Mammal · GBIF taxon 5220122
Mazama rufina
Mazama rufinaAlso known as Ecuador Red Brocket, Swamp Brocket
These diminutive solitary deer navigate steep Andean slopes under dense cloud-forest canopies, slipping through thick bamboo thickets with quiet precision. When startled, they freeze completely motionless or dive headfirst into dense cover rather than bounding across open terrain. Males sport tiny, unbranched spike antlers that rarely exceed several centimeters, an ideal adaptation for weaving swiftly through tangled subalpine growth.
HerbivoreElusiveMontane
Licensed referenceT-34-85 / CC0 · cc0
—observations
—countries
—peak records
VulnerableConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXVulnerableRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Fallen Fruit
- Shrub Leaves
- Wild Fungi
Predators
- Puma
- Spectacled Bear
- Feral Dog
ThreatsAgricultural encroachment, cattle grazing, deforestation, and hunting
HabitatsHigh-altitude Andean cloud forests, elfin forests, and páramo shrublands
Life span7–12 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyCervidae
- SpeciesMazama rufina
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Look for a rich reddish-brown body sharply contrasted by black legs, a dark face and crown, and an exceptionally small stature.
- Support conservation
- Maintain a respectful distance using binoculars and stay on marked paths to avoid damaging delicate páramo vegetation.
Responsible observation
- Timing: Search forest edges and páramo ecotones at dawn or dusk when browsing activity peaks.
- Tracking: Look for miniature two-toed hoofprints along muddy subalpine trails beneath dwarf bamboo.
Image unavailableEcological Competitor 
Predator National Park Service / Public domain · cc0
Frequent Companion Wilfredor / CC0 · cc0
Close Relative (c) B. Phalan, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by B. Phalan · cc-by
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