About Mazama rufina (Bourcier & Pucheran, 1852)
Common Names and Basic Classification
The little red brocket, also called the swamp brocket or Ecuador red brocket, is a small, understudied deer species. It was previously classified under the scientific name Mazama rufina, and is currently classified as Andinocervus rufinus.
Native Range
This species is native to the Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, and northern Peru, where it inhabits forest and páramo habitats at altitudes between 1,400 and 3,600 metres (4,600 and 11,800 ft).
Size
It is one of the smallest brocket deer.
Physical Appearance
Its coat is reddish, and its legs and crown are blackish.
Taxonomic History
As recently as 1999, some taxonomic authorities classified both the pygmy brocket and the Merida brocket as subspecies of the little red brocket.
Paleoecological Significance
The little red brocket may have formed an important part of the diet of people from the Pleistocene Las Vegas culture.
