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| Maned Wolf |
Maned Wolf Characteristics And Maned Wolf Interesting Facts
This wolf is a unique looking animal. According to studies, the maned wolf is neither a wolf nor a fox. The largest wolf of South America, the maned wolf, looks completely different from wolves, resembling a fox with large ears and thin legs.
This wolf is also known as Fox on Stilts due to its red color and this wolf with big ears is a vertebrate animal. Apart from this, when the maned wolf feels threatened, it can stand up to scare other animals due to the hair extending from the back of the head to the shoulders.
The maned wolf currently faces threats from people and hunters. The maned wolf is currently an endangered species and there are very few of these wolves left in the wild. But hunting the maned wolf is prohibited in many areas of South America, such as northern Argentina and Brazil.
Where Are Maned Wolf Found
The maned wolf, or large wolf, can be seen living in eastern and central South America, including central and southern Brazil, southern Peru, Paraguay, northern Argentina, and Bolivia. Maned wolf sightings in Uruguay are rare and are thought to be declining due to habitat loss.
These wolf are killed on a large scale by some poultry farmers in South America for fear of them preying on chickens. Apart from this, in Brazil, the body parts of the maned wolf, the eyes of the maned wolf are considered a symbol of good luck with healing powers.
It is believed that the maned wolf cures snake bites, kidney disease which is one of the reasons for their killing. There are three species of wolves known in the world namely the red wolf, the brown wolf and the Ethiopian wolf.
Wolf are the largest animals in the canid family, living in a variety of habitats and climates. Apart from this, according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System, there are about 40 subspecies of wolves in the world in different sizes.
Scientific Name of Maned Wolf
Maned wolf is an animal belonging to the mammalian class. The scientific name of maned wolf is Chrysocyon brachyurus and Chrysocyon means golden dog. Maned wolf is a wild animal species which is the tallest member of the Canidae family so it cannot be classified as a wolf, jackal, fox, coyote or dog.
One study discovered DNA evidence of an extinct genus, and a wolf found on the Falkland Islands is closely related to the maned wolf in historical times as it had a common ancestor with that genus about 7 million years ago.
Habitat of Maned Wolf
The maned wolf species can be found in the wooded areas, swamps, grasslands, and savannas of South America. Apart from this, maned wolves prefer to live in open and semi-open habitats scattered with trees and shrubs.
Apart from this, these large wolves also like to live with many other carnivorous animals including hoary fox, bush dog, pampas fox, crab-eating fox, pampas cat, puma, jaguar and crab-eating raccoon.
Throughout the year, this wolf species hunts, sleeps and travels alone. Also, unlike true wolves, maned wolves do not form packs. But maned wolves live in monogamous pairs and it is very difficult to see two of them except during breeding time. Read- Inca Tern | Interesting Facts About The Mustached Bird
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| Maned Wolf |
How Does Maned Wolf Look Like
The maned wolf has a long reddish-brown body, slender black legs and erect ears. It also has a black mane extending from the shoulders to the back of the neck and their back is black. Their muzzle and throat are sometimes lighter in color.
The maned wolf's long legs allow it to see over tall grass, and when threatened, the maned wolf has a habit of standing upright, making it appear taller than it is. The South American bush dog and the African wild dog are also considered close relatives of the maned wolf.
Size of The Maned Wolf
An adult maned wolf is about 1.2 meters long and about 3 inches taller than a normal wolf. When maned wolves are afraid of someone, they stand up straight, which makes them look taller. Apart from this, maned wolves can be 3 feet tall at the shoulder. The weight of a maned wolf can be about 20-26 kg.
What Do Maned Wolf Eat
Maned wolves are omnivorous animals and maned wolves play a big role in the seed dispersal of fruits like apricots. Maned wolves actively seek out this fruit for consumption throughout the year and it forms 40-90% of the total diet of the maned wolf.
The maned wolf spreads seeds by defecating in the garbage dumps and ant nests of its colony. These seeds then grow into fruit-bearing plants and this beneficial cycle is repeated in the forest. The maned wolf mostly eats sugarcane, a plant-based diet, small animals like rodents, reptiles, insects, rabbits and birds in their diet.
The maned wolf moves its large ears to sense prey in the grass. Once the maned wolf spots prey it pounces to catch it. Sometimes this animal can also leap into the air to catch insects and birds.
How Do Maned Wolf Breed
Maned wolves are a solitary species and come together between April and June which is their breeding season. The gestation period of the maned wolf is about 62-66 days and females produce about 1 to 5 pups per breeding season.
