![maned wolf maned wolf](https://i.pinimg.com/236x/cc/47/d5/cc47d5e57cb73bff1efee644604a6eea.jpg)
The female gives birth to a litter of one to five pups each year (average of three) between June and September (6) (8). Although the basic social unit is the male-female mated pair, which share a home range typically between 25 to 50 square kilometres (11), these individuals remain fairly independent of one another and only closely associate during the breeding season from April to June (5) (6) (8). Unlike other wolves that live in cooperative breeding packs, the maned wolf is primarily solitary (10). Scavenging on road-kill also occurs and free-ranging chickens are frequently stolen from farms (8). The maned wolf's main source of food is the tomato-like lobeira fruit, which grows throughout its range and is thought to provide medicinal aid against the giant kidney worm, Dioctophyme renate (1) (5). The diet consists of a wide variety of fruits and small mammals, such as armadillos and rabbits, but also includes occasional pampas deer ( Ozotoceros bezoarticus), birds, reptiles, insects, fish and arthropods (1). The maned wolf hunts primarily at night, and during dusk and dawn hours, while the days are often spent resting, often in areas of thick bush cover (5). Key Reproductive Features: gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate) sexualĪverage age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female) Wild maned wolves are rarely seen with their pups. Non-captive maned wolves give birth in natal nests hidden by thick vegetation. Their eyes and ears open by day nine, their ears stand upright and they will take regurgitated food by week four, the pelage changes from black to red by week ten, they are weaned by 15 weeks, and their bodies have the proportions of adults at one year, at which time they reach sexual maturity.
![maned wolf maned wolf](https://64.media.tumblr.com/6f610e34f82633ede959fbcecc12bf4e/tumblr_p1oc6hzeZ61weo47ko1_1280.png)
Young are born weighing 340 to 430 grams and develop quickly. A record number of seven has been observed. A litter usually contains one to five young. Gestation in captivity is similar to that of other canids and lasts approximately 65 days. The estrous lasts for a period of one to four days. Breeding season is probably controlled by photoperiod captives copulate between October and February in the Northern Hemisphere and between August and October in South America. Little is known about the reproductive patterns of wild maned wolves. The Maned Wolf is part of our Wild Safari Wildlife collection.Maned wolves are monogamous, though males and females tend to live independently except during the breeding season.Size: The Maned Wolf figure is about 4 inches long and 3 ½ inches tall.It’s sculpted in a walking pose, with its head turned quizzically to the left. Characteristics: This Maned Wolf figure is accurate and detailed, with the animal’s characteristic long legs and neck mane well represented.Some scientists think it is the sole survivor of a group of large canids that lived in South America during the Pleistocene Epoch, which ended over 11,000 years ago. In fact, it is not closely related to any other member of its family, Canidae. Though its orange-red coloration resembles a fox, and it is called a wolf, it is not closely related to either animal.
![maned wolf maned wolf](https://i.redd.it/vehffcvubci11.jpg)
Its long legs help it navigate the tall grass of its habitat, while its distinctive black mane help it to appear larger when threatened by a predator. The Maned Wolf of South America is the tallest canid – a group that contains wolves, foxes, jackals, coyotes and dogs.