When someone asks what your favourite animal is, it's easy to go with the classics. Dogs, cats, horses, monkeys. But what about when you consider animals that don't pop into your head within five seconds? The world is full of awesome creatures, and here's a few of my favourites!
Maned Wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) are very unique and unusual animals that live in central Brazil as well as some parts of Paraguay, Argentina and Bolivia. They are the only existing member of the Chrysocyon genus, exemplifying their uniqueness. Despite their name, they are not a wolf, and despite their appearance, they are not a fox. Its closest relative would be the Bush Dog (Speothos venaticus) which (are you seeing a theme?) is not a dog.
Maned Wolves are easily identifiable by their distinctive long legs. The ruff of fur on the back of their necks is where the 'maned' part of their name comes from. They are the largest canines that live in South America, as they can weigh up to 30kg. Maned Wolves are omnivores and hunt during the twilight hours. Their long legs help them to see prey hiding in the tall grasslands that they live in. In contrast to other wild canines like wolves and African dogs, they are solitary creatures and do not live or hunt in packs. Besides meat, Maned Wolves tend to feed on sugarcane, tuber plants and various fruits. In particular, Maned Wolves seem to be most fond of a fruit with a most fitting name: the Wolf Apple.
Younger Maned Wolf pups are grey in colour and look completely different from the striking orange fur of adults. They can live for about 15 years, though in captivity they may live as long as 22. When communicating with others, such as during mating seasons, they can make a sound that is described as a "roar-bark". Maned Wolves are a vulnerable species, but are not classified as endangered. In general, they tend to be shy around humans and not bother them much.
In internet cultures, the Maned Wolf has gained notoriety for its uniqueness and is often appreciated as the "Leggy Lord" or "Leggy King". I discovered the Maned Wolf by complete accident through a ridiculous, dumb Youtube video about these magnificent creatures. Their beautiful, unique appearance immediately struck a chord with me, and now I do everything I can to share the word of the leggy with everyone.
I've always been a fan of foxes. They're my all time favourite animal, especially the Red Fox. Though Maned Wolves are not foxes, the striking russet colour of their fur definitely reminds me of the foxes I love. It's amazing to see a creature that is so unique and unusual, without looking 'weird'. Rather, it's just something that you don't normally see, and that makes them fascinating to me.
A Maned Wolf may have dug a hole and hidden this cache...