home Treatment and prevention The maned wolf lives in South America. Maned wolf: description, where it lives, photo

The maned wolf lives in South America. Maned wolf: description, where it lives, photo

The animal is not currently on display

A long-legged, big-eared animal of exotic appearance, maned wolf is a relict species that survived the extinction of large South American canids at the end of the Pleistocene.

Taxonomy

Russian name - maned wolf, guara, aguarachai
Latin name- Chrysocyon brachyrus
English name - Maned wolf
Order - carnivores (Carnivora)
Family - canids (Canidae)
Genus - maned wolves (Chrysocyon)

Conservation status of the species

The maned wolf is rare throughout its entire range, the species is listed in the IUCN Red List, and there is a high probability that in the near future the species may fall into one of the endangered categories - IUCN (NT). The maned wolf is also included in the list of species defined by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora - CITES II.

Species and man

The maned wolf is not dangerous to humans, but since this animal sometimes carries away poultry and can attack a lamb or piglet, people chase it. The main reason for the decrease in the number of wolves is the reduction, and sometimes almost disappearance, of natural biotopes. Currently, almost all of the most suitable savannah for maned wolves has been plowed and planted with various agricultural crops. Animals are forced to enter cultivated fields, where they can find food for themselves, but there are no quiet places to give birth and raise offspring, and encounters with humans are inevitable.

A relict species that survived the extinction of South American canids at the end of the Pleistocene

Distribution and habitats

The maned wolf is a resident of South America; its range covers the Brazilian Highlands, almost repeating its outline. The northern border of the range runs near the mouth of the river. Parnaiba in Brazil to the spurs of the highlands in eastern Bolivia, in the south the range extends into Paraguay and the state of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil).

The maned wolf inhabits mainly open grassy and shrubby savannas. It can be found on hilly plains and along the edges of swamps covered with tall grass. The maned wolf avoids mountains and rain forests. Rare throughout its entire range.

Appearance and morphology

The maned wolf has a unique appearance and cannot be confused with anyone else. This largest representative of the canids, when lying down, looks like a fox with large ears, but as soon as it stands up, it is immediately clear that it belongs to a different genus. His body is quite short (125–130 cm), his legs are very long (height at withers 74–87 cm); and it weighs only 20–23 kg. The disproportion of the physique is further emphasized by the huge ears and short (28–45 cm) tail, as well as the elongated muzzle: the length of its skull is 21–24 cm.

The color of the long, rather soft coat is also original: its overall color is red, but the legs and underside of the body are much darker, almost black, while the tail is light, almost white towards the end. It goes from the top of the head to the middle of the back black line. The hair on the nape and upper part of the neck is longer (up to 13 cm) and thick and forms a mane that stands on end and visually increases the size of the animal when it is alarmed or aggressive.

The maned wolf is not considered a good runner, despite long legs. Apparently, they are an evolutionary adaptation that allows them to view their surroundings from above. tall grass. It is noteworthy that the puppies of these animals are born with short legs, and the increase in limb length is due to the growth of the bones of the lower leg and metatarsus.

Lifestyle and social organization

Maned wolves are nocturnal and crepuscular; During the day they usually rest among dense vegetation, occasionally moving to short distances. Males are more active than females.

basis social structure Maned wolves have a mating pair that occupies one home range (about 27 km²), but is otherwise quite independent. The male and female rest, hunt and travel separately. The boundaries of the site are guarded against wandering males and are marked by urine and feces left in certain places.

In captivity, the relationship between male and female is closer; they feed and sleep together. Males living in the same enclosure establish hierarchical relationships.

Vocalization

Maned wolves are not very talkative, but just after sunset you can hear the deep throaty bark that the males make. By grumbling they drive away rivals, and with long loud howls, wolves separated by a large distance communicate with each other.

Nutrition and feeding behavior

The diet of the maned wolf contains both animal and plant foods in almost equal proportions. He hunts mainly small animals: mouse-like rodents, agouti, pacu, rabbits, armadillos. It also eats birds and their eggs, reptiles, snails and insects. On occasion, the maned wolf attacks poultry, and occasionally can carry away a newborn lamb or piglet.

