Reasons why huemul is not a mountain deer, and is not tied to mountains.
I. early explorers in their narratives simply made unfounded statements:
“huemul are like ibex or chamois” Read more...
II. The only study claiming huemul as a “Mountain Deer” (Kurten 1975, 1979) has been disqualified by others on several accounts Read more...
III. Huemul were considered a mountain deer, because they were seen in high mountains,
and some appeared thick-
IV. Bone measurements are the standard way to compare leg structure and function of different species. The only comparative study, yet unpublished, refutes these claimed resemblance Read more...
V. Huemul even in the recent past still occurred far from the Andes. Read more, including photos...
VI. A few current sites still containing huemul are not Andean high country see photos
VII. Huemul killed by puma, its only predator, are located mostly far from cliffs, rocks, or steep mountains, and often occur in flat terrain.
VIII. Many other ungulates do well in Andean habitat where huemul mainly survive now, and none of these are consider mountain specialist:
Cattle, (ranched and feral), sheep, red deer, horses, wild boar, goats, guanaco Read more on livestock...