It's a "maned wolf." But it's not a wolf.
It is the unique entity in the genus Chrysocyon. "There are no known extant or extinct species that come close" (because it's the only one that survived the mass extinctions of the Pleistocene).
Explained at Biomedical Ephemera, or: A Frog For Your Boils.
Addendum: The evolutionary advantage of those long legs can be seen in this video of it in its natural environment (hat tip to Brazilian reader Binho).
I'm surprised the source of your information said that last, very incorrect sentence. It's closely related to the Falkland Islands wolf. They split a little over six and a half million years ago. That's pretty closely related in paleontology.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-11/cp-nct102809.php
wow...always impressed to learn of a previously unfamiliar animal.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that a monotypic genus is not as uncommon as one might think.
ReplyDeletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monotypic_taxon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GItDj8-ISM
ReplyDeleteThe subtitle can be:
The bark in the dark is to imagine a dangerous beast but this animal of nocturnal habits is shy and not aggressive. Sometimes the maned wolf (LOBO-GUARÁ) appears day, but thanks to the coat color can disguise itself in the middle of the grass. The natural destruction of the fields in the Cerrado and in other regions of South America, has become a threat to the survival of the maned wolf. With few options for hunting, he often approach the vicinity of farms and eats everything: meat, fruit and other foods. In some cases accept cuddles from people.
Binho, from Brazil
(Binho, do you speak english? "So so... very so so...")
Thank you, Binho ! Seeing them in those tall grasslands explains why they have developed such long legs. I've added an addendum to the post.
Deletethank you very much !!!!!
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