These animals feed alone. Long legs help to see prey over tall grass, and huge ears help to hear it in the twilight. Often, in order to look around, animals stand on their hind legs.

Reproduction and raising offspring

The characteristics of the reproductive behavior of maned wolves in nature have been poorly studied. The data available in the literature are mainly based on observations of animals in zoos and nurseries. They are known to be monogamous. The couple occupies a common territory, the boundaries of which are marked by both partners. The onset of the only mating season of the year is obviously controlled by photoperiod (changes in the duration of light and dark time of day) - in captivity, maned wolves mate in October-February in the Northern Hemisphere and in August-October in South America.

In natural habitats, cubs are born during the dry period - in June-September. The female makes a shelter in dense vegetation. There are from 1 to 7 puppies in a litter, usually 2–3, weighing 340–430 g. Their color at this time is almost black, only the tip of the tail is white. Maned wolf puppies develop quickly, their eyes open on the 9th day, and already on the 4th week they begin to eat food regurgitated by their mother. The cubs continue to receive mother's milk until they are 4 months old. The color of the coat also changes - at 10–11 weeks they turn from dark gray to red. By the age of one year, young maned wolves become adults and leave their parental territory.

Nothing is known about the participation of the father in raising the brood in nature; in zoos, male maned wolves often turn out to be caring parents - they feed and protect their puppies.

Lifespan

Nothing is known about the lifespan of maned wolves in nature; in zoos they live up to 12–15 years.

Keeping animals at the Moscow Zoo

Maned wolves have been kept at the Moscow Zoo for the past 30 years.

Repeatedly they brought offspring, the wolf cubs went to many zoos. In 2017, a young female came to the Moscow Zoo from the Czech Republic.

Name: maned wolf, maned wolf, guara, aguarachai.
Translated from Greek name animal means "short-tailed golden dog." Genetic analysis helped establish that the maned wolf is a unique animal that cannot be classified as either a wolf or a fox.

Area: Resident of South America. The maned wolf in the north is distributed from the mouth of the Parnaiba River (northeast Brazil) to eastern regions Bolivia; in the south, the range includes Paraguay and the state of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil). Previously, it was also found in the southeast of Peru, in Uruguay and in the north of Argentina (up to 30° N), but in these areas it apparently became extinct.

Description: The maned wolf is one of the most unusual wolves. It is similar to the common fox, but only extremely long, thin and slender legs. Thanks to the elongated muzzle and elongated neck, its body appears short. His chest is flat. The disproportion of the wolf's physique is emphasized by large erect ears and a short tail. The hair is tall, thick and quite soft, with a brownish-red tint. There are dark spots on the wolf's paws and face, the end of the tail and the bottom of the muzzle are of a lighter tone. The fur around the neck is noticeably longer (up to 13 cm) and grows thick, like a mane. When a wolf is alarmed or aggressive, the “mane” stands on end and visually increases the size of the animal. Previously it was assumed that the maned wolf's long legs were needed for running, but now another explanation has been given - they help him survey the surroundings while in tall grass.
Like most canids, the maned wolf has 42 teeth.
Despite the external resemblance to foxes, the maned wolf is not their close relative. In particular, it lacks the vertical pupil characteristic of foxes. His kinship with his family Dusicyon also proved controversial. Apparently, it is a relict species that survived the extinction of large South American canids at the end of the Pleistocene.

Color: The color of the long and rather soft coat is yellowish-red, but the legs and undersides are much darker, almost black, while the tail is very light. Its color is dominated by reddish, yellow and brown tones. The lower abdomen is lighter. A black stripe stretched from the top of the head to the middle of the back. The paws are “shod” in black boots: on the front paws they reach almost to the chest, on the hind paws - to the ankle joint. The throat and tip of the tail are white. The muzzle is black.

Size: Body length approximately 115-125 cm, tail about 30 cm, shoulder height up to 75 cm, skull length: 20.9-24.3 cm.

Weight: 20-23 kg.

Lifespan: Unknown in nature, but in captivity lives up to 12-15 years.

