Roaming the open grasslands, scrublands, and wet savannas of South America—primarily Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay—the maned wolf is a striking terrestrial mammal with a unique appearance: long, slender legs, a shaggy reddish-brown coat, and a distinctive black mane running down its back. Despite its name, it is not a true wolf nor a fox, but the only member of its genus, Chrysocyon, making it one of the most unusual canids on Earth. Its long legs are a key adaptation to its grassland habitat, allowing it to see over tall vegetation and move efficiently across open spaces.

The maned wolf’s long legs are its most defining feature, evolved to help it navigate the tall grasses of the Cerrado biome (South America’s tropical savanna). These legs let it spot prey—such as small mammals, birds, insects, and fruits—from a distance, and its large ears enhance its sense of hearing, helping it detect hidden prey in the grass. Unlike true wolves, maned wolves are mostly solitary, only coming together during mating season. They are crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk), avoiding the midday heat by resting in shaded areas or dens.

A unique aspect of the maned wolf’s diet is its reliance on fruit, particularly the “wolf apple” (a small, orange fruit native to South America). Up to 50% of its diet consists of this fruit, making it more omnivorous than most canids. This diet helps the maned wolf survive in environments where prey may be scarce, and it also plays an important role in seed dispersal, as the wolf’s digestive system helps spread the wolf apple’s seeds across the grasslands. When hunting small prey, it uses a pouncing technique—leaping into the air and landing on its target with its front paws.

The maned wolf’s black mane is not just for show; it serves as a defense mechanism. When threatened or startled, the mane stands erect, making the animal appear larger and more intimidating to predators like jaguars or pumas. Females give birth to 2-5 pups per litter, which are born with a grayish coat and develop their reddish color as they mature. The mother raises the pups alone, teaching them to hunt and forage until they are independent at around 1 year old. Today, maned wolves face threats from habitat loss due to agricultural expansion and deforestation, and they are classified as “Near Threatened” by the IUCN. Conservation efforts focus on protecting the Cerrado biome and creating wildlife corridors to connect fragmented habitats.