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Post by Atheron on Jan 11, 2012 10:47:12 GMT -5
DholesInformation from WikipediaThe Dhole (Cuon alpinus) is a species of wild dog of the Canidae family. It is also known as the Asiatic Wild Dog; lesser known names include the Indian Wild Dog, the Red Dog, the Asiatic Dog, and the Whistling Hunter (due to the whistling sound it can make). Within the canid family, the dhole is placed in a genus of its own, which is post-Pleistocene in origin. The dhole has been a distinct species for several thousand years. Cuon means dog in Greek, and alpinus means alpine (Mountain) in Latin. Thus the dhole’s scientific name means mountain dog. The animal is closely related to the genus Canis, and is by some authors considered part of Canis. Other related genera are Lycaon (African wild dog) and, more distantly, Pseudalopex and other South American Foxes. The dhole is, generally, most active in the early morning and evening, and sometimes at night. Three geographical races are believed to exist: peninsular, Himalayan and trans-Himalayan. Physical DescriptionHead and body length: 35 - 52inches, though 40 inches is the usual. Northern populations are around 20% longer. Tail length: 11-20inches. Height at shoulder: 16 – 21inches. Weight: Females weigh in at 22 - 35.3 lbs, while males average 31 - 49 lbs. The dhole is about the size of a collie, and is similar to the dingo and golden jackal. Its coat is usually a uniformly rusty red hue, but varies regionally from sandy, creamy yellow through red and brown to dark gray. Sometimes it is grizzled. Generally, the dhole has a black-tipped – though sometimes white or brown or gray - moderately bushy tail, a darker area on its back, and white or pale patches on its chest, paws and belly. Its large ears (about half the length of the face) are rounded with white on the inside, its legs are short, and its eyes are slightly hooded and have amber irises. The dhole has sixteen teats, reflecting its ability to care for many young. This is more teats than most other dogs. It has four toes on each paw, with fur between the toes, which are red, brown, and/or white. The fore-toe pads are hairless, and are joined at the base near the main pad, unlike most domestic dogs. The jaw is thick, blunt, relatively short, slightly convex in profile, and squarish. DietThe dhole is an omnivore. Its prey are usually deer (like spotted deer, chital, and sambar, the latter of which is over twenty times a dhole’s weight), but also wild boar, red muntjac deer, wild goats, wild sheep, nilgai, mountain sheep, water buffalo, hares (like the Black-naped Hare), caribou, reindeer, gaur and sometimes monkeys. On occasion, it will try for large creatures like the banteng, a large bovid. Dholes prefer prey between 68.3 lbs and 389 lbs in weight. Also, the dhole may consume wild berries, insects, rodents, East Asian porcupine, and lizards. In India, the dhole’s favorite prey animal is the medium-sized axis deer. Occasionally they consume grasses and other plants, though this may serve an anti-helminthic function rather than a nutritional one. They are said to feed on the fallen fruit of black wood and bael trees. HuntingAlthough the dhole is not a fast runner, it has great stamina, and will pursue prey for hours, though not always to exhaustion. Most chases are less than a few hundred metres in length. As it is an excellent swimmer, it will often drive its prey into water, surrounding the animal and swimming out in teams to perform the capture. The dhole is capable of killing prey ten times its own size, and will defend kills very violently. Packs have been observed to attack tigers in disputes over food. The dhole is mainly a crepuscular forager. During hunts, some dholes may lie in ambush, while others drive prey in their direction. Sometimes several families unite in order to hunt large animals. Working as a pack, dholes can subdue prey over ten times their body weight and can even attack leopards, the Indian bison, and tigers. The dhole seldom kills by tearing out the throat. Larger mammals are attacked from behind and swiftly disemboweled; smaller ones are caught by any part of the body and killed by a quick blow to the head. Often, a dhole pack will start eating prey before it is even dead, like the African Hunting Dog does. The larger prey more often die from the blood loss as its body parts are feasted upon rather than the attack itself. Often when attacking a large prey animal--which requires a coordinated attack--a “lead hunt dog” will emerge by taking a prominent role in disabling the prey; roles taken by other doles on include taking the first grab at the prey. Two or three dholes can bring down a 50 kg (110 lb) deer in less than two minutes. Individuals can hold over 3kg in their stomachs, allowing meat to be transported. Sometimes, however, the dhole prefers to hunt in a pair or singly. The hunting range is about 40sq km (15sq mi). They hunt well in open fields and