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Natural History The maned wolf ( Chrysocyon brachyurus ) is one of the most distinctive canids in the world. Although it is not a true wolf, it has an evolutionary history dating back six million years, to a time when many large canids became extinct in south America. It is not closely related to any other canid alive today, being the sole member of the genus Chrysocyon. Long slender legs, large ears and a reddish coat have given this species the nickname: "a fox on stilts." Native to the dry shrub forests and savannas of South America, those long legs give this species an advantage while hunting for prey in the tall grasses found in these habitats. The legs of the maned wolf are so long that its height is greater than the length of its trunk. Average height is 29 to 34 inches at the shoulder with a combined head and body length of 49 to 52 inches. Average weight is 51 pounds. The back legs are slightly longer than the front, therefore negotiating downhill slopes is awkward, yet uphill slopes are a breeze. Since their long, slender legs are not good for digging, maned wolves use their teeth to dig out rodents from burrows. Unusually large ears provide the maned wolf with a keen sense of hearing which is necessary when hunting rodents and other small mammals amid the tall savanna grasses.  This size also allows body heat to dissipate which can be very beneficial in the tropical temperatures of South America. The pelage of the maned wolf is chestnut in color with black erectile hairs along the upper portion of the back and neck which form a mane, giving the species its name. White patches occur on the throat, underside and inside the ears. Similar to most wolves, maned wolves communicate by howling. However, the howl produced by a maned wolf is a deep-throated extended roar-bark, repeated at seven second intervals. Maned wolves are opportunistic omnivores, feeding on available plants and animals. Although classified under the taxonomic order Carnivora, plant intake can be as great as 51% of total food intake. They have weak jaws and are limited to a meat diet of rodents, reptiles, ground birds, eggs, fish, frogs and insects. Plant intake includes bananas, sugar cane and many wild fruits. One wild fruit eaten by maned wolves, Solanum lycocarpum or "loberia", is believed to have some therapeutic properties against the giant kidney worm which is common and often fatal in these animals. Gestation lasts for 65 days. Females bear their young in a nest of thick vegetation rather than digging dens. For many years males were not believed to play an active role in the rearing of young. Although the female is still believed to be the primary care-giver, recent studies now suggest that the male may share in the pup-rearing duties. Pups are brownish-gray when born and do not develop the characteristic long legs for several months after birth. Distribution and Range Originally the range of the maned wolf extended from the northern tip of Brazil, along the edge of the Amazon Basin, south into the northern parts of Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia and Uruguay. They frequent remote lands and avoid man to the best of their ability. They are generally shy, solitary animals. Maned wolf territories vary from 1.5 to 11.5 square miles. While a mated pair occupies the same territory, they are rarely seen together except during the mating season. Primarily nocturnal, this species spends its evenings roaming over its territory with a tireless lopping gait, snatching up any small creature in its path. Population Decline The shy, secretive nature of this creature keeps it on the move, away from man's ever-present invasion of land. Whenever possible, maned wolves avoid contact with humans. The weak jaws of this creature make it unlikely that it could kill any livestock larger than chickens. Ironically, many South American ranchers justify hunting this animal by claiming that it kills calves and colts. Maned wolf pelts lack the undercoat which is present in wolves. This feature makes the beautiful pelt worthless in the fur trade. However, skins of the maned wolf can still be found for sale at low prices in the interior of South America. Population declines and loss of natural habitat have caused this species to be listed as endangered. A Species Survival Plan (SSP) has been developed for the maned wolf. Education programs are being undertaken in some areas of South America where hunting is particularly strong to dissuade farmers from the practice. Ancient folklore has been harmful to this species. Legend has it that the mere gaze of the maned wolf can kill a chicken. Some body parts are believed to have medicinal value. The left eye removed from a live maned wolf is said to be a good luck charm. The maned wolf is now considered endangered throughout most of its natural range. In both Bolivia and Uruguay it is believed to be extinct, or surviving in very low numbers. Current information on its status is scarce, but researchers roughly estimate that there are between 1500 and 2500 alive today. Captive Breeding and Recovery Efforts The development of an SSP has enabled the breeding of maned wolves in captivity. Initially, many problems had to be overcome before breeding was successful. Captivity can place stress on these timid animals. In times of stress, captive maned wolf mothers have been known to kill their young. In the past, zoo keepers were forced to remove the wolf pups soon after they were born and hand-rear them. This hinders the young from learning the vital skills of how to raise their own young and would probably prevent successful reproduction if reintroduced in the wild. A zoo in Frankfurt, Germany was the first to successfully raise parent-reared offspring in 1967. Today, the number of parent-reared births is increasing. In 1995, 11 out of 18 captive pairs reproduced, 20 pups survived, and six of the litters were parent-reared. The SSP program aims to pair up genetically significant individuals to produce offspring with the greatest genetic variation. In North America, the carrying capacity for these endangered animals has been reached. Careful pairing and restrictive breeding are essential for success of the program. In 1996, the Wild Canid Survival and Research Center was approved to become a breeding facility for the maned wolf SSP. The WCSRC houses three pairs of maned wolves, and hopes to contribute to the successful breeding program for these endangered animals. * This maned wolf information was developed by Debbie Causevic, WCSRC Education Coordinator. |
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