Voice: Vocally, maned wolves have a rich repertoire. Where these wolves are found, loud cries of “Waah... waah” are heard from time to time. They are interspersed with short quiet sounds "ay... ow". It is obvious that with the help of these exclamations (“Waah-ay... waah-ay”) animals separated by a considerable distance communicate with each other. In addition, you can hear the deep throaty bark that animals make just after sunset, the subtle whining of puppies, as well as the dull grunt that wolves use to ward off trespassers.

Habitat: The maned wolf inhabits open grassy and shrubby plains (pampas), forest edges and the edges of swamps covered with tall grass. It is not found in mountains or rain forests.

Enemies: The main enemy is man. The species is also susceptible to diseases, in particular parvovirus infection (distemper).

Behavior: The life of maned wolves in nature has not been sufficiently studied, but there are many observations of the life of these animals in zoos.
This species is nocturnal, but can go hunting at dusk. During the day, the animals usually rest among dense vegetation, occasionally moving short distances. Males are more active than females.
A pair of maned wolves occupies an area of about 27 km 2. The couple marks the boundaries of the area with urine and feces. The male and female do not sleep together; they also hunt separately. In captivity, the relationship between a male and a female is closer - they jointly raise their offspring.
The maned wolf grabs its prey and immediately swallows it, since its jaws are weak and it is not easy for it to chew the prey, which is why it feeds mainly on small animals.
Long legs allow the maned wolf to easily make his way through tall grass and spot prey from afar. Research has shown that this wolf has especially strongly elongated shins and metatarsals. The structure of the legs of this predator resembles the limbs of a cheetah. There is no exact information about the running speed of the maned wolf, but we can confidently say that he is neither a sprinter nor a stayer. In addition, the volume of its heart and lungs is very small, so local residents easily overtake these portages on horses and catch them with a lasso, and also poison them with dogs.

Social structure: Maned wolves do not live in packs; most often they roam alone, only forming pairs during the mating season. The basis of the social structure of maned wolves is a mating pair, which occupies one home site (about 25-30 km 2), but is otherwise quite independent. In captivity, babies, being in a group, begin to establish a hierarchy at the age of one month.

Reproduction: Maned wolves are monogamous, and their reproductive cycle is poorly understood. Offensive mating season, apparently, is controlled by photoperiod - in captivity, maned wolves mate in October-February in the Northern Hemisphere and in August-October in South America. Females come into estrus once a year and last from 1 to 5 days. Mating lasts about ten minutes. The female gives birth to 2-3 (4) cubs in a den built in a rocky cave or dense grass. The maned wolf itself does not dig holes. It is unknown if the puppies are being cared for by their father.

Breeding season/period: The breeding season of the maned wolf is between December and June. Puppies are born in winter.

Puberty: Young maned wolves reach sexual maturity at the age of one year, and begin breeding at the age of two.

Pregnancy: Lasts from 56 to 66 days, with an average of 63 days.

Offspring: Puppies are initially dark grey, almost black, with a white tip of the tail. Newborn puppies weigh 340-430 g and develop quickly. The eyes open on the 9th day, and already on the 4th week the ears become vertical and the puppies begin to eat food regurgitated by the mother. At the age of 10 weeks, babies turn red. They have short legs - unlike their parents - they will stretch out later. For the first 10 months, puppies eat regurgitated food brought to them by their parents.

Benefit/harm for humans: Maned wolves are hunted as pests, although their skin and meat are not used. Some local residents endow certain parts of the wolf's body (eyes, skin, tail) with mystical qualities, which are used as a “talisman” or for making medicines.
Deforestation for plowing has a rather beneficial effect on this species, since it increases the area of places suitable for its habitat. However, maned wolves are not found on intensively used agricultural land.

Population/Conservation Status: Maned wolves are endangered animals. There are less than 2,000 left in Brazil.
Population density is low, for example, in Brazil in 1964-1967. over an area of 650,000 km2, one animal was found on approximately 300 km2.

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Who is this? What kind of unknown animal is this? And I’ll tell you now...

We have already read Interesting Facts about ordinary wolves. Let's now look at the Brazilian ones :-) They are very unusual! Maned or maned wolf or guar, aguarachay (lat. Chrysocyon brachyurus), refers to predatory mammals, the canine family.

