The maned wolf is the largest canid of South America. Its markings resemble
those of foxes, but it is not a fox, nor is it a wolf, as it is not closely
related to other canids. It is the only species in the genus Chrysocyon.
This mammal is found in open and semi-open habitats, especially
grasslands with scattered bushes and trees, in south, central-west, and
southeastern Brazil, Paraguay, northern Argentina, Bolivia east and north of the
Andes, and far southeastern Peru. It is very rare in Uruguay, possibly being
displaced completely through loss of habitat. IUCN lists it as near
threatened, while it is considered vulnerable by the Brazilian government.
It is known locally as aguará guazú, or "kalak" by the Toba, lobo de crin, lobo
de los esteros, or lobo colorado, and as lobo-guará in Brazil. It also is called
borochi in Bolivia. Description
The maned wolf bears minor similarities to the red fox, although it belongs to a
different genus. The average adult weighs 23 kg and stands 90 cm tall at
the shoulder, has a head-body length of 100 cm with the tail adding another 45
cm. The maned wolf is the tallest of the
wild canids; its long legs are likely an adaptation to the tall grasslands of its
native habitat. Fur of the maned wolf may be reddish brown to golden orange on
the sides with long, black legs, and a distinctive black mane. The coat is
marked further with a whitish tuft at the tip of the tail and a white "bib"
beneath the throat. The mane is erectile, and typically, is used to
enlarge the wolf's profile when threatened or when displaying
aggression. The maned wolf also is known for the
distinctive odor of its territory markings, which has earned it the
nickname "skunk wolf." Habits
= Hunting and territoriality= Unlike other large canids the maned wolf
does not form packs. It hunts alone, usually between sundown and midnight. It
kills its prey by biting on the neck or back, and shaking the prey violently if
necessary. Monogamous pairs may defend a shared territory of approximately 30
km2, although outside of mating, the individuals may meet seldom. The
territory is crisscrossed by paths that the maned wolves create as they patrol
at night. Several adults may congregate in the presence of a plentiful food
source, for example, a fire-cleared patch of grassland that would leave
small vertebrate prey exposed while foraging.
Both female and male maned wolves use their urine to communicate, e.g. to mark
their hunting paths or the places where they have buried hunted prey. The urine
has a very distinctive odor, which some people liken to hops or cannabis. The
responsible substance very likely is a pyrazine, which also occurs in both
plants. The preferred habitat of the maned wolf include grasslands, scrub
prairies, and forests. = Reproduction=
Their mating season ranges from November to April. Gestation lasts 60 to 65 days
and a litter may have from two to six black-furred pups, each weighing
approximately 450 g. Pups are fully grown when one year old. During that
first year, the pups are known to rely on their parents for food.
= Diet= The maned wolf is omnivorous. It
specializes in small and medium-sized prey, including small mammals, birds,
and even fish, but a large portion of its diet is vegetable matter, including
sugarcane, tubers, and fruit. Traditionally, captive maned wolves were
fed meat-heavy diets, but that caused them to develop bladder stones. Zoo
diets for them now feature fruits and vegetables, as well as meat and dog
chow. = Relations with other species=
The maned wolf participates in symbiotic relationships. It contributes to the
propagation and dissemination of the plants that it feeds on, through
excretion. Often maned wolves defecate on the nests of leafcutter ants. The
ants then use the dung to fertilize their fungus gardens, but they discard
the seeds contained in the dung onto refuse piles just outside their nests.
This process significantly increases the germination rate of the seeds.
The maned wolf is not a common prey species for any predator, although it
may be attacked or killed by feral dogs. An additional threat to the maned wolf
exists from sharing territory with domestic dogs. The maned wolf is
particularly susceptible to infection by the giant kidney worm, a potentially
fatal parasite that also may infect domestic dogs.
= Relations with humans= Generally, the maned wolf is shy and
flees when alarmed, so it poses little direct threat to humans. Popularly, the
maned wolf is thought to have the potential of being a chicken thief. It
once was considered a similar threat to cattle and sheep, although this now is
known to be false. Historically, in a few parts of Brazil,
these animals were hunted down for some body parts, notably the eyes, that were
believed to be good luck charms. Since its classification as a vulnerable
species by the Brazilian government, it has received greater consideration and
protection. They are threatened by habitat loss and
being run over by automobiles. Feral and domestic dogs pass on diseases to them,
and have been known to attack them. The species occurs in several protected
areas, including the national parks of Caraça and Emas in Brazil. The maned
wolf is well represented in captivity and has been bred successfully at a
number of zoos, particularly in Argentina.
Taxonomy Although the maned wolf displays many
fox-like characteristics, it is not closely related to foxes. It lacks the
elliptical pupils found distinctively in foxes. The maned wolf's evolutionary
relationship to the other members of the canid family makes it a unique animal.
Electrophoretic studies did not link Chrysocyon with any of the other living
canids studied. One conclusion of this study is that the maned wolf is the only
species among the large South American canids that survived the late
Pleistocene extinction. Fossils of the maned wolf from the Holocene and the
late Pleistocene have been excavated from the Brazilian Highlands.
A study published in 2003 on the brain anatomy of several canids, placed the
maned wolf together with the Falkland Islands wolf and with pseudo-foxes of
the genus Pseudalopex. One study based on DNA evidence, published in 2009,
showed that the extinct genus Dusicyon, the Falkland Islands wolf and its
mainland relative, was the most closely related species to the maned wolf in
historical times, and that about seven million years ago it shared a common
ancestor with that genus. A 2015 study reported genetic signatures in maned
wolves that are indicative of population expansion followed by contraction and
that took place during Pleistocene interglaciations approximately 24000
years before present. The maned wolf is not closely related to
any other living canid. It is not a fox, wolf, coyote, dog, or jackal, but a
distinct canid. Although based only on morphological similarities, it
previously had been placed in Canis and Vulpes genera. Its closest living
relative is the bush dog and it has a more distant relationship to other South
American canines. Gallery
References External links
ARKive – images and movies of the maned wolf.
Consorte-McCrea, Adriana G. The Maned Wolf in Captivity. Canid News, Vol. 2,
1994. Accessed March 12, 2007. Gorog, Antonia. Chrysocyon brachyurus.
Animal Diversity Web. Accessed March 12, 2007.
Emmons, Louise- [1] The Secret Wolf