Animal
Maned wolf
A long-legged South American canid that combines hunting with a taste for fruit.
Langue du contenu
The maned wolf stands out with its long, dark legs, reddish coat and large ears. Warsaw Zoo presents the males Pedro and Pascal as its representatives of this South American species. Its outline resembles a fox on tall legs, although its common name calls it a wolf.
In the wild, maned wolves inhabit landscapes including Brazil's cerrado, a mixture of grassland and wooded areas. Long limbs help them move through tall grass and look over the stems. Large, mobile ears detect the sounds of small animals hidden among the plants.
Their diet is omnivorous. It includes small mammals and insects as well as fruit, notably lobeira. Finding food therefore involves more than tracking prey. The animal takes advantage of foods available in its environment and usually hunts alone.
Maned wolves do not form packs like those of grey wolves. A pair may share a territory and leave information about its presence in scent marks. They make loud, bark-like calls rather than a typical wolf howl. They are mostly active at dusk and at night, so resting quietly during the day is part of their natural rhythm.
Pour les enfants
A maned wolf looks a little like a fox on stilts. Its long legs are useful in South America's tall grass. They make it easier to walk through the plants and look over them. Large ears turn to help detect the movement of a small animal. Pedro and Pascal live in Warsaw.
This carnivoran mammal also eats fruit. Its menu includes small animals, insects and a fruit called lobeira. It usually searches for food on its own. It does not gather in a large wolf pack, although a pair can share the same territory.
A maned wolf is most active in the evening and at night. During the day it may rest. It communicates with loud calls that sound like barking and leaves scent messages too. Smells and sounds tell it which other animals are nearby.
Question 1 sur 2
What are a maned wolf's exceptionally long legs useful for?
- Emplacement
- Maned wolf - location on the zoo map.