in thick forest. After meals (during which a couple of dholes act as look-outs, wary for leopards and tigers--and humans--all who could kill them or steal their kill), they race to a water site, and sometimes, if the water is near their kill, dholes will leave their food for a small drink of water. Dhole packs compete for food, not by fighting, but by consuming it as quickly as they can. An adult dhole can eat up to 4 kg (8.8 lb) of meat in one hour. Dholes only scavenge in times of food shortage, especially during the dry season. They will return to prey remains three or four days after the animal was brought down. Dholes have been recorded consuming elephant carrion, and may steal the kills of other species ReproductionSexual dimorphism is not very distinct with no quantitative anatomical differences known. Both males and females become sexually active at one year old, though females usually breed at 2 years in captivity, and in the wild, for the first time at 3 years, possibly due to physiological and behavioural restraints. Females exhibit seasonal polyoestrus, with a cycle of around 4-6 weeks. Pups are born throughout the end of fall, winter, and the first spring months ( November - March ) - dens are earthern burrowns, or are constructed amongst rocks and boulder structures, in rocky caverns, or close to streambeds. In East Java, dholes are thought to mate mainly between January and May. A mating pair engages in marking and lively play, culminating in a copulatory tie. After a gestation period of around 60-62 days, females usually give birth to about eight pups (though the range is 5-10, the record is 12, and sizes vary drastically within the same pack through different years), which weigh 200-350g. At 10 days their body weight has doubled, and body length is 340mm. Pups are weaned between 6 and 9 weeks. In captivity, weaning is sometimes recorded later on in the range. By 8 weeks, younglings are less quarrelsome and aggressive, and more vigilant. At three months litters go on hunts, though the pack may not be fully mobile until eight months. Young reach sexual maturity at about a year, and full adult size at 15 months. After birth, a few other adults will help to feed the young of the dominant pair. The pups, as early as the tender age of three weeks, and the mother are fed regurgitated meat. When lone females breed, rearing the litters only results in limited success. BehaviorThe dhole is a highly social and co-operative animal, like the timber wolf, the Amazonian bush dog, and the African hunting dog. Generally it lives in organized, extended-family packs of five to twelve individuals (this number rarely exceeds twenty five), with more males, sometimes twice as many more, than females, and usually just one breeding female. Sometimes pack members interact with other dholes outside of their own group; these interactions may be positive or hostile (home ranges are often quite separate). Environmental conditions can affect group size and composition. Large packs of over forty dholes have been sighted, possibly resulting from the temporary fusion of neighboring packs. Older dholes of around 7-8 years sometimes vanish from the group. Within dhole packs, there is almost never any aggression – there is a strict social hierarchy, so fighting is not needed - or bullying, save for play-fighting among cubs. Each pack contains a dominant monogamous pair, who are usually the sole breeders. However, junior males may display sexual interest in the dominant female, and sometimes father cubs. Pack members play together regularly, allow grooming, mock-fighting, and rolling around. Social rank is reinforced by shoving and holding, rarely by biting. Dispersal is female-biased. Within a group, members over-mark each other's waste, creating individual latrines in the home range. These latrines serve intra-group communication, for example, passing on information concerning sexual status. Video footage has been taken of a dhole urinating while balancing only on the two front paws. Dholes are fond of water. They have been spotted sitting in shallow pools of water regardless of the temperature. Like domestic dogs, dholes wag their tails. The dhole can leap to at least 2.3 meters (7.5 feet) VocalizationsThe dhole has some extraordinary vocal calls. It can make high-pitched screams, mew, hiss, squeak, yelp, chatter, and cluck like a chicken. Growl-barks and other noises alert pack-mates to danger; the large range of calls like these may have evolved to warn companions of different dangers - human, tiger, etc. Calls also act as threats to scare off enemies. Its best-known sound is its strange whistle, likened by early naturalists to the sound obtained when air is blown over an empty cartridge. These calls are used for contact within the pack. The repetitive whistles are so distinct that individual dholes can be identified by it, and the source is easily located. Whistles travel well at ground level due to their frequency and structure.