Translated from Greek, the name of the animal means “short-tailed golden dog.” Genetic analysis helped establish that the maned wolf is a unique animal that cannot be classified as either a wolf or a fox. Other names: guara, aguarachai

South American. The maned wolf in the north is distributed from the mouth of the Parnaiba River (northeast Brazil) to the eastern regions of Bolivia; in the south, the range includes Paraguay and the state of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil). Previously, it was also found in the southeast of Peru, in Uruguay and in the north of Argentina (up to 30° N), but in these areas it apparently became extinct.

The maned wolf is one of the most unusual wolves. He looks like common fox, but only on extremely long, thin and slender legs. Thanks to the elongated muzzle and elongated neck, its body appears short. His chest is flat. The disproportionality of the physique is emphasized by large erect ears and a short tail. The hairline is tall, thick and quite soft. It has a brownish-red hue, there are dark spots on the paws and muzzle, the end of the tail and the bottom of the muzzle are of a lighter tone. The hair around the neck is noticeably longer (up to 13 cm) and grows thicker, like a mane. It stands on end and visually increases the size of the animal when it is alarmed or aggressive.

It was previously assumed that the maned wolf's long legs are needed for running, but now another explanation has been given - they help him survey the surroundings while in tall grass.

Like most canids, the maned wolf has 42 teeth.

Despite the external resemblance to foxes, the maned wolf is not their close relative. In particular, it lacks the vertical pupil characteristic of foxes. Its relationship to the genus Dusicyon (Falkland fox) has also proven controversial. Apparently, it is a relict species that survived the extinction of large South American canids at the end of the Pleistocene.

Color: The color of the long, rather soft coat is yellowish-red, but the legs and undersides are much darker, almost black, while the tail is very light, towards the end white. Its color is dominated by reddish, yellow and brown tones. The underbelly is lighter. A black stripe stretched from the top of the head to the middle of the back. The paws are “shod” in black boots: on the front paws they reach almost to the chest, on the hind paws - to the ankle joint. The throat and tip of the tail are white. The animal's muzzle is black.

body length approximately 115-125 cm, tail about 30 cm, shoulder height up to 75 cm, skull length: 20.9-24.3 cm.

Weight: - 20-23 kg (44-5.6 lbs)

Lifespan: Lifespan in nature is unknown; in captivity they live up to 12-15 years.

Voice: Vocally, maned wolves have a rich repertoire. Where there are maned wolves, loud cries of “Waah... waah” are heard from time to time. They are interspersed with short, quiet sounds “ay... ay.” It is obvious that with the help of these exclamations (“Waah-au... waah-au”) animals separated by a considerable distance communicate with each other. In addition, you can hear: the deep throaty bark that animals emit just after sunset, the subtle whining of puppies, as well as the dull grunt that maned wolves use to drive away trespassers.

Habitat: The maned wolf inhabits open grassy and shrubby plains (pampas), forest edges and the edges of swamps covered with tall grass. It is not found in mountains or rain forests.

Enemies: The main enemy is man. They are also susceptible to diseases, particularly parvovirus infection (distemper).

The diet of the maned wolf contains food of both plant and animal origin in almost equal proportions. The animal hunts mainly small animals: rodents (agouti, paca, tuco-tuco), rabbits, armadillos, as well as birds and their eggs, reptiles, snails and insects. On occasion, it attacks poultry, which makes the maned wolf the sworn enemy of poultry farmers. Very rarely, during a food shortage, when gathered in a group, it can attack a lamb or piglet. He avoids other farm animals. Maned wolves do not attack people.

How does a maned wolf get rodents that hide in the ground? long paws not adapted for tearing holes? Apparently, it hunts small prey from ambush. Movable large ears also help in detecting prey, allowing animals to be heard in thick and tall grass. At the same time, the maned wolf knocks on the ground with his front paw to scare away the prey and immediately rushes to catch it.

The life of maned wolves in nature has not been studied enough, but there are many observations of the life of these animals in zoos.

Maned wolves are nocturnal, but can hunt at dusk; During the day they usually rest among dense vegetation, occasionally moving short distances. Males are more active than females.

