Species Hang in the Balance

BINOMIAL NAME:

Chrysocyon Brachyurus

ANATOMICAL PROPORTIONS:

5-6 ft. long (tip-to-tail)/ 3 ft. tall/ 45 lbs.

POPULATION (APPROXIMATE):

1500-2500 (however, data is sparse and debatable)

CONSERVATION STATUS:

VULNERABLE

DISTRIBUTION & HABITAT:

Grasslands, savannas and swamps of Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, Argentina, Bolivia, and (disputably) Uruguay

DIET:

Primarily small mammals, insects, birds, small reptiles and amphibians, and a variety of fruits and vegetables

SPECIES THREATS:

The most imminent threat to the maned wolf is rapid conversion of South American grasslands, into agricultural farmland (mostly soybean plantations). To cultivate this type of crop requires burning massive, consecutive areas of grassland, which makes the land easier to till and irrigate. These practices cause fragmentation among maned wolves, thus genetic inbreeding becomes more likely.

Local dog populations will sometimes compete with maned wolves for prey, and will even kill the wolves they encounter in the wild (for reasons unknown). In addition to their mysterious aggression, dogs also carry disease, which easily spreads to the related canine species.

A large number of maned wolves are killed by high-speed traffic, each year. In particular, this statistic applies to wolf pups and juveniles---some areas estimate that nearly half of all maned wolves are killed by cars, within the first year of life.

UNIQUE FACTS:

The maned mane wolf's physical appearance---its scruffy, golden-red fur, its long, black legs, and its black bib/ mane---gives it the nickname "red fox on stilts". Despite its resemblance to a fox, and despite its name "maned wolf", this animal is neither a true wolf, nor a true fox. In fact, the maned wolf is the only member of the Chrysocyon genus, in the entire Canidae family of species.

Along with the maned wolf's odd taxonomy and physiology, it has a reputation for emitting a pungent odor, and gives rise to yet another (less complimentary) nickname, "the skunk wolf".

DEDICATED ORGANIZATION:

Maned Wolf SSP

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