Pudu are rare deer native to South America. Pudu are considered to be threatened species, due to hunting and habitat depletion, and several zoological parks have made an effort to preserve the animals through breeding in captivity. Pudu are also the smallest known members of the deer family; the Northern Pudu stands around a foot (32 centimeters) tall, and in the biased opinion of this wiseGEEK author, the pudu may be the cutest representative of the deer family as well.

Pudu are found in Argentina and Chile. There are two species of pudu: the Northern Pudu, and the slightly larger Southern Pudu. The animals look largely the same, with glossy reddish brown coats which are spotted with white when they are very young. Like larger deer, pudu are very muscular, with bodies built for springing and jumping, upright convex ears, and stubby tails. Their glossy coats blend in well with the environment they call home.

The pudu has a few tricks up its sleeve which distinguish it from other deer. For one thing, pudu vocalize, emitting a sharp barking noise when they are alarmed to alert others in the group. Pudu are also capable of climbing trees, both in search of food and to avoid predators. The animals have also been seen standing on their hind legs to feed, ensuring that they can reach otherwise inaccessible food.

The diet of the pudu consists of grass, leaves, and fallen fruit. The animals often establish complex networks of runways and trails through the thick underbrush, allowing them to move unseen throughout their range. In the wild, pudu live around eight to 10 years, breeding in the fall to produce litters of twins in the early spring.

Pudu is the name of the pudu genus, in addition to being used as a common name. The Southern Pudu is known by the delightfully alliterative scientific moniker of Pudu pudu, while the Northern Pudu goes by Pudu mephistophiles. Whatever one calls these creatures, they may be forced to rely on the efforts of conservationists to survive, thanks to widespread utilization of resources in South America. Logging and farming in their native range makes it difficult for pudu to survive, and because the animals are viewed as a source of meat as well, their populations are extremely unstable in some regions.

People who are interested in seeing pudu can check with local zoological parks to see if they have a pudu population which is open to the public. You have a better chance of meeting pudu at a conservation park which focuses on South American animals, although they can be found in general zoos as well on occasion.