Overview
Similar to the red brocket, except it is larger, lighter-colored and more elegantly shaped. The overall color is a shiny grayish-brown (or brownish-gray), with the head, back of neck, hindquarters, top of tail and lower legs a burnished bronze. The ears are larger than in the red brocket; they are hairless, bronze on the back and white inside. There is a darker facial blaze from crown to nose. Throat, front of neck, groin area, insides of legs and underside of tail are white. Fawns are spotted. The antlers have a somewhat different conformation than in the red brocket, in that they grow upward and backward in the plane of the face. Typically, they are simple spikes of 3-7 inches (76-178 mm), but occasionally in older bucks one or both antlers will exhibit a very small brow tine. Such tines are always considered non-typical in brocket deer. Antlers are grown and shed at irregular times, so hard antlers can be seen in every month; however, most are in velvet at some period between May and November and are hard at some period from November to May. Zoo specimens in Chetumal, Mexico are reported to shed their antlers every two years.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Cervidae
- Genus
- Mazama
Habitat
Thick, moist forests from sea level to about 6,500 feet (2,000 m). (Red brockets occupy the lower regions, while the smaller little red, Mérida and dwarf brockets are found higher up.) Distribution- The Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, extending to adjacent parts of Belize and Guatemela.
Diet
Diet includes fallen fruits and seeds, grasses, shoots, vines, and crops where available.
Behavior
Usually solitary, or a female with her young, the sexes coming together only briefly to mate. A single fawn, occasionally twins, is born after 225 days, gestation and remains with the mother through the first year. Females can breed at about one year. Reported by different authorities as being diurnal, nocturnal or crepuscular. Relatively sedentary, with a small home range. Seldom seen and little known because of its extreme shyness and wariness. Often remains motionless when danger is sensed. Lacks endurance compared to other deer, and can be run down and killed by an ordinary dog. Excellent swimmer, easily crossing large rivers.
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 Vulnerable by IUCN.