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Post by Atheron on Jan 11, 2012 10:57:32 GMT -5
CoyoteInformation from WikipediaThe coyote (Canis latrans), also known as the prairie wolf , is a mammal of the order Carnivora. The species is found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States, and Canada. It occurs as far north as Alaska and all but the northernmost portions of Canada. There are currently 19 recognized subspecies, with 16 in Canada, Mexico and the United States, and 3 in Central America. The name "coyote" is a borrowed from Mexican Spanish, ultimately derived from the Nahuatl word coyotl. Its Latin name, Canis latrans, literally means "barking dog." DescriptionThe color of the coyote's pelt varies from grayish brown to yellowish gray on the upper parts, while the throat and belly tending to buff or white. The forelegs, sides of the head, muzzle and feet are reddish brown. The back has tawny colored underfur and long, black-tipped guard hairs that form a black dorsal stripe and a dark cross on the shoulder area. The black-tipped tail has a scent gland located on its dorsal base. Coyotes shed once a year, beginning in May with light hair loss, ending in July after heavy shedding. The ears are proportionately large in relation to the head, while the feet are relatively small in relation to the rest of the body. Mountain dwelling coyotes tend to be dark furred while desert coyotes tend to be more yellowish in color. Coyotes typically grow from 30–40 inches in length and on average, weigh from 15–46 pounds. Northern coyotes are typically larger than southern subspecies, with the largest coyotes on record weighing 74¾ pounds (33.7 kg) and measuring over five feet in total length. Unlike wolves, but similairly to domestic dogs, coyotes have sweat glands on their pawpads. This trait is however absent in the large New England coyotes which are thought to have some wolf anscestry. During pursuit, a coyote may reach speeds up to 43 mph, and can jump over 4 meters. BehaviorCoyotes tend not to roam in large packs as wolves do, though they have been observed to travel in small, single sexed groups. These groups are usually not as unified as wolf packs, and members will readily disperse and regroup. The collective name for a group of coyotes is a band, a pack, or a rout. Coyotes are primarily nocturnal but can occasionally be seen during daylight hours. Coyotes were once essentially diurnal, but have adapted to more nocturnal behavior with pressure from humans. Coyotes are capable of digging their own burrows, though they often appropriate the burrows of woodchucks or American badgers. Coyote territorial ranges can be as much as 19 kilometers in diameter around the den and travel occurs along fixed trails. In areas where wolves have been exterminated, coyotes usually flourish. The settlement of New England for example ended in the destruction of the resident wolves, resulting in coyotes replacing them and filling the empty biological niche. Coyotes appear much abler than wolves to live among people. Coyotes have been known to live a maximum of 10 years in the wild and 18 years in captivity. ReproductionFemale coyotes are monoestrus and remain in heat for 2–5 days between late January and late March, during which mating occurs. Once the female chooses a partner, the mated pair may remain temporarily monogamous for a number of years. Depending on geographic location, spermatogenesis in males takes around 54 days and occurs between January and February. The gestation period lasts from 60 to 63 days. Litter size ranges from 1 to 19 pups; though the average is 6. The pups weigh approximately 250 grams at birth and are initially blind and limp-eared. The eyes open and ears erect after 10 days. Around 21-28 days after birth, the young begin to emerge from the den and by 35 days they are fully weaned. Both parents