Mazama nanus, Rafinesque, 1817

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2011, Cervidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 2 Hoofed Mammals, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 350-443 : 442

50.

Lesser Brocket

Mazama nanus

French: Mazame nain / German: Kleinmazama / Spanish: Corzuela menor

Other common names: Brazilian Dwarf Brocket, Dwarf Red Brocket, Pigmy Brocket

Taxonomy. Cervus nanus Hensel, 1872 ,

Rio Grande do Sul ( Brazil).

Originally it was included in M. rufina . It is closely related to M. bororo . Although the name appears frequently as M. nana, the original nanus is a noun and must remain unchanged. Monotypic.

Distribution. SE Brazil, SE Paraguay, and N Argentina.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 70 cm, tail estimated 9-12 cm, shoulder height 45-50 cm; weight 14-16 kg. Small-sized brocket with small ears; forelegs shorter than hindlegs. The coat is reddish-chestnut. There is evidence of an annual cycle of antler growth and casting in the captive animals in Argentina. In Brazil this cycle apparently does not exist. The diploid number of chromosomesis 36.

Habitat. It is associated with mixed wet forests and southern pine (Awracaria) woodlands. It mainly lives in mountainous regions covered with dense vegetation. The habitat in eastern Paraguay is moist forest with an understory of bamboo thickets.

Food and Feeding. Nothing is known, but surely a browser on fruits, leaves, and shoots of various plants, like other species of Mazama .

Breeding. Birth have been observed between September and February. Females give birth to a single fawn weighing 1.1-3 kg.

Activity patterns. Their behavior is almost unknown but they appear to be active both by day and at night.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Basically solitary, but no field studies available.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. It is considered the most threatened deer of Brazil. It is probably declining, due to habitat loss (timber exploitation, expansion of agriculture) and range fragmentation.

Bibliography. Abril & Duarte (2008), Abril, Vogliotti et al. (2010), Czernay (1987).

Figures

44. Common Brown Brocket (Mazama gouazoubira), 45. Yucatan Brown Brocket (Mazama pandora), 46. Amazonian Brown Brocket (Mazama nemorivaga), 47. Common Red Brocket (Mazama americana), 48. Mexican Red Brocket (Mazama temama), 49. Small Red Brocket (Mazama bororo), 50. Lesser Brocket (Mazama nanus), 51. Little Red Brocket (Mazama rufina), 52. Merida Brocket (Mazama bricenii), 53. Common Dwarf Brocket (Mazama chunyi)

Distribution. SE Brazil , SE Paraguay , and N Argentina .