Bush dog
| Bush dog[1] | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Canidae |
| Genus: | Speothos |
| Species: | S. venaticus |
| Binomial name | |
| Speothos venaticus (Lund, 1842) |
|
| Subspecies | |
|
|
 |
|
| Bush dog range | |
The bush dog (Speothos venaticus) is a canid found in Central and South America, including Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru , Ecuador, the Guianas, Paraguay, northeast Argentina (Misiones province) and Brazil (from the Amazon rainforest to the state of Amazonas).[1][2] In spite of its extensive range, it is very rare in most areas except in Suriname;[3][2] it was first identified by scientists as fossils in Brazilian caves and believed by them to be extinct. It is the only living species in its genus, Speothos.[1]
In Brazil it is called cachorro-vinagre ("vinegar dog") or cachorro-do-mato ("bush dog"). In Spanish-speaking countries it is called perro vinagre ("vinegar dog"), zorro vinagre ("vinegar fox"), perro de agua ("water dog"), or perro de monte ("bush dog").
Contents |
[edit] Description and habits
The bush dog (Speothos venaticus) has soft long brownish-tan fur, with a lighter reddish tinge on the head, neck and back and a bushy tail, while the underside is dark, sometimes with a lighter throat patch. Adults typically have 55–75 cm (22–30 in) of head and body, plus 13 cm (5 in) of tail, a shoulder height of 20–30 cm (8–12 in) and weigh 5–8 kg (11–18 lb).[4] Legs and snout are short relative to body length: the typical height is only 25–30 cm (10–12 in). The teeth are adapted for its carnivorous habits, and uniquely for an American canid, the dental formula is
| Dentition |
|---|
| 3.1.4.2 |
| 3.1.4.2 |
for a total of 40 teeth. The bush dog is one of three canid species with trenchant heel dentition, a unicuspid talonid on the lower carnassial molar that increases the cutting blade length.
It is a carnivore and hunts during the day, preferably in wet savannahs and tropical and equatorial forests. Its typical prey are the paca (Cuniculus paca), agouti, and capybaras, all large rodents.[5] Although it can hunt alone, the bush dog is usually found in small packs. The dogs can bring down much larger prey, including peccaries, rhea, even a 250 kg (550 lb) tapir hunted by a pack of 6 dogs. [6] When hunting paca, part of the pack chases it on land, and part wait for it in the water (where it often retreats). [7] The bush dog appears to be the most gregarious of the South American canid species. Bush dogs have skin growing between their toes, which allow them to swim more efficiently.[8] It uses hollow logs and cavities (e.g. armadillo burrows) for shelter. Pack-mates keep in contact with frequent whines, perhaps because visibility is poor in the undergrowth where the animal typically hunts.[9] During the consumption of large prey, parents position themselves at the ends of the animal, facilitating the disembowelment of the prey by pups. [10]
The gestation period is 64 days, and a litter can have up to six dark grey pups. Lactation lasts approximately 8 weeks. The bush dog is sexually mature at 1 year and lives for about 10 years.
[edit] Subspecies
There are three recognised subspecies:[1]
- Speothos venaticus panamensis (Panama)
- Speothos venaticus venaticus (Ecuador and Colombia (west of the Andes), Northern Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana, Northern and central Brazil and endangerd in Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina)
- Speothos venaticus wingei (Southeast Brazil)
[edit] See also
- Maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), one of its closest relatives.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Wozencraft, W. Christopher (16 November 2005). "Order Carnivora (pp. 532-628)". In Wilson, Don E., and Reeder, DeeAnn M., eds. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2 vols. (2142 pp.). ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3/browse.asp?id=14000836.
- ^ a b c DeMatteo, K., Michalski, F. & Leite-Pitman, M. R. P. (2011). "Speothos venaticus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/20468. Retrieved 18 January 2012. Database entry includes justification for why this species is near threatened
- ^ [1] (2011).
- ^ [2] (2011).
- ^ [3] (2011).
- ^ [4] (2011).
- ^ [5] (2011).
- ^ David Attenborough (November 20, 2002) (16:9 Stereo). The Life of Mammals, Episode 5: Meat Eaters (Documentary). United Kingdom: BBC/Discovery Channel. Event occurs at 17:10 min. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_of_Mammals. Retrieved 2009-12-13.
- ^ Macdonald, D. (1984). The Encyclopedia of Mammals. New York: Facts on File. pp. 31. ISBN 0-87196-871-1.
- ^ http://www.science.smith.edu/msi/pdf/i1545-1410-783-1-1.pdf
[edit] Bibliography
- Nicole Duplaix and Noel Simon, World Guide to Mammals. Mandarin Publishers Ltd (1976).
- Flower WH. 1880. On the bush-dog (Icticyon venaticus Lund). Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1880: 70–76.
[edit] External links
 |
Wikispecies has information related to: Speothos |
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Speothos venaticus |
- ARKive - images and movies of the bush dog (Speothos venaticus)
- Detailed Speothos Venaticus PDF article at the Canids Specialist Group (CSG) site (2004)
- Another webpage at Animal Diversity Web
- ITIS database
- Skeletal morphology data from UT Austin
- From Lioncrusher's domain – carnivore info
- Cachorro-do-mato-vinagre (in Portuguese)
- Cachorro-vinagre (in Portuguese)
"Bush-dog". New International Encyclopedia. 1905.
