# Speothos venaticus The bush dog is a small, playful mammal that loves to live in packs. They are great swimmers and can often be found near rivers and wetlands, where they hunt for food together. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Habitat:** Wetlands - **Also known as:** Bush Dog ![Speothos venaticus](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Bush_dog.JPG&width=800) Photo: Bonne1978, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bush_dog.JPG) ## Appearance The Speothos venaticus is a stocky, short-legged canid with a short bushy tail and small, rounded ears. Its fur is typically dark reddish-brown, often lighter on the head and neck, and darker on the legs and tail. It has a distinctive, almost otter-like appearance, quite different from most dogs. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Canidae - **Genus:** Speothos ## Interesting facts - Bush dogs are one of the most mysterious wild dogs in the whole world! - They often build dens in old armadillo burrows or hollow logs to raise their pups! - They sometimes stand on their front paws to scent-mark higher objects! - Unlike most dogs, Bush dogs make high-pitched whistles instead of barks to talk! ## Special abilities - **Paddling Paws:** Speothos venaticus has partially webbed feet that helps them swim efficiently through water. - **Teamwork Hunter:** Speothos venaticus can hunt in coordinated packs that helps them take down larger prey. - **Subterranean Home:** Speothos venaticus can use burrows of other animals that helps them create safe dens for shelter and raising pups. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 69-90 cm - **Weight:** 5-8 kg - **Lifespan:** 6-10 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-6 - **Gestation:** 65-83 days ## Diet & Feeding Bush dogs are skilled hunters that mainly eat small animals like rodents and lizards. - **Primary Foods:** Pacas, Agoutis, Rodents, Lizards - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Paca (*Cuniculus paca*) — A common prey item in their forest habitat. - **Hunts:** Brazilian Agouti (*Dasyprocta leporina*) — Frequently targeted by hunting packs. - **Eaten by:** [Jaguar](https://www.snappit.app/explore/jaguar) (*Panthera onca*) — A top predator in their shared ecosystem. - **Eaten by:** Puma (*Puma concolor*) — Also preys on bush dogs when opportunities arise. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [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:** 3/5 · Moderate Bush dogs are wild animals, so it's best to observe them from a distance and not try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Speothos venaticus? 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 Speothos venaticus? 69-90 cm ### How much does Speothos venaticus weigh? 5-8 kg ### How long does Speothos venaticus live? 6-10 years ### How fast can Speothos venaticus move? 35 km/h ### What does Speothos venaticus eat? Bush dogs are skilled hunters that mainly eat small animals like rodents and lizards. ### Where is Speothos venaticus usually found? Wetlands ### How does Speothos venaticus hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Detroit Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/detroit-zoo) — Michigan, US · Zoo - [Stone Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/stone-zoo) — Massachusetts, US · Zoo - [Tiergarten Bernburg](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tiergarten-bernburg) — Sachsen-Anhalt, DE · Zoo - [Tier-, Freizeit- und Saurierpark Germendorf](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tier-freizeit-und-saurierpark-germendorf) — Brandenburg, DE · Zoo [View all places to see Speothos venaticus](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/speothos-venaticus) ## 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: [Speothos venaticus: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/speothos-venaticus)