#bottom/front tree less so but didn't have a redo in me

[crepuscularray]

Deercember Day Twenty: Huemul | Windswept Pines

The huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus)—also known as the south Andean deer, southern guemal, south Andean huemul, southern huemul, or Chilean huemul or güemul—is an endangered species of deer native to the mountains of Argentina and Chile. Along with the taruca, it is one of the two deer in the Hippocamelus genus and ranges across the high mountainsides and cold valleys of the Andes. While it was previously found over much of southwestern South America, the current status of the huemul is critical. Numbers in Argentina were estimated at 350–600, in fragmented groups, as of 2005. The huemul is part of Chile's national coat of arms and is a National Natural Monument since 2006. The huemul is well-adapted to broken, difficult terrain with a stocky build and short legs. Males also have a distinctive black "face mask", which curves into an elongated heart-shape surrounding a forehead of the principal brown colour. Unusually for a dimorphic ungulate, research has shown huemul will congregate in mixed-sex groups, and the length of time spent inter-mixing increases with group size. The farther the animals are from rocky slopes the larger the size of observed groups, suggesting predation rates are lowest on slopes and greatest in open areas such as valley bottoms. This deer ranges across a variety of often difficult habitats. It usually prefers open periglacial scrubland, low bluffs, and other rocky areas, as well as upland forests and forest-borders. One study of coastal fjord populations found males and juveniles preferred periglacial grassland; females were mainly found on bluffs, and fawns exclusively so. More information here.

References: Deer, Trees and Background.