Maned wolf

Chrysocyon brachyurus

The maned wolf is a long-legged South American canid of open grasslands. Despite its name, it is not a pack wolf and eats a great deal of fruit.

Key facts

Maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) is an omnivore animal classified as Mammal · Carnivora · Canidae.
Primary habitats are grassland · savanna, with a range across Neotropical.
Activity is crepuscular, sociality is pair, and conservation status is NT (Near Threatened).
The maned wolf is a long-legged South American canid of open grasslands.
It lives in Neotropical grassland and savanna.
Typical lifespan: 12–15 years

Habitat range map

Native rangeOccasional / Transient

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

It lives in Neotropical grassland and savanna. Tall grass, wetland edges, and shrubland provide a mix of visibility and cover.

Length 95-132 cm; weight 20-30 kg. Very long legs, reddish fur, black lower legs, a dark mane, and large ears make it distinctive.

Crepuscular and pair-living, it often forages alone within a shared territory. Strong-smelling urine marks paths and boundaries.

An omnivore, it eats small mammals, birds, insects, and fruit. Plant foods, including lobeira fruit, can be a major part of the diet.

Pairs share a territory, and females give birth in sheltered sites. Pups receive food from adults before dispersing as they mature.

It is listed as Near Threatened. Conversion of grassland, road deaths, and diseases from domestic dogs are important threats.