The Brazilian red brocket probably resembles the other dwarf brockets (M. rufina and M. chunyi) in many aspects of its ecology, and merits detailed study in the field. According to Crespo (cited in Eisenberg in prep.), a single spotted fawn is born between September and February in northeastern Argentina. The habitat in eastern Paraguay is moist forest with an understory of bamboo thickets.There is evidence of an annual cycle of antler growth and casting in the captive animals in Argentina (Chebez and Varela 2001). In Brazil, this cycle apparently does not exist (J.M.B. Duarte pers. comm.). This is the smallest deer species in Brazil, rarely exceeding 15 kg and 45 cm height (Duarte 1996). According to Rossi (2000) the animals have an intense and shiny reddish - chestnut general coloration. The submandibular, maxillary and ventral regions are light brown. The ears are small, somewhat slender and sometimes almost totally hairless. Czernay (1987) describes the hind legs as darker than the forelegs, which are shorter, giving origin to the Brazilian common name (mão-curta = short-hand) (Mikich and Bérnils 2004).