A pair of maned wolves occupies an area of about 27 sq. km. The couple marks its boundaries with urine and feces. The male and female do not sleep together; they also hunt separately. In captivity, the relationship between male and female is closer; they jointly raise offspring. Males are more active than females. IN daytime they rest in dense vegetation.

The maned wolf grabs his prey and immediately swallows it, since his jaws are weak, not at all like those of a bulldog, and it is not easy for him to chew the victim. Therefore, it feeds mainly on small animals.

Its long legs allow it to easily make its way through tall grass and spot prey from afar. Apparently, the long legs of the maned wolf are the result of the species’ adaptation to life in conditions of tall grass. Studies have shown that the maned wolf has especially strongly elongated shins and metatarsals. The structure of the legs of this animal resembles those of a cheetah. There is no exact information about the running speed of the maned wolf, but we can confidently say that these animals are neither sprinters nor stayers. In addition, the volume of the heart and lungs is very small, so the inhabitants of South America easily overtake them on horseback and catch them with a lasso, and also poison them with dogs.

Social structure: Maned wolves do not live in packs; most often they roam alone, only in the mating season they walk in pairs. The basis of the social structure of maned wolves is a mating pair, which occupies one home range (about 25-30 km?), but is otherwise quite independent. The male and female rest, hunt and travel separately. The boundaries of the site are guarded against wandering males and are marked by urine and feces left in certain places. In captivity, babies, being in a group, begin to establish a hierarchy at the age of one month.

Reproduction: Maned wolves are monogamous, and their reproductive cycle is poorly understood. The onset of the mating season is apparently controlled by photoperiod - in captivity, maned wolves mate in October-February in the Northern Hemisphere and in August-October in South America. Females come into estrus once a year and last from 1 to 5 days. Mating lasts about ten minutes. The female gives birth to 2-3 (4) cubs after making a den in a rocky cave or in dense grass. The maned wolf himself does not dig holes. It is unknown if their father cares for them.

In captivity, the relationship between male and female is closer, they feed and sleep together; males in captivity show care for their offspring by guarding and feeding the pups. Males in captivity establish hierarchical relationships.

Breeding Season/Period: The breeding season of the maned wolf is between December and June. Cubs are born in winter.

Puberty: Young maned wolves reach sexual maturity in one year; They begin breeding at the age of two.

Pregnancy: Pregnancy ranges from 56 to 66 days, with an average of 63 days.

Offspring: Puppies are initially dark gray, almost black, with a white tip of the tail. Puppies at birth weigh 340-430 g and develop quickly. Their eyes open on the 9th day, and already on the 4th week their ears become vertical and they begin to eat food regurgitated by their mother. At the age of 10 weeks, babies turn red. They have short legs - unlike their parents: they will stretch out later. For the first 10 months, puppies eat regurgitated food brought to them by their parents.

Maned wolves are hunted as pests, although their skin and meat are not used. Some local residents endow certain parts of the wolf's body (eyes, skin, tail) with mystical qualities, which are used as a “talisman” or for making medicines.

Deforestation for plowing has a rather beneficial effect on this species, since it increases the area of places suitable for its habitat. However, maned wolves are not found on intensively used agricultural land.

Maned wolves are endangered animals. There are less than 2,000 left in Brazil.

The maned wolf population density is low. So, in Brazil in 1964-1967. over an area of 650,000 km?, 1 animal was found in approximately 300 km

The maned wolf or guara or aguarachai is a predatory mammal of the canine family. The only representative of the genus Chrysocyon.

Habitat of the maned wolf

Maned wolves are common in South America. In the north from the mouth of the Parnaiba River (northeast Brazil) to the eastern regions of Bolivia. In the south, the range includes Paraguay and the state of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil). Previously, it was also found in the southeast of Peru, in Uruguay and in the north of Argentina (up to 30° N), but in these areas it apparently became extinct.

The maned wolf inhabits open grassy and shrubby plains (pampas), forest edges and the edges of swamps covered with tall grass. It is not found in mountains or rain forests.

