Gray Brocket
Encyclopedia
The Gray Brocket also known as the brown brocket, is a species of brocket deer
from northern Argentina
, Bolivia
, eastern and southern Brazil
, Paraguay
and Uruguay
. It formerly included the Amazonian Brown Brocket
(M. nemorivaga) and sometimes also the Yucatan Brown Brocket
(M. pandora) as subspecies
. Unlike other species of brocket deer in its range, the Gray Brocket normally has a gray-brown pelage. Important to note is that both Mazama gouazoubira and Mazama gouazoupira refer to the same species. The species name came from the gouazoubira of Azara, though it was originally given an alternate spelling. However, the current spelling, Mazama gouazoubira, has been retained as the correct spelling due to the name’s origin.
In comparison to Mazama americana (red brocket deer) grey brockets are smaller and have a straighter back; the latter gives the grey brocket a closer appearance to a typical deer. In comparison to the Mazama nemorivaga, the Amazonian brown brocket, the grey brocket can be differentiated by many characteristics, such as its orange hindquarters, bigger rounded ears, wider auditory bulla
, and smaller eyes.
, Ecuador
, French Guiana
, Guyana
, Peru
, Suriname
, Venezuela
, and San Jose Island in Panama
. A map of their major distribution area shows the countries as well as the major ecological boundaries. Their range starts in the western part of South America
, east of dry areas bordering the Andes Mountains in Bolivia and Argentina. It extends westward all the way to the Atlantic Ocean
. It does not live in the Amazon Rainforest
region, the south of which is the gray brocket’s northern border, and its distribution runs south through all of Uruguay and up to the Entre Rios province of Argentina.
In the Amazon region of Brazil it is replaced by Mazama nemorivaga. M. gouazoubira avoids extremely humid and wet areas, instead preferring to reside in moderate to dry areas that possess some type of woody or brush cover. Though it avoids dense forests, it finds a home at times in the edges of forests.
that chooses what it eats selectively, though it does eat a wide variety of plants. During some periods, the grays brocket may become frugivorous (primarily fruit-eating), but this depends on the season, area, and availability of fruits. Many of the fruits are in dense forests, which it for the most part avoids, but it does find other sources of fruits and also other sources of food. In the dry season they eat the fruit from trees such as Zyzyphus oblongifoia and Caesalpinia paraguariensis
, which produce dry, tough fruits. Other sources of food for the gray brocket include, but are not limited to, cacti and roots. Often they eat leaves and roots to obtain water.
Though gray brockets do not prefer dense forests, they do prefer some type of shelter, generally avoiding completely open areas. It may not live in these completely open areas, but is not opposed to feeding in such areas, especially if cover is nearby. At times they find open agricultural plantations to in which to feed.
periods appear to last around 8 months, and there is post partum estrus. Thus, it is possible for a gray brocket to produce two offspring in one calendar year. After birth, the doe takes care of the fawn until it is weaned, though the time until it is weaned is unknown. During this weaning period, the fawn remains hidden and is fed by the doe. Both the male and female gray brocket reach an age of sexual maturity at around one year.
, defecation
, thrashing, and forehead rubbing. Such scent-marking tactics can be part of a claim on territory if a number of markings are placed within a concentrated area by a single gray brocket.
animals that are seen a majority of the time alone, while commonly seen in pairs as well. It is rare to see them in packs of 4 or more. Unless under cover, they are very shy and nervous when held captive..
Actions to prevent further population decline have been taken, through the implementation of hunting laws and the creation of protected areas. There are a total of 14 national and provincial reserves in Argentina, as well as 7 protected areas in Bolivia to go along with many in Brazil. However, though hunting is illegal in many areas in the gray brocket’s range, bans are not always enforced. In order to prevent population decline in the future, hunting laws need to be enforced, stray dogs from human populations should be controlled, and local village populations should be educated to preserve the gray brocket populations. Also, population studies need to be done to determine the status of the gray brocket in order be better equipped to help it.
