# maned wolf (*Chrysocyon brachyurus*) The maned wolf is a tall, slender animal with long legs and a beautiful reddish-brown coat. They are known for their unique howl and are often called the 'fox on stilts' because of their height! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Savannas - **Also known as:** Fox on stilts ![maned wolf](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Chrysocyon_brachyurus_no_Parque_Nacional_da_Serra_da_Canastra_por_Celso_Ferrarezi_Jr_%2807%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Ferrarezi Jr., CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chrysocyon_brachyurus_no_Parque_Nacional_da_Serra_da_Canastra_por_Celso_Ferrarezi_Jr_%2807%29.jpg) ## Appearance The maned wolf has a striking reddish-brown coat with distinctive long, slender black legs and a black mane running down its neck and back. It possesses a white throat and tail tip, giving it the appearance of a large fox on stilts. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Canidae - **Genus:** Chrysocyon ## Interesting facts - Maned wolves are the only species in their entire unique genus! - Their unique scent marking has been compared to the smell of marijuana! - These 'stilt-legged foxes' are not true wolves, but unique canids! - They stand on long legs to scan grasslands like a living periscope! ## Special abilities - **Power Paws:** maned wolf has long, strong legs that help them see over tall grass and run quickly. - **Super Sniffer:** maned wolf can use its keen sense of smell to find hidden prey and mark its territory. - **Fruit Fixer:** maned wolf has a special digestive system that helps them eat and benefit from tough fruits. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 95-115 cm - **Weight:** 20-30 kg - **Lifespan:** 6-8 years - **Speed:** 50 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-5 - **Gestation:** 60-65 days ## Diet & Feeding An omnivore, it eats tasty fruits and small animals like rodents and birds. - **Age differences:** Pups drink milk then gradually add small prey and fruits to their diet. - **Primary Foods:** Lobeira fruit, small rodents, birds, insects, reptiles - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Lobeira fruit (*Solanum lycocarpum*) — Primary food, helps disperse its seeds. - **Hunts:** Brazilian guinea pig (*Cavia aperea*) — A common small mammal prey in grasslands. - **Eats:** [Termite](https://www.snappit.app/explore/termite) (*Cornitermes cumulans*) — Digs for these protein-rich insects. - **Eaten by:** [Jaguar](https://www.snappit.app/explore/jaguar) (*Panthera onca*) — Young can be prey for large cats. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Savanna](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/savanna): This habitat trait denotes species native to savannas, which are grasslands with scattered trees, typically found in tropical or subtropical regions with distinct wet and dry seasons. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Maned wolves are shy and prefer to stay away from people. It's best to admire them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify maned wolf? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is maned wolf? 95-115 cm ### How much does maned wolf weigh? 20-30 kg ### How long does maned wolf live? 6-8 years ### How fast can maned wolf move? 50 km/h ### What does maned wolf eat? An omnivore, it eats tasty fruits and small animals like rodents and birds. ### Where is maned wolf usually found? Savannas ### How does maned wolf hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [John Ball Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/john-ball-zoo) — Michigan, US · Zoo - [Woodland Park Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/woodland-park-zoo) — Washington, US · Zoo - [Dickerson Park Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dickerson-park-zoo) — Missouri, US · Zoo - [Montgomery Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/montgomery-zoo) — Alabama, US · Zoo - [Sunset Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sunset-zoo) — Kansas, US · Zoo - [Zoologická zahrada Děčín - Pastýřská stěna](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoologick-zahrada-d-n-past-sk-st-na) — Ústí nad Labem Region, CZ · Zoo [View all places to see maned wolf](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/maned-wolf) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Maned Wolf: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/maned-wolf)