Maned or maned wolf (lat. Chrysocyon brachyurus)

Name: maned wolf, maned wolf, guara, aguarachai.
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.

Area: Inhabitant South America. Maned wolf in the north it 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.

Description: The maned wolf is one of the most unusual wolves. It is similar to the common fox, but has 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 hairline 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 external resemblance with 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 type leads night look life, but can go hunting even 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. basis social structure maned wolves have a mating pair that occupies one home range (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. The onset of 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 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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Maned wolf or guar, aguarachay (lat. Chrysocyon brachyurus) is a predatory mammal of the canine family; the only representative of the genus Chrysocyon. Translated from Greek, its name means “short-tailed golden dog.”

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.

The largest representative of the canid family in South America, 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), his legs are very high (height at withers 74-87 cm); it 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 maned wolf's long legs appear to be an evolutionary adaptation to its habitat—grassy plains; they help the wolf survey the surroundings by moving in the tall grass. It is noteworthy that maned wolf puppies are born with short legs. The increase in limb length is due to the growth of the tibia and metatarsus, like in cheetahs, but maned wolves cannot be called good runners.

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. It goes from the top of the head to the middle of the back black line. The limbs 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.

Maned wolves are nocturnal and crepuscular; 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.

Maned wolf distributed in the north from the mouth of the Parnaiba River (northeast Brazil) to eastern 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° S), but in these areas it apparently became extinct.

The maned wolf inhabits mainly open grassy and shrubby plains. It can be found in the dry savannas and forest edges of Mato Grosso, in the Brazilian campos, on the hilly plains of northern Paraguay and in the marshy areas of the Gran Chaco. Its long legs allow it to easily make its way through tall grass and spot prey from afar. It is not found in mountains or rain forests. Rare throughout its range.

Maned wolves are monogamous. The reproductive cycle has been little studied.
Pregnancy, like that of many canines, lasts 62-66 days. The female makes a shelter in dense vegetation. There are 1-5 puppies in a litter, maximum 7. Puppies weigh 340-430 g at birth and develop quickly.
Young maned wolves reach sexual maturity in one year; in captivity they live up to 12-15 years.

The maned wolf population density is low; studies conducted in 1964-1967. in Brazil, over an area of ​​650,000 km², showed that 1 animal is found in approximately 300 km². The status of the Maned Wolf in the International Red Book is “near threatened,” which means “under threat.”

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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.”

In South America, the maned wolf is a large representative of the family with an unusual appearance that makes it 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.

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.

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. He looks like common fox, but only on 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.

On occasion 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. Avoids other farm animals

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.

The maned wolf is the only representative of its genus. But despite this, he looks more like a fox than a wolf. Characteristic feature This animal is characterized by long graceful legs and a red fur coat.

Nature endowed these animals with such long limbs not for beauty, but for survival. You won’t be able to reach high speeds with such legs, but you can easily get through tall and dense vegetation. In addition, from such a height it is easy to notice prey or an approaching enemy.

Therefore, these wolves do not live in forests or mountains, but prefer open grassy plains, which South America is so rich in. The northern habitat of the predators stretches from the northeast of Brazil (the mouth of the Parnaiba River) to the eastern part of Bolivia, and the southern includes the territory of Paraguay and the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul.

Outwardly, this predator from the canine family more closely resembles a red beast - a fox. The main signs of such similarity are its small size (body length no more than 130 centimeters), elegant physique (thin, lean body, sharp muzzle, large ears), and most importantly, thick and soft red hair. Is it true, slender legs dark.

On the nape and upper part of the neck, the hair is longer and forms a kind of mane, which the wolf skillfully uses to scare away or express aggression (the hair stands on end, which makes the wolf visually larger than it actually is). But no luck with the tail. He is no match for the luxurious fox. Therefore, it is not for nothing that he was “nicknamed” the “short-tailed golden dog” - Chrysocyon brachyurus.

They are most active at night, and during the day they hide in dense vegetation and rest or slowly walk around their property. And this territory is not so small - about 27 km 2 per married couple.

Maned wolves are solitary by nature and only with the onset of mating season do they stick together. After the birth of the puppies, they also live in the same area, but they now rest and hunt separately. Protection of the territory from strangers falls on the shoulders of the males. Boundaries are marked by urine and feces. In captivity, their behavior changes, and the pair prefers to stay together. The male even begins to take care of his offspring, which natural environment you won't find any habitat.

They often communicate with each other using various sounds: a deep throaty bark, a long loud howl (the main language of communication) or a muffled grunt that is a warning to rivals.

As for the reproduction of maned wolves, not much is known about it. They are monogamous. On average, a female brings 1-5 puppies. For childbirth, she chooses dense vegetation or a small cave where she makes a shelter. Puppies are born with short legs, with dark fur, which after 10 weeks begins to turn red. The female feeds them with milk a little more than a year, while simultaneously feeding them food regurgitated by her. After a year, the offspring reaches sexual maturity.

