Brocket deer
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 Red Brocket (M. americana)
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M. americana |
Brocket deer are the deer species of the Mazama genus. They are small in size, dwell primarily in forests and found in South America and the Yucatán Peninsula. They are similar to the Duiker species, but unrelated. There are seven known species of brocket deer, all of them closely related.
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[edit] Physical description
The Mazama species are all similar in appearance, although the size may vary. They have small rounded bodies, ranging from 70 to 140 cm in length, and usually have a light or dark brown coloration. Weight ranges from 8 to 30 kg. The antlers are short and are shed very infrequently.
[edit] Mazama species
- Red Brocket (Mazama americana)—The largest species of brocket deer, weighing up to 30 kg. It has a reddish-brown coat.
- Gray Brocket (Mazama gouazoubira)—Has a greyer coat than the other species.
- Dwarf Brocket (Mazama chunyi)—This species is a reddish-brown color and has prominent eye glands.
- Little Red Brocket (Mazama rufina)—One of the smallest species, the coat is a grey to reddish brown color, the underside is white.
- Merioa Brocket (Mazama bricenii)
- Pygmy Brocket (Mazama nana)—Small, with short legs.
- Yucatan Brown Brocket (Mazama pandora)
[edit] Behavior
In addition to being nocturnal and their small size, Mazama are shy and thus rarely observed. They are found living alone or in mated pairs within their own small territory, the boundaries usually marked with urine, feces, or secretions from the eye glands. When approached by predators (primarily the Cougar and the Jaguar), being knowledgeable about their territory, they will hide in nearby vegetation. As herbivores, their diet consists of leaves, fruits, and shoots found within their territory.
[edit] Reproduction
Mated pairs who live together remain monogamous. Single male deer will usually mate with nearby females. When males compete for a mate, they fight by biting and stabbing with their short horns. Brocket species that live in tropical areas have no fixed mating season, but those in temperate areas have a distinct rutting period in the autumn.
The gestation period is roughly 200–220 days and females only bear one fawn at a time. The young stay with the mother, keeping concealed until large enough to accompany her. They are normally weaned at about six months of age and reach sexual maturity after a year.