feed the weaned cubs with regurgitated food. Male pups will disperse from their dens between months 6 and 9, while females usually remain with the parents and form the basis of the pack. The cubs attain full growth between 9 and 12 months. Sexual maturity is reached by 12 months. Coyotes will sometimes mate with domestic dogs, usually in areas like Texas and Oklahoma where the coyotes are plentiful and the breeding season is extended because of the warm weather. The resulting hybrids called coydogs maintain the coyote's predatory nature, along with the dog's lack of timidity toward humans, making them a usually more serious threat to livestock than pure blooded animals. This cross breeding has the added effect of confusing the breeding cycle. Coyotes usually breed only once a year, while coydogs will breed year-round, producing many more pups than a wild coyote. A distinguishable feature in a coydog is the ears and tail. Coyotes have also been known on occasion to mate with wolves. The offspring, known as a coywolf is generally intermediate in size to both parents, being larger than a pure coyote, but smaller than a pure wolf. A study showed that of 100 coyotes collected in Maine, 22 had half or more wolf ancestry, and one was 89 percent wolf. A theory has been proposed that the large eastern coyotes in Canada are actually hybrids of the smaller western coyotes and wolves that met and mated decades ago as the coyotes moved toward New England from their earlier western ranges. The red wolf is considered by some to be a wolf/coyote hybrid, due to its habit of readily mating with coyotes and the fact that it carries no unique genetic trait that would make it distinct from coyotes and grey wolves. CommunicationHearing a coyote is much more common than seeing one. The calls a coyote make are high-pitched and variously described as howls, yips, yelps and barks. These calls may be a long rising and falling note (a howl) or a series of short notes (yips). These calls are most often heard at dusk or night, less often during the day. Although these calls are made throughout the year, they are most common during the spring mating season and in the fall when the pups leave their families to establish new territories. Diet and HuntingCoyotes are versatile carnivores with a 90% mammalian diet, depending on the season. They primarily eat small mammals, such as voles, eastern cottontails, ground squirrels, and mice, though they will eat birds, snakes, deer, and livestock as well as large insects and other large invertebrates. Though they will consume large amounts of carrion, they tend to prefer fresh meat. Part of the coyote's success as a species is its dietary adaptability. As such, coyotes have been known to eat human garbage and domestic pets. Fruits and vegetables are a significant part of the coyote's diet in the autumn and winter months. Coyotes shift their hunting techniques in accordance to their prey. When hunting small animals such as mice, they slowly stalk through the grass and use their acute sense of smell to track down the prey. When the prey is located, the coyotes stiffen and pounce on the prey in a cat-like manner. Coyotes will commonly work in teams when hunting large ungulates such as deer. Coyotes may take turns in baiting and pursuing the deer to exhaustion, or they may drive it towards a hidden member of the pack. When attacking large prey, coyotes attack from the rear and the flanks of their prey. Occasionally they also grab the neck and head, pulling the animal down to the ground. Coyotes are persistent hunters, with successful attacks sometimes lasting from 14 minutes to about 21 hours; even unsuccessful ones can vary from 2 minutes to more than 8 hours before the coyotes give up. Depth of snow can affect the likelihood of a successful kill. The average distance covered in a night's hunting is 4 km (2½ mi).
