Gray Brocket

Description

The brocket belongs to the deer family but it is smaller. The only difference between males and females is that the males have simple horns without branches that can measure up to 10 cm. The colours vary between a greyish brown and reddish-brown. The lower part of the tail and the belly is whitish. The fawns are a little darker, with white patches on their sides and back. 

Behaviour

They are solitary, although they sometimes live in pairs. The male is territorial and will stake out its territories with secretions from its scent glands, urine and droppings, as well as other visual cues (removing bark from trees with lower incisors). It takes advantage of the cooler hours of the day to be active. Gestation takes around 220 days, after which the mother will give birth to a single fawn, who will be looked after by the mother for eight months. During gestation the female will hide in the vegetation to avoid predators.

Interesting facts

Its predators include the jaguar, the ocelot, the puma and the larger birds of prey. The animal is suffering heavy hunting pressure as its meat and hide are highly prized. Even so, it is not endangered.