This mammal was given a different name in English though. The Maned Wolf’s original name is “Lobo Guará”, which means Red Wolf in Tupi-Guarani. It is monotypic, meaning it is the only species representative of the genus Chrysocyon. The maned wolf is not closely related to any other living canid.The Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) is the largest of all South America canids. The maned wolf is well represented in captivity and has been bred successfully at many zoos, particularly in Argentina, North America and Europe. They are threatened by habitat loss and being run over by automobiles. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species lists maned wolves as near threatened. It once was considered a similar threat to cattle and sheep, although this now is known to be false. Popularly, the maned wolf is thought to have the potential of being a chicken thief. Generally, the maned wolf is shy and flees when alarmed, so it poses little direct threat to humans. During that first year, the pups rely on their parents for food. Gestation lasts 60 to 65 days and a litter may have from two to six black-furred pups, each weighing roughly 450 g (16 oz). Their mating season ranges from November to April.
Maned wolves are monogamous males and females live independently except during the breeding season. They do not howl, but instead emit loud barks or roar barks to let their mate know where they are, and to warn other wolves to stay away. They tap the ground with a front foot to flush out the prey and pounce to catch it. Maned wolves rotate their large ears to listen for prey animals in the grass. These gentle and very timid wolves are solitary by nature. The maned wolf also differs from true North American wolves in diet and temperament. It hunts alone, usually between sundown and midnight. It specialises in preying on small and medium-sized animals, including small mammals (typically rodents and rabbits), birds, and even fish, but a large portion of its diet (more than 50%, according to some studies) is vegetable matter, including sugarcane, tubers, and fruit.
The muzzle and lower legs are black and the throat and tail are lighter in color. The maned wolf has a chestnut red coat with a thick, black mane running along the back of their neck and over the shoulders. The Maned Wolf is the tallest of the wild canids its long legs are likely an adaptation to the tall grasslands of its native habitat. Its shoulder height is from 74 to 90 centimeters (2.4 to 2.9 feet), and its weight from 20 to 26 kilograms (44 to 57 pounds). The Maned Wolf ranges from 125 to 130 centimeters (50 to 52 inches) in length, excluding the 30–45-centimetre (12-18-inch) tail. The lifespan of the maned wolf is up to 12 years in the wild and up to 15 years in captivity. Their habitat include in grassland, savanna, dry shrub forest, swampy areas, forest-edge habitat, and river areas. It is very rare in Uruguay, possibly being displaced completely through loss of habitat. The maned wolf is found primarily in Brazil but there are also populations in Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina. It is neither a wolf, like its name, nor a fox, like its appearance it is the only species in the genus Chrysocyon, meaning “golden dog.” The maned wolf is the largest canid of South America.