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Post by Atheron on Jan 11, 2012 11:01:46 GMT -5
DingosInformation from WikipediaThe dingo (plural dingoes or dingos) or warrigal, Canis lupus dingo, is a type of wild dog, probably descended from the Indian Wolf (Canis Indica). It is commonly described as an Australian wild dog, but is not restricted to Australia, nor did it originate there. Modern dingoes are found throughout Southeast Asia, mostly in small pockets of remaining natural forest, and in mainland Australia, particularly in the north. They have features in common with both wolves and modern dogs, and are regarded as more or less unchanged descendants of an early ancestor of modern dogs. The name dingo comes from the language of the Eora Aboriginal people, who were the original inhabitants of the Sydney area. CharacteristicsThe dingo is legendary as Australia's wild dog, though it also occurs in Southeast Asia. The Australian animals may be descendants of Asian dingoes that were introduced to the continent some 2,000 to 3,000 years ago. These golden-orange canids may live alone (especially young males) or in packs of up to 15 animals. They roam great distances and communicate with wolf-like howls. Dingo hunting is opportunistic. Animals hunt alone or in packs. They pursue small game such as rabbits, rodents, birds, and lizards in addition to larger prey such as kangaroos, sheep and deer. These dogs will eat fruits and plants as well. They also scavenge from humans, particularly in their Asian range. Dingoes breed only once a year. Females typically give birth to about five pups, which are not independent until six to eight months of age. In packs, a dominant breeding female will kill the offspring of other females. Australia is home to so many of these animals that they are generally considered cute, but pests. A famous "dingo fence" has been erected to protect grazing lands for the continent's herds of sheep. It is likely that more dingoes live in Australia today than when Europeans first arrived. Though dingoes are numerous, their pure genetic strain is gradually being compromised. They can and do interbreed with domestic dogs to produce hybrid animals. Studies suggest that more than a third of southeastern Australia's dingoes are hybrids. At between 22-53 pounds, dingoes are a little smaller than wolves of the northern hemisphere and have a lean, athletic build. They stand between 17-25inches high at the shoulder, and the head-body length varies between 34-48inches. Colour varies but is usually ginger: some have a reddish tinge, others are more sandy yellow, and some are even black; the underside is lighter. Alpine dingoes are found in high elevation areas of the Australia Alps, and grow a second thicker coat during late autumn for warmth which usually sheds by mid to late spring. Most dingoes have white markings on the chest, feet, and the tip of the tail; some have a blackish muzzle. They can live for up to 14 years in captivity, but have a more usual lifespan of 3-7 years. Unlike the domestic dog, dingoes breed only once a year, generally do not bark, and have erect ears. They have a more independent temperament than domestic dogs, and the skull is distinctive, with a narrower muzzle, larger auditory bullae, larger canine teeth, and a domed head. They are extremely agile and are known to climb trees. Wild dingoes prey on a variety of animals, mostly small or medium-sized animals, but also larger herbivores if need be. They are opportunistic carnivores, taking prey ranging in size from lizards and small rodents up to sheep and kangaroos. Dingoes do not generally form packs; they more often travel in pairs or small family groups. However, they are capable of forming larger packs to hunt cooperatively. While dingo groups use defined home territories, these territories can overlap with those of other groups. Domestication is possible only if the dingoes are taken into captivity as young pups.
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Post by Atheron on Jan 11, 2012 11:05:00 GMT -5
Raccoon DogInformation from WikipediaThe Raccoon Dog ( Nyctereutes procyonoides "nycto-" = Gr. "night," "ereutes" = Gr. "wanderer," "procyon" = "raccoon," "-oides" = Gr. "-oid"), or Tanuki (タヌキ) in Japanese, is a member of the canid family (which includes dogs, wolves, and foxes) and is indigenous to east Asia. It is not a true dog, and is the only extant species in its genus Nyctereutes. It is named for its superficial resemblance to the non-canid raccoon. Raccoon Dogs are native to Japan, southeastern Siberia and Manchuria. Between 1929 and 1955, they were introduced to the European part of the Soviet Union and have spread rapidly since. They are now abundant throughout Scandinavia and the Baltic states, and have been reported as far as France and Italy. Average adult head and body length is about 2 ft and weight ranges from 9 to 22 lb. Average litters consist of 5 pups. Longevity is 3–4 years in the wild and up to 11 years in captivity. They are found in both plains and mountainous regions and are especially common in woodlands. Raccoon Dogs are commonly seen near villages and in rural areas. Raccoon Dog populations have declined in recent years due to hunting, fur trade and fur trapping, urbanization, an increase of animals associated with human civilization such as pets and abandoned animals, and diseases that may be transmitted between them. BehaviorLike many other dogs, they are omnivorous. However, their diets are atypically diverse, consisting of invertebrates, frogs, lizards, rodents and birds along with seeds and berries. Those living near the ocean will also eat crabs and scavenged marine life. Raccoon Dogs are secretive and not very aggressive; they prefer to hide or scream rather than fight, and play dead to avoid animals that will eat them. They are monogamous; some fights occur between males for the females. Mating season begins when Raccoon Dogs emerge from their homes. The female is in heat for about six days. The baculum tie in coitus lasts about 6 minutes, less than in other canids. When the cubs are born after a gestation of about 60 days, the male will assist in cub-rearing, first by providing food to his mate and then also for the cubs when they are weaned, about 50 days after birth. The little raccoon dogs are physically and sexually mature after 1 year. The Raccoon Dog is the only canid to go into torpor through the cold months. It is also unusual in that its curved claws enable it to climb trees; the only other canid with this ability is the gray fox. It does not bark and it turns its tail into an inverted U to express dominance. The Raccoon Dog's teeth are small for a canid.
