Maned Wolves of South America

[Xylom]

Hmm...well I see that there is always a lot of talk about our faved Gray or Timber Wolves. Reds and Mexicans also, but I have noticed a lack of a personal fav of mine...The Red Maned Wolf or Maned wolf as most call it. The"Red Fox on Stilts" has always been my second fav wolf next to grays. Who wouldn't love an over-sized foxy with huge ears? Beats me! To those who have no clue what I'm talking about are some nice pics of them.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... hyurus.jpg
http://images1.cdn.fotonauts.com/flickr ... -image.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/131/3765 ... 0b2667.jpg
And here you can see many pics of the wolf in slide-showhttp://www.fotopedia.com/albums/864bea0a-a574- ... cd8d073ccc

Brief Info

Standing at 3.3ft tall, the Maned Wolf is the largest Canid in South America. Their apperince resembles that of over-sized red fox.Also it is the only species in it's genus, Chrysocyon. It is near threatened and is threatened in some parts of North America which make seeing it in the wild a rare sight. They live in grassy plains which is why their legs are so long. They also have large ears to hear the tiny pawsteps of their main prey, rodents but here is another amazing fact. They are actully omnivorous and thier faved veggie is lobeira! They also like sugercane, varied fruits, and tubers.

For more info see these sites

http://www.redorbit.com/education/refer ... index.html
http://www.thewildones.org/Animals/manedWlf.html
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/4819/0/full

Hope you start to love these wonderful wolves like I have, soon!!

[Songdog]

I have moved this to Other Canids because despite its name, the Maned Wolf is not an actual wolf. It is a canine, yes, but just as you wouldn't call a fox a wolf, you wouldn't call a Maned Wolf a wolf. They are closer to foxes than wolves, but still not foxes. They are of their own genus(Chrysocyon) and species (brachyurus).

[Xylom]

Many sorrys. After I posted it I realized that too. Thanks.

[Koa]

Actually, I love these animals as well. They are unique and different from wolves in their own way; which is mostly why I like them. I considered them to be a wolf until I started to read more about them. I've caught a 'glimpse' of one before at the zoo before it turned away and fled. Well, barely. They seem to be shy, or it could possibly have been for another reason. It was reaching the early evening at the time.

[Yogi]

Me too. They are lovel ooking creatures, and Ive seen them at a zoo and were eating chicks.

[Blightwolf]

Maned Wolves are very interesting and beautiful, it's the largest South American canid and is easily identified by its long dark legs, orangy brown coat and dark mane. Maned Wolves have a solitary lifestyle largely frugivorous diet.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/Hh ... artore.jpg
http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-me ... B47046.jpg
http://www.shoarns.com/maned%20wolf%203.jpg

To me it seems like they've borrowed physical characteristics from other Canids. . . the ears from an African Wild Dog, the legs from a Wolf and the body structure of a Fox.

[Yogi]

Great pictures, Embry. They aslo eat birds, reptiles and sometimes fruits. They are pretty massive, too.

[Dewfrost]

Finally, I've found people who love Maned Wolves as much as I do! ^^ However, they're not actually wolves are they? But they aren't a type of fox either, much as they look like one. I heard that they have their own like, species if you get what I mean. .____. Still, these animals are beautiful and I don't understand how anyone could not love them! :D

[Aurora Alaska]

It looks very much like a fox!! A bit scary from some pictures I've seen, but many of them are beautiful.
I find it espesially inttruiging that they are omnivores. Amazing!

[Maned_Wolf]

I LOVE Maned Wolves. I wish there were more videos of them in the wild.

[Yogi]

I got a book of them, wait here.. (2 minutes later)

I copied this info about them from a zoo guide:

Latin name: Crysocyon brachyurus
The Maned Wolf, from South America, resembles a giant fox. It has extraordinarily long legs for it's body size that are likely to be an adaptation to living in the tall pampas grassland habitats of Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil.

Although it has a shaggy, reddish coat and a fox-like head, it behaves more like a wild dog than a wolf.
Conservation
This species of wolf has no natural enemies. However, it is an endangered due to habitat destruction for the purpose of creating agricultural land and also because it is hunted for sport or by farmers who claim it as a pest. It is protected in many areas by law but this can be hard to enforce and hunting still continues.
Factfile
Size: Length 105cm
Tail Length: 37cm
Weight: 23Kg

[Sillicon]

I favour maned wolves as well, but I heard they arn't related to wolves, but it is strange how they called it a maned wolf if it isn't related to a wolf.

[Nightwolf293]

Maned wolves are such beautiful animals. I can see why they are not exactly wolves, and more fox.

[Koa]

Finally, I've found people who love Maned Wolves as much as I do! ^^ However, they're not actually wolves are they? But they aren't a type of fox either, much as they look like one. I heard that they have their own like, species if you get what I mean. .____. Still, these animals are beautiful and I don't understand how anyone could not love them!

I get what you mean, but I never knew they had their own 'species' Thought they belonged in some other canid family instead of their own.

[tinwolf]

here in the US i dont see wolves here that much but go to brazil in the rio area you will see...hundreds of stray dogs,and maned wolves the wolves life on the contry part but the dogs live in cities and do every thing on their own.their is alot i know about the maned wolf any thing you want to ask me just talk to me if you would like