants.
Males are easily distinguished from females by their short straight antlers.
The southern pudu is endangered because of overhunting and habitat loss to agriculture and livestock.
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