There is ample evidence that male maned wolves in zoos provide food to their pups and it is not known if this is true in the wild. These pups leave their territory at the age of 1 year. Read- Interesting Facts About The Great Hornbill With Pictures
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How Long Do Maned Wolf Live
The lifespan of a maned wolf in the wild is around 12 or up to 15 years.
How Fast Can Maned Wolf Run
The speed of the maned wolf is considered to be one of the fastest mammals and it will not fail to make it to the list of top 10. It is estimated that maned wolves can run up to a speed of 75 kilometers per hour.
When maned wolves run, they resemble running deer due to their long legs. These wolves are also adept at swimming up to 12 kilometers with the help of webbed feet between their toes.
How Do Maned Wolf Communicate
These wolves are solitary animals. They communicate with scent marking using powerful smelling urine to mark their territory and their distinctive smell earned the wolf the nickname skunk wolf.
These wolves also use loud sounds called roar barks to let their mates know about their whereabouts or to keep other wolves away. These wolves are also known for loud greetings and low roars in warning, distress or anger.
How Many Maned Wolf Are There In The World
It is estimated that there are about 23,600 maned wolves left in the wild and more than 90% of them are in Brazil, there are less than 5,000 maned wolves outside Brazil. There are very few maned wolf left in the wild and hunting these big-eared wolf is prohibited in Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay.
This wolf lives in the vast savannah, Cerrado of Brazil and these endangered wolf species are listed as near threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
The habitat of the maned wolf was subjected to intense deforestation in the last decade and other serious threats include direct persecution by humans, road kills and disease caused by domestic animals.
Behavior of The Maned Wolf
The maned wolf is not dangerous to humans because it flees when frightened. The maned wolf keeps a distance from people and rarely attacks if it feels threatened. It has been concluded that most maned wolf pose no threat to us.
It is not a good idea to keep these large sized wolves as pets as they are protected species. Maned wolves easily adapt to man-made environments but in most places it is illegal to keep these wolves. Even if it is allowed, these animals are not suitable for pets due to their more unpredictable behavior.
The temperament of the maned wolf is different from the North American wolves and the timid and gentle nature of maned wolves keeps them isolated in the wild most of the time. Maned wolves meet their mates only during breeding time.
Maned Wolf Facts For Kids
1. Is the maned wolf a fox or a wolf?
This wolf is the largest canid of South America. Also the maned wolf looks more like a fox with long legs. Studies show that the maned wolf is neither a fox nor a wolf it is a different species. Also this wolf is the only member of the Chrysocyon.
2. Why are wolves' legs so long?
The maned wolf has large ears measuring about 7.1 inches in length. The maned wolf is the tallest of the wild canids and its long legs are an adaptation to tall grasslands.
3. Is the maned wolf a dog?
The maned wolf is a member of the Canidae family also known as the dog family and is related to wolves, foxes and other canids. Maned wolves are not true wolves but are a distant relative and are actually more closely related to South American bush dogs.
4. What is the myth of the maned wolf?
In Brazil the howl of this wolf at night is believed to herald a change in the weather and it is also said that its sight can make a chicken fall.
5. What are some interesting facts about the maned wolf?
The maned wolf is the largest canid of South America and their particularly long legs are an adaptation that allows them to see over tall grass. In addition monogamous pairs display and breeding pairs defend a territory of an average of 27 km.
6. What are some fun facts about wolves?
These animals have 200 million smell cells. Wolves can hear up to 6 miles in the forest. Apart from this, a wolf has the power to crush 1500 pounds of meat and a wolf can eat 20 pounds of meat at a time.
7. Why is the maned wolf important?
The maned wolf is an omnivorous animal and it is adapted to the open environment of the South American savannah which plays an important role in the seed dispersal of fruits.
8. What is a wolf for kids?
Wolves are carnivorous animals. Wolves travel in packs led by an alpha male and the pack size can range from 2 to 30 but the pack size is likely to be 5 – 8 wolves. The alpha male wolf is often accompanied by his alpha-female mate.
9. How intelligent is a male wolf?
The male wolf has great mobility and is much faster than other wolves and dogs. The male wolf is intelligent and has the ability to hunt in tall grass.
10. How do maned wolves live?
Maned wolves can be found in the wet grasslands of Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia, the Cerrado and Pantanal of Brazil. Maned wolves prefer to live in open grasslands and woodlands with wet fields. The long legs of the maned wolf are useful for tall grass habitats.