Animal Case Profile: Maned Wolf
By CherryFranklin, 21st Feb 2012 | Follow this author
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Posted in WikinutGuidesNatureMammals
The tall wolf of South America and the protagonist of many south American legends.
- Quick Facts
- Taxonomy
- Appearance
- Habitat & Distribution
- Diet
- Behaviour
- Reproduction
- Threats
- Conservation
- Facts
Quick Facts
Name: Maned Wolf
Latin: Chrysocyon Brachyurus
Classification: Mammal
Origin: South America
Lifespan: 12-15 years
AKA: Skunk Wolf
Image copyright to wikipedia.com
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia (Animals)
Phylum: Chordata (Vertebrates)
Class: Mammalia (Mammals)
Order: Carnivora (Carnivores)
Family: Canidae (Canines)
Genus: Chrysocyon (Maned Wolf)
Species: Chrysocyon Brachyurus (Maned Wolf)
Appearance
Length: Up to 4ft
Height: Up to 3ft
Weight: Up to 50lbs
The maned wolf is mainly characterised by its long legs, which come as an adaptation to its South American home. It has reddish to golden fur with black legs and muzzle. There are hints of white on the underside of its tail, neck and muzzle. It also has a distinct black mane which becomes erect when provoked or excited.
The maned wolf looks like a mixture of a number of animals. It has the large ears of an African hunting dog and the fine facial features of a fox. Its long legs have earned it the nickname ‘fox on stilts’ by the locals of South America.
Habitat & Distribution
The only place the maned wolf can be found is South America. Here there is long grass for it to hunt and make its den in. They wander about in the dry, shrubby forests and savannas of this part of the world.
Diet
The maned wolf is omnivorous. It hunts small and medium sized prey including small mammals (including rodents and hares), birds and fish. However, over 50% of its diet is vegetable matter, including sugarcane, tubers and fruit (including the much loved wolf-apple).
Captive maned wolves were traditionally fed meat-heavy diets and developed bladder stones. This has since been rectified and are now fed fruit and vegetables along with their meat.
Maned wolves hunt alone in dusk and at night in areas untouched by humans. They stalk their prey carefully, occasionally stopping to sniff the air and listen to the movement of its prey. It then catches its prey with high pounces. They occasionally dig small mammals from their burrows.
Behaviour
Unlike other wolves, maned wolves are not very social creatures and do not live in packs. They are monogamous and pair for life. A mated pair will share a territory but will only meet during the breeding season. They are nocturnal and only hunt at night and dusk, they rarely move in the day.
They mark their territory with urine which has a strong odour and warns others to keep away. They also have an unusual gait where it moves both legs on one side of its body at the same time, making it move in a rocking motion. The same way a giraffe and a camel moves.
Reproduction
Very little is known about the mating habits of the maned wolf because of their preference of living alone. However, we do know that their breeding season occurs between late spring and early summer.
Their courtship has only been observed in captivity and involved the female bowing before the male, then rubbing herself against him while pounding her forepaws on the ground.
The gestation lasts for around 65 days and a litter of 4-5 cubs are born in a den. The cubs develop quickly and can be weaned after 15 weeks. They are fully grown in a year and are sexually mature after 2 years.
Threats
The biggest threat to the maned wolf is habitat loss. Each individual needs a territory of around 10 miles square because its prey is so widely dispersed, and more and more of its land is being destroyed to make way for the ever growing human population.
They are also hunted for their body parts as they are believed to have magical properties.
Conservation
Conservation Status: Near Threatened
The maned wolf can be found in many zoos and wildlife parks all over the world. They are also protected by CITES (Appendix II) which regulates the trade of endangered animals and plants. The Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust is another organization that works to protect the maned wolf and its habitat. They are headquartered in Jersey but are working globally.
Facts
Male: Wolf
Female: Bitch
Young: Pup
Group: Pack
•The maned wolf is monogamous and will have one mate for its entire life.
•There is an old wives tale that says the gaze of a maned wolf can kill a chicken.
•It is believed that wearing a necklace made of the teeth of a maned wolf with prevent dental problems in the future.
•It is also believed that the eye of a maned wolf will bring luck when gambling.
•The maned wolf does not form packs, it prefers to hunt alone.
•It has been nicknamed the ‘skunk wolf’ because of its distinctive odour.
Comments
21st Feb 2012 (#)
Wow the maned wolf is beautiful, thanks for sharing information on this lovely animal
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22nd Feb 2012 (#)
Very informative, Cherry. Thanks for this feature article.
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24th Feb 2012 (#)
Great information on the Maned Wolf. My grandson is starting to get interesting in animals and I am going to use your pages to start teaching him about animals. Thank you for sharing.:)
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18th Mar 2012 (#)
Hi Cherry another wonderful animal thank you.
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