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Pudu mephistophiles, Northern Pudu THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED

SPECIES™

Technical Report · June 2008

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 The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™
ISSN 2307-8235 (online)
IUCN 2008: T18847A22163836
Scope: Global
Language: English

Pudu mephistophiles, Northern Pudu

Assessment by: Barrio, J. & Tirira, D.G.

View on www.iucnredlist.org

Citation: Barrio, J. & Tirira, D.G. 2019. Pudu mephistophiles. The IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species 2019: e.T18847A22163836. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-
1.RLTS.T18847A22163836.en

Copyright: © 2018 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior written
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Reproduction of this publication for resale, reposting or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written
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The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species Programme, the IUCN
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University; BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens Conservation International; Conservation International; NatureServe;
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THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™

Taxonomy
Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family

Animalia Chordata Mammalia Cetartiodactyla Cervidae

Taxon Name: Pudu mephistophiles (de Winton, 1896)

Common Name(s):
• English: Northern Pudu
• French: Poudou Du Nord, Pudu Du Nord
• Spanish: Ciervo Enamo, Pudu Norteño, Sachacabra, Venadito De Los Páramos, Venado Conejo

Assessment Information
Red List Category & Criteria: Data Deficient ver 3.1

Year Published: 2019

Date Assessed: May 15, 2018

Justification:
This species was considered to be threatened in light of an ongoing decline, and because remaining
small populations are fragmented into numerous subpopulations in the Central Andes of Colombia,
Ecuador and northern Peru (North of the Maranon dry forest). Indirect estimates based on past
distribution and habitat loss would consider the species is in a notable decline due to habitat reduction
and expanding human settlements. Yet, insufficient information is currently available in order to
quantitatively measure threats and rates of decline and for this reason the species is reassessed Data
Deficient.

Additionally, recent and ongoing research in Peru reveals that the population of the eastern slopes of
the Central Andes of Peru (Montane Forest and Yungas, up to the limit with the Humid Puna) is a
different species (yet undescribed; Barrio and colab. pers. comm). A re-assessment of the remaining
populations of Pudu mephistophiles and of the new species will follow its formal description.

Previously Published Red List Assessments

2008 – Vulnerable (VU)
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T18847A8647714.en

1996 – Lower Risk/near threatened (LR/nt)

1994 – Indeterminate (I)

1990 – Indeterminate (I)

1988 – Indeterminate (I)

1986 – Indeterminate (I)

1982 – Indeterminate (I)

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Pudu mephistophiles – published in 2019. 1
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1965 – Status inadequately known-survey required or data sought

Geographic Range
Range Description:
This species occupies a discontinuous and probably fragmented range through the montane forests and
their limit with the humid grasslands of the Andes in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Exact range is
unknown and distributional gaps between records are unresolved. The only known natural gap is the
Maranon dry forest lying in between the Ecuadorian population and the Peruvian population south of
the Maranon.

Country Occurrence:
Native: Colombia; Ecuador; Peru

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Pudu mephistophiles – published in 2019. 2
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T18847A22163836.en
Distribution Map
Pudu mephistophiles

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Pudu mephistophiles – published in 2019. 3
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T18847A22163836.en
Population
Populations in central Peru clearly isolated from populations in Peruvian northern Andes, Ecuador and
Colombia. The status of wild populations remains unknown in all the geographic range, with knowledge
only on presence or absence in specific areas.
Current Population Trend: Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology (see Appendix for additional information)

This species inhabits elfin, cloud and montane forests throughout its distribution, and in humid
grasslands above the tree-line mainly by the northern population, between 2,000 and 4,000 m. It
moves in the undergrowth when it is inside forest. The small size makes the species difficult to detect.

Systems: Terrestrial

Threats (see Appendix for additional information)

Northern Pudu was intensively exploited by local people from the 1950s to early 1980s (Hershkovitz
1982). However, nowadays habitat conversion and predation by domestic dogs are worse threats.

Conservation Actions (see Appendix for additional information)

This species is listed on CITES Appendix II.

Recommended conservation actions include: undertake comprehensive status surveys and develop
research program to determine ecology, habitat requirements, population biology, and extent of threats;
strengthen existing protected areas management where necessary; in areas where subsistence hunting
proves to be a serious threat, seek alternative subsistence schemes or more sustainable harvesting
methods; develop conservation education programs and increase law enforcement if necessary. The
species occurs in several protected areas across its range; some of these are without management plans
and many receive insufficient resources to enable adequate protection.

Credits
Assessor(s): Barrio, J. & Tirira, D.G.

Reviewer(s): Gimenez Dixon, M.

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Pudu mephistophiles – published in 2019. 4
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Bibliography
Barnett, A.A. 1999. Small Mammals of the Cajas Plateau, Southern Ecaudor: Ecology and Natural History.
Bulletin of the Florida Museum of Natural History 42(4): 161-217.

Eisenberg, J.F. 1989. Mammals of the Neotropics. The Northern Neotropics. The University of Chicago
Press, Chicago, USA and London, UK.

Escamilo, L. L., Barrio, J., Benavides, J. and Tirira, D.G. 2010. Northern Pudu Pudu mephistophiles (De
Winton, 1896). In: Duarte, J.M.B. and González, S. (eds), Neotropical Cervidology. Ed. 1, pp. 133-139.
Funep-IUCN, Jaboticabal.

Grimwood, I. R. 1969. Notes on the distribution and status of some Peruvian mammals, 1968. New York
Zoological Society Special Publication 21: 83.

Hershkovitz, P. 1982. Neotropical deer (Cervidae) part I, Pudus, Genus Pudu Gray. Fieldiana: Zoology 11:
1-86.

