The tiniest deer species in the world is the most adorable thing you will find on the internet today!
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May it be camouflaged insects looking like leaves to fish that glow in the darkest depths.
And one of these adorable beings remains hidden in the Andes Mountains, that lie along the western edge of South America. These peaks are home to a massive variety of flora and fauna, many of which exist nowhere else on Earth. A new species of deer has been identified for the first time in over six decades that will surely win your hearts with its adorable appearance.
In March 2024, a discovery was announced in the Journal of Mammalogy, which said that a new species of deer had been found in the Andes Mountains of northern Peru. Named
Pudella carlae
, the species is the first new cervid to be formally described in South America in over 60 years. The discovery was led by a multinational team of researchers from Peru, Brazil, and Chile, with Guillermo D'Elía of the Universidad Austral de Chile at the helm.
World's smallest deer
The tiny deer belongs to the pudu genus, which includes the world's smallest deer. Measuring just 38 centimeters tall and weighing between 7 and 9 kilograms, that is equal to the weight of a dog species ,Jack Russell terrier. Pudella carlae belongs between the two known pudu species in terms of size. Its coat is a noticeably rustier brown, with a paler head and ears, setting it apart from its relatives.
The species was first brought to light when team member Javier Barrio spotted a group of unusual mini-deer during fieldwork.
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Intrigued, the researchers compared museum specimens and conducted genetic testing to confirm the distinctiveness of the species. Their findings revealed not only physical and genetic differences but also a unique distribution.
Pudu's home
Pudella carlae is native to the Huancabamba Depression, a 50-kilometer-wide, arid river valley that slices through the northern Andes. The region is already known for its extraordinary inhouse biodiversity, and this latest addition is a gem to its ecological importance.
In honor of Peruvian biologist Carla Gazzolo, who has contributed significantly to the region's biodiversity studies, the species was named Pudella carlae.
The Pudu is a rare and endangered species
The species have low population numbers and are classified as 'Near Threatened' or 'Vulnerable' due to habitat loss, hunting, and fragmentation. The Northern Pudu, native to Colombia, Ecuador, and northern Peru, is particularly elusive and sparsely distributed.
With the recent discovery of Pudella carlae in Peru, the number of known pudu species has grown to three.
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Time of India
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