Maned Wolf Totally Explained

Everything about The Maned Wolf totally explained

The Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) is the largest canid of South America, resembling a big fox with reddish fur.
This mammal is found in open and semi-open habitats, especially grasslands with scattered bushes and trees, in south-eastern Brazil (Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Goiás and São Paulo), Paraguay, northern Argentina, Bolivia east of the Andes, and Peru. It formerly occurred in Uruguay. IUCN lists it as near threatened, The long legs are probably an adaptation to the tall grasslands of its native habitat.
The Maned Wolf's fur is reddish brown to golden orange on the sides, with long, black legs and a distinctive black mane. The coat is further marked with a whitish tuft at the tip of the tail and a white "bib" beneath the throat. The mane is erectile, and is typically used to enlarge the wolf's profile when threatened or when displaying aggression.

Habits

Hunting and territoriality

Unlike other large canids (such as the Gray Wolf, the African Hunting Dog, or the Dhole) the Maned Wolf doesn't form packs. Monogamous pairs may defend a shared territory of about, though the wolves themselves may seldom meet, outside of mating. The territory is criscrossed by paths that the wolves create as they patrol at night. Several adults may congregate in the presence of a plentiful food source; a fire-cleared patch of grassland, for example, which would leave small vertebrate prey exposed to foraging wolves.
Both male and female Maned Wolves use their urine to communicate, for example to mark their hunting paths, or the places where they've buried hunted prey.)

Reproduction

The mating season ranges from November to February. Gestation lasts 60 to 65 days, and a litter may have up to 2 to 6 black-furred pups, each weighing about .. Captive Maned Wolves were traditionally fed meat-heavy diets and develop bladder stones. Zoo diets now feature fruits and vegetables, as well as meat and dog chow.

Relations with other species

The Maned Wolf participates in symbiotic relationships with the plants that it feeds on, as it carries the seeds of various plants, and often defecates on the nests of leafcutter ants. The ants then use the dung to fertilize their fungus gardens, and later discard the seeds onto refuse piles just outside their nest. This process significantly increases the germination rate of the seeds. The wolf is particularly susceptible to renal nematode infections, a potentially fatal parasite. The Maned Wolf isn't a true, common prey species for any other predator, though it may be attacked or killed by feral domestic dogs. The Cougar is a potential competitor.

Relations with humans

The Maned Wolf is said to be a potential chicken thief; it was once also considered a threat to cattle and sheep, though this is now known to be false. In Brazil, the animal was historically hunted down for some body parts, notably the eyes, that were believed to be good luck charms. However, as it's now classified as vulnerable by the Brazilian government, it's afforded protection from poachers. Wolves are also threatened by habitat loss and being run over by cars. Wolves risk both physical harm and catching diseases from domestic dogs. The Maned Wolf is generally shy and flees when alarmed, and it poses little direct threat to man. It 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

The Maned Wolf isn't closely related to any other canid. It is apparently a survivor from the Pleistocene fauna of large South American mammals; its closest living relative is the Bush Dog (genus Speothos), with a more distant relationship to other South American canines (the Short-eared Dog, the Crab-eating Fox and the 'false foxes' or Pseudalopex).

Gallery

Image:Chrysocyon brachyurus sitting.JPG Image:ManedWolf4.jpg Image:Maned wolf-aguara guazu.jpeg Image:Chrysocyon jubatus (Harvard University).JPG

References

Further Information

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