Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) lives in cerrado savanna across South America. It feeds on fruits and insects. Its conservation status is Near Threatened.
Fascinating facts about the Maned Wolf
- Standing almost a meter tall at the shoulder, the maned wolf is the tallest wild canid on the planet, its lanky legs. It weighs between 20 and 30 kg (44-66 lb), with adults reaching up to 110 cm (43 in) at the withers, making it the largest South-American canine.
- The maned wolf is an important seed-spreader, devouring the tomato-like wolf apple (Solanum lycocarpum). It eats several fruits at a time and later deposits whole, intact seeds in its droppings, helping the plant colonise new ground. Because the wolf apple fruits year-round, the wolf's movements continuously plant new trees, linking predator and plant survival across the grasslands.
- Unlike wolves that hunt in packs, the maned wolf roams alone, marking its world with a pungent, cannabis-like urine. Monogamous pairs defend a shared home range of roughly 27-30 km² (12 sq mi), but outside the breeding season the adults rarely meet. Their activity peaks at dawn and dusk, with the animal listening for rustling prey using ears.
- The maned wolf carries 76 chromosomes, 37 pairs of autosomes plus sex chromosomes, making it genetically isolated from all other canids. About 15 000 years ago a bottleneck slashed its genetic diversity, yet its remaining variation still exceeds that of most other dogs and wolves. This unique karyotype explains why the species cannot interbreed with relatives, preserving a distinct evolutionary lineage.
- Classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN, the maned wolf faces habitat loss, road kills and disease from domestic dogs. In 2011 a female run over by a truck received the world's first stem-cell treatment for a wild animal at Zoo Brasília, showing that cutting-edge veterinary care can rescue individuals. Since Brazil listed it as vulnerable, protected areas and captive breeding programmes now safeguard thousands of wolves, offering a lifeline for this iconic savanna sentinel.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeSouth America
HabitatCerrado savanna
DietFruits and insects
About the Maned Wolf
In the twilight grasslands of South America, the maned wolf roams, a hauntingly beautiful creature with a gait as fluid as the wind, its long legs devouring the distance with an effortless stride. As it pads through the tall grasses, its tawny coat blends seamlessly with the surroundings, yet its striking mane, a fiery halo around its neck, sets it apart as a singular and captivating presence. With its piercing yellow eyes and inquisitive nature, the maned wolf navigates its domain with a quiet confidence, a true marvel of evolution in this fragile and fading world.
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