Maned Wolf

The maned wolf is the tallest wild canid in the world, native to the grasslands, savannas and scrublands of central South America, most notably the Brazilian cerrado. Despite its name, it is neither a wolf nor a fox but the sole member of its own genus, most closely related to other South American canids. Its striking reddish-orange fur, long black legs and dark mane along the neck give it a fox-like appearance on stilts, an adaptation thought to help it see over tall grass while hunting. Largely solitary and omnivorous, it feeds on small mammals, birds and insects alongside a substantial amount of fruit, particularly a tomato-like fruit called the wolf apple that makes up a large part of its diet in some seasons. Habitat loss from agricultural expansion across its range, along with roadkill and disease from domestic dogs, has caused population declines, and the species is classified as near threatened.