It is actually one of the most evolutionarily distinct canids still alive today. The maned wolf, however, is neither maned nor a wolf. Sharing a name with a much more common canid (the wolf) doesn’t help either. However, it chosen habitat – scrubby South American savanna that doesn’t get much screen time up here in the northern hemisphere – keeps the “fox on stilts” relatively obscure. Given this goofy set of traits, you would think that everyone would know about the maned wolf ( Chrysocyon brachyurus). Its pee smells like marijuana, and its only vocalization is an unmistakable “bark-roar.” Its stilt-like legs and satellite-dish ears help it find its meatier prey in the tall grasses of the South American savanna, where it lives a solitary existence for much of the year. The current population of Maned Wolves is estimated at approximately 17,000 mature individuals, with the majority of the population (>90%) in Brazil.The tallest canid in the world weighs only half as much as a timber wolf, bears an uncanny resemblance to a fox, and has a healthy appetite for fruit.Other threats include: human persecution due to livestock losses and cultural beliefs increasing vehicular traffic in highways resulting in road kills.Habitat destruction by agricultural development is the primary threat to Maned wolves.The Maned Wolf is listed as Near Threatened in its native range by the IUCN.They do not howl, but instead emit loud barks or roar barks to let their mate know where they are, and to warn other wolves to stay away.The Maned wolves upper carnassial (shearing teeth) are reduced, its upper incisors weak, and its canines are long and slender.Maned wolf urine has a powerful aroma, reminding many humans of the way skunks smell.It is the only member of its genus, Chrysocyon. Genetic studies show that it is neither fox nor true wolf, but a distinct species. It looks more like a long-legged fox than a wolf. The Maned wolf is the largest canid of South America.Urine and feces, deposited regularly in particular spots, may serve to mark territories.They hunt, travel, and rest solitarily, and are only closely associated during the breeding season. Mated pairs share permanent home range and remain fairly independent of one another.Maned wolves are primarily cre pus cu lar to nocturnal.They eat seasonally abundant fruits and vegetables as well as small mammals such as rodents, rabbits and insects. Native habitat: Maned wolves are omnivorous eaters and primarily solitary hunters.Their eyes and ears open by day nine, their ears stand upright and they will take regurgitated food by week four, the pelage changes from black to red by week 10, they are weaned by 15 weeks, and their bodies have the proportions of adults at one year, at which time they reach sexual maturity.A litter usually can contain one to five young, but average about two.Gestation is similar to that of other canids and lasts approximately 65 days.The male and female are known to share a territory, but are generally solitary and only come in contact during mating season.Maned Wolves live in monogamous pairs sharing a territory.Maned wolves have a thick red coat, long black legs, and tall, erect ears.Young are born weighing 340 to 430 grams and develop quickly.
Maned wolves live in the South American grasslands and scrub forests (Cerrado) of Brazil, northern Argentina, Paraguay, eastern Bolivia and southeastern Peru.
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