These wolves are not hunted for fur or meat, but they are often caught stealing poultry. But despite the lack of interest in hunting this animal, its population remains extremely low. Now their total number is no more than 2000 individuals.

Behind the same pack, wild ones guinea pigs The maned wolf also gallops very briskly on its long legs after birds, insects, and sometimes even sheep. This is perhaps the longest-legged animal on Earth: its legs in proportion to the length of its body are 90-97, or even 100 percent. Interestingly, the legs of a maned wolf, which are comparable in length to the legs of a cheetah, do not allow it to run fast due to the anatomy of the body. The main purpose of such long legs is the ability to survey the surroundings while in tall grass. Research by scientists has also shown that this animal cannot be called a relative of the wolf or fox. The maned wolf is likely a relict species that survived the extinction of other Pleistocene canid predators that lived in South America. The ears are large. The tail is fluffy, with a white tip. The weight of the animal rarely exceeds 22-23 kg.

Description of the maned wolf

The coat color of a maned wolf is similar in color to that of a fox or mountain wolf. Most of his body is covered with yellow-red fur, his tail is light, almost white at the tip, his legs, on the contrary, are dressed in black knee socks. There is a light spot on the throat, and from the nape to the middle of the back there is a black stripe, the hair on which is noticeably longer than on other parts of the body. If the animal is frightened or aggressive, the hair on the back of the neck stands on end, which makes the maned wolf visually larger. In fact, it got its name thanks to its lush mane.

Range of the maned wolf

The maned wolf is widespread in several countries of South America, namely southern, southeastern and central Brazil, Paraguay, and eastern Bolivia. This species is probably extinct in Peru, Uruguay and Argentina, and the animal is rare in other parts of its range. Woodlands and this predator avoids mountains, living mainly in the pampas - plains covered with tall and dense grassy and shrubby vegetation.

Little-studied animals: MANED WOLF.

Canidae species in America

The puppies of the maned wolf are completely black. To dig up some rodent, this wolf digs the ground not with his front paws, like dogs, but only with his teeth. He eats both fruits and sugar cane.
The maned wolf, after the true northern wolves, is the largest (or rather, tall, but hardly the strongest) animal in the canine family, which in America is represented by twelve more species, in addition to those already mentioned: gray, black and maned wolves, coyote, arctic fox, red fox and bush dog. The maned wolf is the tallest animal in the canine family: 75 centimeters at the shoulders, but not the heaviest - 23 kilograms. At night, maned wolves scream in an unusual and eerie way.

But people are never attacked. Two types of foxes - in North America and ten species of half-fox, half-jackal - in the South.
The American gray fox (USA, Mexico) is really gray on top, with red trim on the sides and neck. It is smaller than the red one and is famous for its ability to climb trees. Hunts alone in forests, bushes and swamps. The gray island fox is similar, but does not live on the continent, but only on some North American islands.
Of the South American foxes, 6-8 species are united by zoologists into the genus Dusicyon. Of these, the Azar foxes, gray, big-eared and bushy-tailed, usually live alone or in pairs in bushes, avoiding dense forests. A jaguar is for them what a lion is for jackals: they pick up scraps after it, following in its tracks.
Maned wolves are active at night and twilight hours, but rest during the day. Unlike others related species, predators do not form flocks. The most they can afford is life as a couple, but even here there are some oddities. The male and female hunt and spend the night separately on an area of ​​25–30 square meters. km, which is marked with droppings and feces.

Diet of maned wolves

Maned wolves feed on food of both plant and animal origin. Due to their small size and solitary lifestyle, predators hunt mainly small animals: rodents, armadillos, birds and their clutches, and also eat insects. To catch prey in tall grass, the wolf uses acute hearing. Having come close enough, the animal hits the ground with its paw, forcing the victim to reveal itself, after which it immediately rushes after it and catches it. 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.

The maned wolf's weak jaws do not allow it to tear and chew food, so it is swallowed almost entirely. Animal food is varied with bananas, guavas, as well as roots and tubers of other plants.

Maned wolves are territorial animals

Animals live in pairs, but partners rarely and have little contact with each other. The couple almost never vacations together and only occasionally takes walks together. Maned wolves are territorial animals, and neighbors rarely violate the boundaries of other people's territories. Such conclusions were made by observing them in wildlife, but in zoos animals behave differently: they often rest together and are very friendly towards each other. The mating season for maned wolves is from August to October (you can watch their mating games in the video above). The den is made in natural caves or directly in the grass; the predators themselves do not dig holes. After a two-month pregnancy, the female gives birth to 2-3 blind cubs. Their legs, unlike adults, are short and grow over time. Long time The puppies are fed by their parents by regurgitating their food.