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Post by Atheron on Jan 11, 2012 11:07:19 GMT -5
Bush DogInformation from WikipediaThe Bush Dog (Speothos venaticus) is a canid found in Central and South America, including Panama, Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru (West of the Andes), Ecuador, the Guianas, Paraguay, northeast Argentina (Misiones province), and Brazil (from the Amazon rainforest to the state of Amazonas). In spite of its extensive range, it is very rare; it was originally discovered as fossils in Brazilian caves and thought to be extinct. It is the only species in its genus, Speothos. In Brazil it is called cachorro-vinagre ("Vinegar Dog") or cachorro-do-mato ("Bush Dog"). In Spanish-speaking countries it is called perro vinagre, zorro vinagre ("Vinegar Fox"), perro de agua ("Water Dog"), or perro de monte ("Forest Dog").Description and HabitsThe Bush Dog has soft long brownish-tan fur, with a lighter reddish tinge on the head, neck and back and a bushy tail. The underside is dark, sometimes with a lighter throat patch. Adults typically have 22–30 inches of head and body, plus 5.1 inches cm of tail, and weigh 11–15.4 lbs. Legs and snout are short relative to body length: the typical height is only 10–12 inches. The teeth are adapted for its carnivorous habits. It is a carnivore and hunts during the day, preferably in wet savannahs and tropical and equatorial forests. Its typical prey is the Paca, a large rodent. Although it can hunt alone on occasion, the Bush Dog is usually found in small packs of up to 10–12 individuals, which can bring down much larger prey. It may be the most gregarious of the South American canid species. It is a good swimmer (thanks to its webbed feet). 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 animals typically hunt. The gestation period is 63 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.