IUCN. 2019. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2019-1. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org.
(Accessed: 21 March 2019).

Pacheco, V. 2002. Protección de la biodiversidad en bosques montanos fragmentados y propuesta para

conservar el bosque de Carpish, Huanuco. Informe final. CONCYTEC, proyecto 078, Lima, Perú.

Tirira, D.G. 2007. Guía de Campo de los Mamíferos del Ecuador. Ediciones Murciélago Blanco.
Publicación especial sobre los mamíferos del Ecuador 6, Quito, Ecuador.

Citation
Barrio, J. & Tirira, D.G. 2019. Pudu mephistophiles. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019:
e.T18847A22163836. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T18847A22163836.en

Disclaimer
To make use of this information, please check the Terms of Use.

External Resources
For Images and External Links to Additional Information, please see the Red List website.

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Pudu mephistophiles – published in 2019. 5
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T18847A22163836.en
 Appendix

Habitats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Major
Habitat Season Suitability
Importance?

1. Forest -> 1.9. Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane - Suitable -

3. Shrubland -> 3.7. Shrubland - Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude - Marginal -

4. Grassland -> 4.7. Grassland - Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude - Suitable -

Threats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Threat Timing Scope Severity Impact Score

1. Residential & commercial development -> 1.1. Ongoing - - -

Housing & urban areas
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

2. Agriculture & aquaculture -> 2.1. Annual & Past, - - -

perennial non-timber crops -> 2.1.1. Shifting unlikely to
return
agriculture
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

2. Agriculture & aquaculture -> 2.1. Annual & Ongoing - - -

perennial non-timber crops -> 2.1.2. Small-holder
farming
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

2. Agriculture & aquaculture -> 2.1. Annual & Ongoing - - -

perennial non-timber crops -> 2.1.3. Agro-industry
farming
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

2. Agriculture & aquaculture -> 2.3. Livestock farming Ongoing - - -

& ranching -> 2.3.1. Nomadic grazing
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

2. Agriculture & aquaculture -> 2.3. Livestock farming Ongoing - - -

& ranching -> 2.3.2. Small-holder grazing, ranching or
farming
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

2. Agriculture & aquaculture -> 2.3. Livestock farming Future - - -

& ranching -> 2.3.3. Agro-industry grazing, ranching
or farming

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Pudu mephistophiles – published in 2019. 6
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T18847A22163836.en
 Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

5. Biological resource use -> 5.1. Hunting & trapping Ongoing - - -

terrestrial animals -> 5.1.1. Intentional use (species is
the target)
Stresses: 2. Species Stresses -> 2.1. Species mortality

5. Biological resource use -> 5.1. Hunting & trapping Ongoing - - -

terrestrial animals -> 5.1.2. Unintentional effects
(species is not the target)
Stresses: 2. Species Stresses -> 2.1. Species mortality

5. Biological resource use -> 5.1. Hunting & trapping Ongoing - - -

terrestrial animals -> 5.1.3. Persecution/control
Stresses: 2. Species Stresses -> 2.1. Species mortality

5. Biological resource use -> 5.3. Logging & wood Ongoing - - -

harvesting -> 5.3.5. Motivation
Unknown/Unrecorded
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

7. Natural system modifications -> 7.1. Fire & fire Ongoing - - -

suppression -> 7.1.3. Trend Unknown/Unrecorded
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

9. Pollution -> 9.2. Industrial & military effluents -> Ongoing - - -

9.2.3. Type Unknown/Unrecorded
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

9. Pollution -> 9.3. Agricultural & forestry effluents -> Ongoing - - -

9.3.4. Type Unknown/Unrecorded
Stresses: 1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

Conservation Actions in Place

(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Conservation Actions in Place

In-Place Land/Water Protection and Management

Conservation sites identified: Yes, over entire range

In-Place Education

Included in international legislation: Yes

Subject to any international management/trade controls: Yes

Conservation Actions Needed

(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Conservation Actions Needed

1. Land/water protection -> 1.1. Site/area protection

1. Land/water protection -> 1.2. Resource & habitat protection

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Pudu mephistophiles – published in 2019. 7
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 Conservation Actions Needed
2. Land/water management -> 2.1. Site/area management

2. Land/water management -> 2.3. Habitat & natural process restoration

3. Species management -> 3.2. Species recovery

4. Education & awareness -> 4.1. Formal education

4. Education & awareness -> 4.3. Awareness & communications

5. Law & policy -> 5.1. Legislation -> 5.1.1. International level

5. Law & policy -> 5.1. Legislation -> 5.1.3. Sub-national level

5. Law & policy -> 5.4. Compliance and enforcement -> 5.4.2. National level

5. Law & policy -> 5.4. Compliance and enforcement -> 5.4.3. Sub-national level

6. Livelihood, economic & other incentives -> 6.1. Linked enterprises & livelihood alternatives

Research Needed
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Research Needed
1. Research -> 1.1. Taxonomy

1. Research -> 1.2. Population size, distribution & trends

1. Research -> 1.3. Life history & ecology

1. Research -> 1.5. Threats

1. Research -> 1.6. Actions

2. Conservation Planning -> 2.1. Species Action/Recovery Plan

2. Conservation Planning -> 2.2. Area-based Management Plan

3. Monitoring -> 3.1. Population trends

Additional Data Fields

Distribution
Lower elevation limit (m): 1700

Upper elevation limit (m): 4000

Population
Population severely fragmented: No

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Pudu mephistophiles – published in 2019. 8
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T18847A22163836.en
 The IUCN Red List Partnership

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species
Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership.

The IUCN Red List Partners are: Arizona State University; BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens
Conservation International; Conservation International; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew;
Sapienza University of Rome; Texas A&M University; and Zoological Society of London.

THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™

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