One of the most significant threat to the survival of remaining maned wolf populations is habitat loss. The maned wolf’s small teeth and jaws make it hard for it to kill large prey, but it is often blamed because of its intimidating size. For years, it was hunted and killed by farmers who believed that the wolves are killing their poultry and livestock. Much like the native wolf species, the maned wolf is misunderstood and widely persecuted. Pups reach sexual maturity and will generally leave the parents’ territory at around one year old but do not usually reproduce until the second year. However, in captivity, males have been observed grooming and defending pups as well as feeding them by regurgitation. Originally, it was believed that the female alone cared for the young, suckling them for up to 15 weeks. In August and early September, mothers give birth to 2 to 5 maned wolf pups after a gestation period of 65 days. During this time, vocalizations and scent marking increase before mating. Breeding season exists from April to June. Very little is known of maned wolf behavior most information on breeding has come from the study of animals in human care. Mated pairs, though monogamous, share a home range of about 15.5 to 31 miles (25 to 50 square kilometers) but will remain fairly independent of each other at all times except during the breeding season. Unlike wolves that live in cooperative breeding packs, the maned wolf lives a primarily solitary lifestyle. Its long legs aid in leaping to capture birds and insects as well as move through and see above tall grasses. It will tap the ground with a front foot to flush out the prey and pounce to catch it or may dig after the burrowing prey. When hunting, the animal can rotate its large ears to listen for prey animals in the grass. During the day, they are most often spent resting, often in areas of thick bush cover. The maned wolf hunts primarily at night as well as during dusk and dawn hours. Scavenging on road-kill also occurs and free-ranging chickens are frequently stolen from farms. Approximately 50% of its total diet is made up of the lobeira and other fruits and vegetables. The maned wolf also favors fruits such as bananas, apples, and avocados and feed on sugar cane. It is also thought to provide medicinal aid against the giant kidney worm. However, the maned wolf’s main source of food is the tomato-like lobeira fruit, whose name means “fruit of the wolf”, which grows throughout its range. Insects, reptiles, and birds are also a regular part of its diet. It will eat small mammals such as cuis (wild guinea pigs), rabbits, and young viscachas (burrowing rodents) as well as pacas and agoutis, both fast-running rodents. The maned wolf is an omnivore, eating a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and meat. It is thought to be an adaptation to help them see above the tall grasses of central South America. Via National ZooĪnother distinctive feature is its extremely long, thin legs that makes the maned wolf immediately recognizable. Its distinctive long red fur covering its neck, back, and chest can stand on end, giving the appearance of a mane. The animal’s throat, inside of the ears, and tip of the tail are white. Chestnut red pelage covers their back and down their body while their slender legs, feet, and muzzle and painted black. The maned wolf is similar in appearance to the red fox with a golden-red coat, long pointed muzzle, and large erect ears. The maned wolf prefers open habitats in tall grasslands, low-scrub edges of forests, and even swampy areas. It inhabits the cerrado, the largest biome of South America and one of the world’s most important ‘hot-spots’ of biodiversity, which is comprised of west and dry forests, grasslands, savannas, marshes, and wetlands. The species may still be present in some areas of Uruguay, despite being believed to be extinct there in the 19th century. It is also found in small areas of Argentina and Bolivia. The maned wolf is found in central South America, from northeastern Brazil, south through Paraguay, and west into southern Peru. Despite this relationship, the maned wolf is the only species in its genus and is the largest canid in South America. And though it is a canid and related, the maned wolf is much more closely related to the forest fox and bush dog, a canid species from South America. One might think that the maned wolf was one of the wolf species. Average Lifespan in Captivity: 6.5 years.
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