The
Maned Wolf
Description
Current Status: The
Maned wolf is now considered endangered throughout most of its natural
range. In both Bolivia and Uruguay it is believed to be extinct, or surviving
in very low numbers. Current information on its status is scarce, but researchers
roughly estimate that there are between 1500 and 2500 alive today.
Name: The
Maned wolf ( Chrysocyon brachyurus )
Physical Profile: 5
ft long, 2.5 ft high at shoulder, tail 18 in, about 50 lbs. Red coat with
long black legs, muzzle and "mane" (patch of long, erect hairs across the
shoulders); white under chin, inside ears and tip of tail. No underfur.
Pups born black with white-tipped tail. Largest canid in South America.
Long legs permit this animal to see well above tall grass.
Two middle toe pads joined at base, allowing foot to spread,
increasing the surface area in contact with marshy ground.
Mane, when held erect, gives the impression of greater
size to other individuals.
Lack of underfur that is typically present in other canids
may help to keep animal from overheating in tropical climates.
Large, erect ears act as heat radiators as well as
sound detectors
Geographical Range: Central
and southern Brazil, Paraguay, northern Argentina, eastern Bolivia and
southeastern Peru.
Habitat: marsh,
grassland and scrub forest.
Diet: omnivorous
opportunist: feeds on small mammals, birds, reptiles and fish as well as
insects and seasonally available fruit.
Lifestyle: 2-5
pups born blind, usually Jun-Sep. Litter is weaned after 15 weeks and pups
mature after about a year. Young are raised in a den made in tall grass
or thickets. Males help to care for young and will regurgitate food for
them in captivity, but little is known of parenting behavior in wild pairs.
Captive life span 12-15 yrs. Usually nocturnal and shy, but will
be active during the day in areas uninhabited by humans. Solitary; territorial
pairs appear to be monogamous, but avoid each other except during the breeding
season. Zoo animals are kept successfully in pairs. The maned wolf
is one of the most distinctive canids in the world. Although it is not
a true wolf, it has an evolutionary history dating back six million years,
to a time when many large canids became extinct in south America. It is
not closely related to any other canid alive today, being the sole member
of the genus Chrysocyon.
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