A mountainous 'dwarf'-like creature was seen eating plants in Peru. It's a new type

In the mountains of Peru, a “dwarf”-like creature chews on a bush. The “short-legged” animal had lofty aspirations—or at least intense desires—and would climb a lean-to tree trunk to snack on some raised leaves.

Nearby scientists watched the hairy animal with increasing suspicion that it was a new species. They were right.

Researchers suspected the existence of a species of northern Budo Of dwarf deer That live in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, were actually several species grouped together, according to a study published March 1 in the peer-reviewed journal Mammalogy. They noticed many differences between the northern Bodo people living in northern Peru and those living in southern Peru.

To investigate the matter, the researchers studied dwarf deer specimens preserved in museum collections, the study said. A pattern began to emerge: Some dwarf deer had distinctive orange-brown fur with a slightly different texture.

The researchers realized they had discovered a new species: Pudella carlae, or Peruvian Yungas Pudu.

The Peruvian Yungas podo deer is a dwarf deer, a group of deer named for their “stocky, short-legged” build that stands less than 17 inches tall, the study said. The new species has “coarse, long hair” with an “intense orange-brown” color.

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The photo shows Peruvian Pudo Yungas near some water. Overall, it appears almost pumpkin-colored with dark brown fur on its legs and light brown fur on its face.

The study said that Peruvian Yungas pudu lives in forests in the Andes Mountains between altitudes ranging from 5,900 to 10,800 feet. Deer eat leaves and fruits from shrubs and small trees, and sometimes climb “slanted tree trunks to reach higher leaves and perhaps fruits.”

The researchers said they named the new species after biologist Carla Gazzullo because “her actions helped save the life of (co-author Javier Barrio) after a life-threatening vascular problem.”

The researchers said that the new species' common name refers to the country it lives in and the habitat it prefers.

So far, the Peruvian Pudo Yungas have only been found in parts of northern and central Peru, the study said.

The study said that the new species was identified by its size, color, pattern, fur texture, skull shape, and DNA.

The research team included Javier Barrio, Eliecer y Gutierrez, and Guillermo D'Elia.

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