Brocket Deer
Brocket deer are the species of deer in the genus Mazama. They are medium to small in size, and are found in the Yucatán Peninsula, Central and South America, and the island of Trinidad. Most species are primarily found in forests. They are superficially similar to the African duikers and the Asian...
from northern Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
, eastern and southern Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
and Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
. It formerly included the Amazonian Brown Brocket
Amazonian brown brocket
The Amazonian brown brocket , also known as the small brown brocket, is a small species of deer that is almost entirely restricted to South America. It is known from Panama The Amazonian brown brocket (Mazama nemorivaga), also known as the small brown brocket, is a small species of deer that is...
(M. nemorivaga) and sometimes also the Yucatan Brown Brocket
Yucatan Brown Brocket
The Yucatan Brown Brocket is a small species of deer native to the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, Belize and Guatemala. While it is found in humid tropical forest like most other brocket deer, the Yucatan Brown Brocket also ranges across arid, relatively open habitats...
(M. pandora) as subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
. Unlike other species of brocket deer in its range, the Gray Brocket normally has a gray-brown pelage. Important to note is that both Mazama gouazoubira and Mazama gouazoupira refer to the same species. The species name came from the gouazoubira of Azara, though it was originally given an alternate spelling. However, the current spelling, Mazama gouazoubira, has been retained as the correct spelling due to the name’s origin.
Physical Description
The coat of a gray brocket can range from grey-brown to dark brown. Lighter, browner coats are seen in those that live in grasslands, whereas grayer, darker colors are more prevalent in forest regions. Significant variation can be seen between individuals of the same population as well. Their tails are white on the bottom, and on their flanks the hair is of a lighter color than that of the rest of the body. The body length of a grey brocket deer can range from 85 to 105 cm, while at the shoulder they typically are 50-65 cm tall. The weight of a grey brocket can range from 8 kg to 25 kg. Male grey brockets do have antlers, ranging in length from 70 cm to 100 cm.In comparison to Mazama americana (red brocket deer) grey brockets are smaller and have a straighter back; the latter gives the grey brocket a closer appearance to a typical deer. In comparison to the Mazama nemorivaga, the Amazonian brown brocket, the grey brocket can be differentiated by many characteristics, such as its orange hindquarters, bigger rounded ears, wider auditory bulla
Auditory bulla
The auditory bulla is a hollow bony structure on the ventral, posterior portion of the skull of placental mammals that encloses parts of the middle and inner ear. In most species, it is formed by the tympanic part of the temporal bone.In extant primates, the structure is found in tarsiers,...
, and smaller eyes.
Distribution and Habitat
The primary countries of residence for Mazama gouazoubira are Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay, though they have been seen in ColombiaColombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, French Guiana
French Guiana
French Guiana is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department located on the northern Atlantic coast of South America. It has borders with two nations, Brazil to the east and south, and Suriname to the west...
, Guyana
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, Suriname
Suriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, and San Jose Island in Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
. A map of their major distribution area shows the countries as well as the major ecological boundaries. Their range starts in the western part of South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, east of dry areas bordering the Andes Mountains in Bolivia and Argentina. It extends westward all the way to the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. It does not live in the Amazon Rainforest
Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon Rainforest , also known in English as Amazonia or the Amazon Jungle, is a moist broadleaf forest that covers most of the Amazon Basin of South America...
region, the south of which is the gray brocket’s northern border, and its distribution runs south through all of Uruguay and up to the Entre Rios province of Argentina.
In the Amazon region of Brazil it is replaced by Mazama nemorivaga. M. gouazoubira avoids extremely humid and wet areas, instead preferring to reside in moderate to dry areas that possess some type of woody or brush cover. Though it avoids dense forests, it finds a home at times in the edges of forests.
