maned wolf

(also referred to as ‘red fox on stilts’)

an animal – mammal – belongs to dog family but separate species by its own – active at night (nocturnal), medium-sized with reddish-brown or golden orange fur (hair) with black hair on long legs and on the mane (= long hair on the back of the neck and shoulders), fox-like head with black pointed muzzle (= mouth and nose part), a patch of white hair on the throat, long straight ears (six inch long) with greyish-white hair on the inner side, long bushy tail with white tip; size: 3 feet tall at the shoulder, 4 feet long, and weight: 20-25 Kg; feeds on (eats) rats, hares, birds, fish and little plant matter, especially juicy fruit; lives for 12-15 years in captivity; found in Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia and Peru of South America

male ~~ dog; brute

female ~~ bitch; fae

baby ~~ pup; cub; whelp

group ~~ pack; rout

voice (call) ~~ bark; growl

home ~~ den (to give birth to babies)

Special Features:

Maned wolves with their long legs and black mane are said to be the most beautiful, majestic and the largest of the dog family in South America.

Though it is called ‘wolf’ and though it looks like a large ‘red fox’, the maned wolf is not a wolf and not a fox (neither a wolf nor a fox); it is a species by its own in the dog family!

The long legs are believed to help the maned wolf to see better in tall grass; and it has the longest legs among the flesh eating animals!

The maned wolf is hunted for its body parts which are believed to have supernatural and medicinal powers: the right eye is believed to bring good luck in gambling; a necklace of teeth worn by children is supposed to protect children from any dental problems in future; and the fur worn as an amulet (= a charm to keep off evil or injury) to drive off evil, and also worn during religious ceremonies!

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