Functional limb anatomy in a refugee species: The endangered Patagonian huemul deer (Hippocamelus bisulcus)

Abstract

Early naturalists already considered huemul rare, refuged and a stocky, short-legged mountain deer, 163 years before declared endangered (1972). Anatomically, huemul do not overlap with rock-climbers previously considered analogous, as corroborated in this paper by including additional huemul cases. Assertions that population declines are caused principally via livestock infections remain unfounded. Instead, osteopathology in multiple populations across 1,000 km, affecting 57% among dead and 86% among live specimens, may relate to micronutrient deficiencies. Historically classified a mountain deer, widespread osteopathology, micronutrient deficiencies and lack of recovery qualify huemul as a refugee species. Recovery strategies thus must include repopulating historical distribution sites.