Diet
The gray brocket is a herbivoreHerbivore
Herbivores are organisms that are anatomically and physiologically adapted to eat plant-based foods. Herbivory is a form of consumption in which an organism principally eats autotrophs such as plants, algae and photosynthesizing bacteria. More generally, organisms that feed on autotrophs in...
that chooses what it eats selectively, though it does eat a wide variety of plants. During some periods, the grays brocket may become frugivorous (primarily fruit-eating), but this depends on the season, area, and availability of fruits. Many of the fruits are in dense forests, which it for the most part avoids, but it does find other sources of fruits and also other sources of food. In the dry season they eat the fruit from trees such as Zyzyphus oblongifoia and Caesalpinia paraguariensis
Caesalpinia paraguariensis
Caesalpinia paraguariensis is a species of legume in the Fabaceae family.It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
, which produce dry, tough fruits. Other sources of food for the gray brocket include, but are not limited to, cacti and roots. Often they eat leaves and roots to obtain water.
Though gray brockets do not prefer dense forests, they do prefer some type of shelter, generally avoiding completely open areas. It may not live in these completely open areas, but is not opposed to feeding in such areas, especially if cover is nearby. At times they find open agricultural plantations to in which to feed.
Reproduction
Gray brockets give birth to only one offspring at a time, and reproduction does not seem to correlate with the seasons, as they can mate any time of the year. GestationGestation
Gestation is the carrying of an embryo or fetus inside a female viviparous animal. Mammals during pregnancy can have one or more gestations at the same time ....
periods appear to last around 8 months, and there is post partum estrus. Thus, it is possible for a gray brocket to produce two offspring in one calendar year. After birth, the doe takes care of the fawn until it is weaned, though the time until it is weaned is unknown. During this weaning period, the fawn remains hidden and is fed by the doe. Both the male and female gray brocket reach an age of sexual maturity at around one year.
Scent-Marking
Four types of scent-marking have been observed as a means of communication, due to their performance of these behaviors in concurrence with certain postures. These scent-marking behaviors include urinationUrination
Urination, also known as micturition, voiding, peeing, weeing, pissing, and more rarely, emiction, is the ejection of urine from the urinary bladder through the urethra to the outside of the body. In healthy humans the process of urination is under voluntary control...
, defecation
Defecation
Defecation is the final act of digestion by which organisms eliminate solid, semisolid or liquid waste material from the digestive tract via the anus. Waves of muscular contraction known as peristalsis in the walls of the colon move fecal matter through the digestive tract towards the rectum...
, thrashing, and forehead rubbing. Such scent-marking tactics can be part of a claim on territory if a number of markings are placed within a concentrated area by a single gray brocket.
Other Habits
Gray brockets are diurnalDiurnal
Diurnal may refer to:* Diurnal cycle, any pattern that recurs daily** Diurnality, the behavior of animals and plants that are active in the daytime* Diurnal motion, the apparent motion of stars around the Earth...
animals that are seen a majority of the time alone, while commonly seen in pairs as well. It is rare to see them in packs of 4 or more. Unless under cover, they are very shy and nervous when held captive..
Population and Conservation
Though the gray bracket is still abundant in all of its native range, it appears that populations are decreasing due to human infringement on their habitat. Numbers are especially low very near to human settlements. In Argentina, hunting pressures due in part to international expeditions is decreasing the population of gray brackets, along with habitat loss caused by humans. However, in Bolivia the populations are seemingly constant despite having similar hunting pressures. Populations are also decreasing in Brazil and especially in urban areas in Paraguay. The primary motive for hunting gray brockets is not for pest control, as they cause a minimal amount of crop damage. However, hunters can sell the meat from one gray brocket for $15, which could be a potential motivation.Actions to prevent further population decline have been taken, through the implementation of hunting laws and the creation of protected areas. There are a total of 14 national and provincial reserves in Argentina, as well as 7 protected areas in Bolivia to go along with many in Brazil. However, though hunting is illegal in many areas in the gray brocket’s range, bans are not always enforced. In order to prevent population decline in the future, hunting laws need to be enforced, stray dogs from human populations should be controlled, and local village populations should be educated to preserve the gray brocket populations. Also, population studies need to be done to determine the status of the gray brocket in order be better equipped to help it.