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Maned Wolf

Chrysocyon brachyurus

Description:

The maned wolf has often been described as "a red fox on stilts" owing to its similar coloration and overall appearance, though it is much larger than a red fox and belongs to a different genus. The adult animal stands 67 to 107 cm (26 to 42 in) tall at the shoulder, averages 149 cm (59 in) in total length and weighs 20 to 34.09 kg (44 to 75.2 lb).The maned wolf is the tallest of the wild canids. The long legs are probably an adaptation to the tall grasslands of its native habitat.Fur of the maned wolf may be reddish brown to golden orange on the sides with long, black legs and a distinctive black mane. The coat is further marked with a whitish tuft at the tip of the tail and a white "bib" beneath the throat. The mane is erectile, and is typically used to enlarge the wolf's profile when threatened or when displaying aggression. The maned wolf is also known for its distinctive odor, which has earned it the nickname "skunk wolf."

Habitat:

Unlike other large canids (such as the gray wolf, the African hunting dog, or the dhole) the maned wolf does not form packs. It hunts alone, usually between sundown and midnight. It kills its prey by biting on the neck or back, and shaking it violently if necessary. Monogamous pairs may defend a shared territory of about 30 km2 (12 sq mi), though the wolves themselves may seldom meet, outside of mating. The territory is crisscrossed by paths that the wolves create as they patrol at night. Several adults may congregate in the presence of a plentiful food source; a fire-cleared patch of grassland, for example, which would leave small vertebrate prey exposed to foraging. Both male and female maned wolves use their urine to communicate, e.g. to mark their hunting paths, or the places where they have buried hunted prey.The urine has a very distinctive smell, which some people liken to hops or cannabis. The responsible substance is very likely a pyrazine, which occurs in both plants.(At the Rotterdam Zoo, this smell once set the police on a hunt for cannabis smokers.)

Notes:

This was recorded at Shepreth Wildlife Park

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2 Comments

KarenL
KarenL 12 years ago

Very appropriate description - it looks exactly like a fox on stilts!
How fascinating!

rutasandinas
rutasandinas 12 years ago

Fantástico muy grande

KrisThomas
Spotted by
KrisThomas

South Cambridgeshire, England, United Kingdom

Spotted on Mar 28, 2012
Submitted on Mar 28, 2012

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Reference

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