Appearance of a maned wolf

The largest member of the canine family in South America, the maned wolf has a unique appearance. He looks more like a large fox on tall, slender legs than a wolf. His body is quite short (125-130 cm). The legs are very high (height at withers 74-87 cm). A maned wolf weighs 20-23 kg. The disproportion of the physique is further emphasized by high ears and a short (28-45 cm) tail, as well as an elongated muzzle: the length of its skull is 21-24 cm.

The long legs of the maned wolf appear to be an evolutionary adaptation to its habitat - grassy plains - they help the wolf survey the surroundings while moving in the tall grass.

The hair of this wolf is high and quite soft. The general color is yellowish-red, the chin and end of the tail are light. There is a black stripe from the top of the head to the middle of the back. Legs are dark. There are dark spots on the face. The hair on the nape and upper part of the neck is longer (up to 13 cm) and thick and forms a mane that stands on end and visually increases the size of the animal when it is alarmed or aggressive.

Like most canids, the maned wolf has 42 teeth.

Lifestyle of a maned wolf

Maned wolves lead a nocturnal and crepuscular lifestyle. During the day they usually rest among dense vegetation, occasionally moving short distances. Males are more active than females. The basis of the social structure of maned wolves is the mating pair, which occupies one home range (about 27 km²), but is otherwise quite independent. The male and female rest, hunt and travel separately. The boundaries of the site are guarded against wandering males and are marked by urine and feces left in certain places. In captivity, the relationship between a male and a female is closer - they feed and sleep together (males in captivity show care for their offspring by guarding and feeding wolf cubs). Also, males in captivity establish hierarchical relationships.

The maned wolf is extremely rare, this is due to the small population of this animal.

Diet of the maned wolf

Maned wolves feed on birds, small rodents (agouti, paca, tuco-tuco), reptiles, rabbits, armadillos, and bird eggs.

How does a maned wolf get rodents that hide in the ground, because its long paws are not suitable for tearing holes? Apparently, it hunts small prey from ambush. Movable large ears also help in detecting prey, allowing animals to be heard in thick and tall grass. At the same time, the maned wolf knocks on the ground with his front paw to scare away the prey and immediately rushes to catch it.

On occasion, it attacks poultry, which makes the maned wolf the sworn enemy of poultry farmers. Very rarely, during a food shortage, when gathered in a group, it can attack a lamb or piglet. He avoids other farm animals. Maned wolves do not attack people.

The maned wolf grabs its prey and immediately swallows it, since its jaws are weak and it is not easy for it to chew the victim. Therefore, it feeds mainly on small animals.

Reproduction of the maned wolf

The maned wolf enters reproductive age at one year. Pregnancy lasts about two months. The litter ranges from one to seven wolf cubs. The cubs are born dark in color and gradually become red. The weight of newborn cubs is barely 350 grams. What is noteworthy is that wolf cubs are born with short legs; their legs lengthen as they grow up. The increase in leg length is due to the growth of the tibia and metatarsus (like in cheetahs), but maned wolves cannot be called good runners.

The wolf cubs' eyes appear in nine days; after three to four weeks they become practically independent and can feed not only on milk.

The maned or maned wolf or guar, aguarachai (lat. Chrysocyon brachyurus), belongs to carnivorous mammals of the canine family.
Translated from Greek, the name of the animal means “short-tailed golden dog.”

In South America, the maned wolf is major representative family with an unusual appearance that makes him look like a fox.
Genetic analysis helped establish that the maned wolf is a unique animal that cannot be classified as either a wolf or a fox.

Habitat: The maned wolf inhabits open grassy and shrubby plains (pampas), forest edges and the edges of swamps covered with tall grass. It is not found in mountains or rain forests.
Also found in Brazilian campos, in Mato Grosso (on the edges of forests and in dry savannas), in Northern Paraguay on the hilly plains. The maned wolf is not found in rain forests and mountains.

The maned wolf is one of the most unusual wolves. It looks like an ordinary fox, but only with extremely long, thin and slender legs.
The long legs of the wolf are the result of evolution in matters of adaptation to the habitat; they help the animal to overcome obstacles in the form of tall grass growing on the plains and to survey the surroundings while in the tall grass.
.

