Red Brocket Deer
Mazama americana
CLASS: Mammalia
ORDER: Artiodactyla
FAMILY: Cervidae
SIZE:
Length of body and tail 47 - 63 inches; small deer weighing 45 - 55 lbs.
RANGE:
Southern Mexico, Central and South America
HABITAT:
Forests
DIET:
Wild - Grass, vegetation, vegetables, and fruit where available
Zoo - Herbivore diet, apples, carrots, lettuce
DESCRIPTION:
Shiny yellow-red to fox-red coat; unbranched, short pronged antlers on males
FACTS:
Head carried low
Enjoy water and are good swimmers
Males mark territory by polishing lower parts of the antlers against a small tree or shrub, a seemingly senseless activity as the antlers are velvet-free.
Sexes are together briefly during mating season
Seldom seen in the wild because of shyness, protective coloration, and the habit of "freezing" when danger is sensed.
Do not have the endurance of some other kinds of deer and can be overtaken and killed by a common dog.
YOUNG:
Usually one offspring, after gestational period of 7.5 months
STATUS:
CITES App. III; widespread, often common, but has become scarce where it is heavily hunted
REFERENCE:
"Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia" Vol. 13, Mammals IV, Dr. Bernhard Grzimek
"Walker's Mammals of the World," Fifth Edition, Vol. II, Ronald M. Nowak.
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