New Tiny Deer Species Is First Discovered In South America For Over 60 Years
New Tiny Deer Species Is First Discovered In South America For Over 60 Years
10/10 can confirm it’s just a lil guy.
Holly Large - Editorial Assistant
HOLLY LARGE
Jr Copy Editor & Staff Writer
Edited
by Francesca Benson
A small deer, Pudella carlae, stands on rocks in a river.
Image credit: Ramiro Yábar, courtesy of Guillermo D’Elía.
Anew species of tiny deer has been discovered in the central Andes in Peru, becoming the first new cervid species found in South America for over 60 years – though that’s not the only cool thing about this discovery.
Previously, there were thought to be just two species of a group of deer known as pudus, which are the world’s smallest deer. They’re split into the Southern and Northern pudu, reflecting where they’re found.
However, whilst out in the northern range, researcher Javier Barrio spotted something a bit odd about some of the deer. “He’d seen the animals in the field, and they looked different from others in the north,” fellow study author Guillermo D’Elia told New Scientist.
And so the team, which also included Eliécer E Gutiérrez, got to analyzing the animals. They carried out genetic tests to determine any DNA differences, as well as morphological analyses which required taking measurements of features such as skull length of museum specimens of the deer.
More:
https://www.iflscience.com/new-tiny-deer-species-is-first-discovered-in-south-america-for-over-60-years-73618