Maned wolf

Pups of the maned wolf are born with short legs, but in adults, the legs lengthen due to growth of the shank and the metatarsal. Leg lengthening occurs in the same way as in cheetahs.
The maned wolf is the largest member of the canine family in South America and has a unique appearance. It resembles a large fox on long, slender legs more than a wolf.
The fur on the back and upper part of the neck of the maned wolf is longer (up to 13 cm) and dense, forming a mane that stands on end and visually increases the animal's size during aggression. The mane stands on end and visually increases the animal's size when it is alarmed or aggressive.
The maned wolf lacks the vertical pupil characteristic of foxes. Despite its external similarity to foxes, it is not closely related to them.
It walks like a camel — lifting both legs on one side.
Its urine smells like cannabis.
In captivity it has lived more than 15 years.
The wolf is solitary.
It hunts by pouncing, like a fox.
The main threat is habitat loss.

Age

Maned wolves typically live from 5 to 15 years, with a maximum lifespan of 16 years and 10 months, and a theoretical lifespan ranging from 8 years and 5 months to 16 years and 10 months. The species reaches sexual maturity between 1 year and 6 months and 2 years and 6 months of age. The young’s eyes open between 1 week and 3 days and 2 weeks and 2 days after birth, and they begin to walk between 2 weeks and 4 days and 4 weeks. During the embryonic stage, the fetus develops inside the mother for approximately two months and does not feed independently. The newborn is blind and toothless, lives with its parents, drinks milk, and gradually learns to find food during the infant stage. Adult maned wolves live independently or with a partner, can reproduce, and obtain food, and this adult stage lasts from 1 year to 13 years and 8 months.

Phenotype

The maned wolf has soft, light fur covering its body; large, pointed ears aid in hearing sounds of prey and other animals. Its long, thin legs allow the species to see over grass and run quickly across open terrain. A distinctive feature is the long black fur on the neck and shoulders, which the animal raises when threatened or encountering other wolves. The maned wolf also possesses a bushy tail with a white tip used for communication. Young maned wolves have soft, light fur.

Physiology

The maned wolf stands from 80 centimeters to 1 meter tall and measures from 80 centimeters to 0.9 meters in length; its mass ranges from 19.61 to 21.71 kilograms. During the embryonic stage, the body mass is from 0 to 0.3 grams. The young weigh from 250 grams to 7 kilograms and measure from 25 to 65 centimeters in length. An adult maned wolf has a body mass from 20 to 30 kilograms and a body length from 80 centimeters to 0.9 meters.

Habitat

Maned wolves inhabit tropical dry forests that are hot with a dry season and deciduous trees, tropical savannas that are hot with uneven rainfall and abundant grass and trees, and temperate steppes with plentiful grass and few trees where rain occurs. The species lives on land, in terrestrial forests, in terrestrial tidal zones, and among shrubs. The climate includes winters with little precipitation, summers with high temperatures above 25 to 30 degrees Celsius, and conditions that are consistently hot throughout the year with frequent rains but occasional dryness. The habitat also features conditions where rainfall is scarce in winter but more prevalent in summer, always hot conditions with frequent rains and sometimes dryness, and conditions that are constantly very wet with nearly constant rain and high humidity. Maned wolves can be found at elevations up to 1.2 kilometers.

Shelter

The maned wolf inhabits tall grasses or dense shrubs; the species does not have a permanent or long-term shelter. It uses areas for reproduction, rest, and protection from the sun. The maned wolf does not have a fixed den site.

Geography

Maned wolves are found within the biogeographical realms of Neotropics and Afrotropics.

Feeding

The maned wolf consumes both plant and animal matter, collecting and hunting for food using an active hunting strategy; its diet includes fruits, small mammals, birds, eggs, insects, and plant fruits. The species’ daily food intake ranges from 400 grams to 0.9 kilograms. Young maned wolves feed exclusively on milk. The animals hunt such prey as guinea pigs, nine-banded armadillos, noturungas, and American rabbits. Some cultures consume the maned wolf, but it is not considered halal or kosher.

Reproduction

Maned wolves inhabit and develop on land, outside of aquatic environments, and their young develop in a nest built on the ground or close to it, which is located directly on the surface of the soil. The female gives birth to live young on land after a gestation period of 2 months and 1 week; a litter has 2 to 5 individuals. A male and female form a permanent pair, although this occurrence is not frequent. The species reaches maturity from 1 to 2 years of age, and the interval between reproductions is 1 year. Reproduction always involves fertilization without generational change, indicating homogamy.