Overview
Generally similar to the Red Brocket deer, except it is considerably smaller and also differs in coloration and horn conformation. Overall color is a dull light brown with white underparts. A darker brown facial mask extends from nose to crown, and there are light-colored patches above the eyes. Fawns are spotted. Preorbital glands are small. Typically, the antlers are simple spikes that are somewhat longer and slimmer than those of the red brocket. They grow backward in the line of the face, in contrast to those of the red brocket, which grow upward at a slight forward angle to the line of the face. Occasionally, an older male will grow a very small brow tine; such tines are always non-typical in brocket deer.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Cervidae
- Genus
- Mazama
Habitat
Savanna and forest edges, rather than thick forest. Distribution- Eastern Ecuador, southeastern Colombia, western and southern Venezuela; Trinidad, Guyana, Surinam and French Guiana; eastern Peru; Bolivia and Paraguay; northern and western Brazil; northern Argentina; Uruguay. Also found in North America on Isla San José off the Pacific coast of Panama. A similar species, the Yucatán gray-brown brocket deer (Mazama pandora), occurs in North America, in parts of Mexico, Belize and Guatemala.
Diet
This animal both grazes and browses.
Behavior
Similar to the Red Brocket deer, although said to be more diurnal and thus more frequently seen, to run faster, and to be less often caught by dogs. Twin births are thought to occur more frequently than in the red brocket.
Hunting
The Mapola (Flamboyan) and Zapote trees drop their fruit in late February and March, and brocket deer love this fruit. April is dry and good for hunting, but it is very hot. During the dry season, water holes are popular areas to set up and wait for animals.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern by IUCN, although it should be noted that populations seem to consistently decline where they overlap with humans.