If you’re a dog person like me, then
you’ll probably find these guys pretty cute!
It is the only living member of the
genus Speothos, and its closest living relative is thought to be the maned
wolf. It is also known in Brazil as the “cachorro vinagre” meaning “vinegar dog”
for its fur, which is a reddish brown. The underside is usually darker, while
there is frequently a lighter patch under the throat. The adults typically
reach up to 22 – 30 inches in length, and weigh 11 – 18lbs. They usually hunt
during the day in packs of their immediate family. There is one mating pair,
and the rest of the pack help in protecting and raising the pups. They
typically feed on small rodents such as capybaras, and their webbed feet means
that they can catch anything that tries to escape into the water. They are very
popular as pets among the locals, but unfortunately we’ll have to be pretty
lucky to see them in the wild. They are considered near threatened and are very
rare outside of Suriname, although their range covers most of Brazil.
-Catie
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