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A maned wolf with long black legs and a reddish coat walking on grass.
Photo: Jonathan Wilkins, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Maned Wolf

Chrysocyon brachyurus

A long-legged, red-coated South American canine that is neither a fox nor a true wolf, and eats as much fruit as meat.

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About the Maned Wolf

Maned wolves live in the grasslands, savannas and wetlands of central and eastern South America. Their long legs help them see over tall grass. About half of a maned wolf's diet is fruit and vegetables, especially lobeira berries, and the rest is small mammals, rabbits and insects. They are most active at dusk and at night.[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name
Chrysocyon brachyurus[1]
Size
About 3 feet (90 cm) tall at the shoulder.[1]
Weight
About 50 pounds (23 kg).[1]
Lifespan
Unknown in the wild. Median of 6.5 years in human care, up to 12 to 15 years.[1]
Diet
Omnivore. About half fruits and vegetables, especially lobeira berries, plus small mammals, rabbits and insects.[1]
Habitat
The cerrado: grasslands, savannas, forests, marshes and wetlands.[1]
Where it lives
Central and eastern South America, including Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, northern Argentina and southern Peru.[1]
Group life
Pairs share a territory of about 10 square miles but mostly hunt alone. Active at dusk and night.[1]
Babies
Pregnancy lasts about 65 days. Litters average 2.5 pups (1 to 5).[1]
Conservation status
Near Threatened (IUCN Red List, assessed 2015).[2]

Fun facts

  • The maned wolf is neither a fox nor a true wolf. It is the only species in its genus.[1]
  • About half of what a maned wolf eats is fruit.[1]
  • Maned wolf urine smells so strong that many people say it reminds them of a skunk.[1]
  • Its long legs help it see over tall grass.[1]

Vocabulary

canine
A member of the dog family, such as wolves, foxes and dogs.
genus
A group of closely related species.
cerrado
A huge region of tropical grassland, savanna and forest in South America.
omnivore
An animal that eats both plants and other animals.
near threatened
A conservation label meaning a species may become threatened soon.

See it in person

Sources

  1. [1] Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “Maned wolf.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/maned-wolf (accessed 2026-10-02)
  2. [2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Chrysocyon brachyurus (Maned Wolf).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/4819/82316878 (accessed 2026-10-02)

Facts last checked 2026-10-02.

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