The height of the wolf at the withers is 74-87 cm, body length is 125-130 cm, weight is 20-23 kg. The elongated muzzle, short tail and high ears emphasize the external disproportion of the animal
Tall and soft hairline The wolf has a yellowish-red color, the tip of the tail and chin are light. There is a dark stripe from the head to approximately the middle of the back.

The wolf's limbs are dark in color, and dark spots can also be found on the face. The lower abdomen is lighter.
The paws are “shod” in black boots: on the front paws they reach almost to the chest, on the hind paws - to the ankle joint

On the top of the neck and on the scruff of the neck there is long hair that forms a mane. In an excited or aggressive state, the hair on the mane stands on end, which gives the animal a frightening appearance and visually increases the size of the animal.
Thanks to the elongated muzzle and elongated neck, its body appears short. His chest is flat. The disproportion of the wolf's physique is emphasized by large erect ears and a short tail. Like most canids, the maned wolf has 42 teeth.

Despite the external resemblance to foxes, the maned wolf is not their close relative. In particular, it lacks the vertical pupil characteristic of foxes. Apparently, it is a relict species that survived the extinction of large South American canids at the end of the Pleistocene.

The maned wolf's lifestyle is nocturnal; during the day it rests in the thick grass and gains strength before the upcoming hunt. Males are more active than females. Wolves live in pairs, occupying about 27 km², the boundaries of the territory of one pair are marked by urine and feces. However, wolves hunt and rest alone. In captivity, the connection between members of a pair is closer: animals take care of the offspring together, males protect and feed the cubs and occupy a higher level of hierarchy compared to females.

Tubers and roots of various plants can also be eaten.
The maned wolf grabs its prey and immediately swallows it, since its jaws are weak and it is not easy for it to chew the prey, which is why it feeds mainly on small animals.

The animal hunts mainly animals: rodents (agouti, paca, tuco-tuco), rabbits, armadillos, as well as birds and their eggs, reptiles, snails and insects.
When hunting rodents, the maned wolf apparently hunts from ambush. Its large, movable ears also help in detecting prey, allowing it to hear animals in thick and tall grass. At the same time, the maned wolf knocks on the ground with its front paw to scare away the prey and immediately rushes to catch it.

The sounds made by the maned wolf are different. You can hear the deep throaty bark that animals make just after sunset, the subtle whining of puppies, and the dull grunts that wolves use to ward off trespassers.
Vocally, maned wolves have a rich repertoire. Where these wolves are found, loud cries of “Waah... waah” are heard from time to time. They are interspersed with short quiet sounds "ay... ow". It is obvious that with the help of these exclamations (“Waah-ay... waah-ay”) animals separated by a considerable distance communicate with each other.

: The life of maned wolves in nature has not been sufficiently studied, but there are many observations of the life of these animals in zoos.
This species is nocturnal, but can go hunting at dusk. During the day, the animals usually rest among dense vegetation, occasionally moving short distances. Males are more active than females.
Long legs allow the maned wolf to easily make his way through tall grass and notice prey from afar. The structure of the legs of this predator resembles the limbs of a cheetah.

The main enemy is man
These wolves do not attack people.
People do not use the skin and meat of the maned wolf, but they hunt the wolf as a pest. Deforestation and plowing of the territory leads to an increase in the area for the wolf to live, but it is not found in improved areas.
There is no exact information about the running speed of the maned wolf, but we can confidently say that he is neither a sprinter nor a stayer. In addition, the volume of its heart and lungs is very small, so local residents easily overtake these portages on horses and catch them with a lasso, and also poison them with dogs.

Some local residents endow certain parts of the wolf's body (eyes, skin, tail) with mystical qualities, which are used as a “talisman” or for making medicines.
Maned wolves are endangered animals. There are less than 2,000 left in Brazil.
The smell of a maned wolf is so unpleasant that it can scare away the bravest... another maned wolf. However, drug addicts love golden dogs and often approach them in zoos to sniff them. After all, their smell is reminiscent of the aroma of cannabis.
By the way, this is exactly how cunning police often catch weed smokers - near cages with maned wolves.
If necessary, a maned wolf can attack poultry, a small piglet or a lamb.

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