Meet the solitary, nocturnal maned wolf
What species looks like a fox, walks like a deer, and barks like a dog? It’s not a riddle or a mythical creature. It’s the maned wolf—a spindly-legged, red-coated canid found in Brazil’s Cerrado grasslands. But despite its name and characteristics, the maned wolf isn’t a wolf at all. Rather, it’s the only member of a unique genus: Chrysocyon, meaning “golden dog.”
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Maned wolf
Chrysocyon brachyurus
RANGE Central and eastern South America
WEIGHT Around 50 lbs.
LIFE EXPECTANCY 12–15 years
THREATS Habitat loss due to land conversion for agriculture
HEIGHT About 3 ft. tall at the shoulder
1. COAT Rust-colored, with a raised black mane from which the animal gets its name
2. EARS Large and pointed; can rotate to better locate prey
3. LEGS Long and stilt-like; likely evolved to help the animal move through tall grasses while hunting
Wolf plant
Maned wolves eat small mammals, reptiles, and birds, but about half of their diet consists of fruits and vegetables. One of their favorite foods is the tomato-like fruit lobeira, or “wolf plant.”
© LUIZ CLAUDIO MARIGO/NATUREPL.COM
Mane squeeze
While these nocturnal canids are largely solitary, they do form monogamous, lifelong bonds. Partners share overlapping territory, meeting only to mate during the breeding season.
Measuring up
Here’s how the towering height of the maned wolf compares to some other animals’.
© Vibe Images/Shutterstock
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