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Post by Atheron on Jan 11, 2012 11:10:24 GMT -5
African Wild DogInformation from WikipediaThe African Wild Dog, Lycaon pictus, also known as the African Hunting Dog, Cape Hunting Dog, Painted Dog, or Painted Wolf, is a carnivorous mammal of the Canidae family. The Afrikaans name for the African Wild dog is Wildehond, and in Swahili, Mbwa mwitu. It is the only species in the monotypic genus, Lycaon. They are, as their name indicates, found only in Africa, especially in scrub savanna and other lightly wooded areas. Anatomy and ReproductionThe wild dog's Greek name means painted wolf and it is characteristic of the species that no two individuals have the same pattern of coat. Individuals can easily be recognized on the basis of their differing coat patterns. The pelage is an irregular pattern of black, yellow, and white. The wild dog is unusual among canids, due to the fact that they are the only species to lack dewclaws on the forelimbs. Adults typically weigh between 37-79 pounds. A tall, lean animal, they stand about 30 inches at the shoulder, with a head and body length averaging about 40 inches and a tail of between 12 and 18 inches. Animals in southern Africa are generally larger than those in the east or west of the continent. There is little sexual dimorphism, though judging by skeletal dimensions, males are usually 3-7% larger. Indeed, according to the comparative bite force test of carnivores conducted by Wroe et al the African Wild dog, with a BFQ (Bite Force Quotient) of 142 (essentially the strength of bite as measured against the animal's mass) is the highest of any extant carnivorous mammal. Wild dogs will reproduce any time of year, with a peak between March and June during the second half of the rainy season. 2-19 pups can be born per litter, though 10 is the most usual number. The time between births is usually 12-14 months, though it can also be as short as 6 months if all of the previous young die. Pups are usually born in an abandoned den dug by other animals such as aardvarks. Weaning takes place at about 10 weeks. After 3 months, the den is abandoned and the pups begin to run with the pack. At the age of 8-11 months they can kill small prey, but they are not proficient until about 12-14 months, at which time they can fend for themselves. Pups reach sexual maturity at the age of 12-18 months. Females will disperse from their birth pack at 14-30 months of age and join other packs that lack sexually mature females. Males typically do not leave the pack they were born to. This is the opposite situation to that in most other social mammals, where a group of related females forms the core of the pack or similar group. In the African wild dog, the females compete for access to males that will help to rear their offspring. In a typical pack, males outnumber females by a factor of two to one, and only the dominant female is usually able to rear pups. This unusual situation may have evolved to ensure that packs do not over-extend themselves by attempting to rear too many litters at the same time. HuntingAfrican Wild Dogs are pack hunters. Their main prey varies among populations, but always focuses on medium sized ungulates such as impala. A few packs, however, will also include much larger animals, such as zebras, in their prey. This requires a closely coordinated attack, beginning with a rapid charge to stampede the herd. One wild dog then grabs the victim's tail, while another attacks the upper lip, and the remainder disembowel the zebra while it is immobilised. Remarkably, this appears to be a learned tactic, passed on from generation to generation within specific hunting packs, rather an instinctive behaviour found commonly within the species. Some studies have also shown that other information, such as the location of watering holes, may be passed on in a similar fashion. Like most members of the dog family, they are cursorial hunters, meaning that they pursue their prey in a long, open chase, rather than relying on stealth as most members of the cat family. During pursuit, they may reach speeds of up to 45 mph. Nearly 80% of all hunts end in a kill. Members of a pack vocalize to help coordinate their movements. Their voice is characterized by an unusual chirping or squeaking sound, similar to a bird. After a successful hunt, dogs regurgitate meat for those that remained at the den during the hunt, such as the dominant female and the pups. They will also feed other pack members such as the sick, injured or very old that cannot keep up. The home range of packs varies enormously, depending on the size of the pack, and the nature of the terrain. In the Serengeti, the average range has been estimated at 1,500 square kilometres (580 square miles), although individual ranges overlap extensively.
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Post by Atheron on Jan 11, 2012 11:13:40 GMT -5
Maned WolfInformation from WikipediaThe Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) is the largest canid of South America, resembling a big fox with reddish fur. It is called lobo-guará ("Guará Wolf") in Portuguese, aguara guazú ("Big Fox") in Guarani, and lobo de crin ("Maned Wolf") in Spanish. It was improperly called Canis jubatus ("Maned Dog") in some 19th century publications. The distribution includes southern Brazil, Paraguay, northern Argentina, and Bolivia east of the Andes. It is an endangered species, and its range once included Uruguay, although IUCN lists it as "lower risk". It is the only species in the genus Chrysocyon. DescriptionThe Maned Wolf has often been described as "a Red Fox on stilts" due to its similar coloration and overall appearance, though it is much larger than a Red Fox and belongs to a different genus. The adult animal stands almost 3 ft tall at the shoulder, and weighs 50 to 55 lb. The long legs are probably an adaptation to the tall grasslands of its native habitat. The Maned Wolf's fur is reddish brown to golden orange on the sides, with long, black legs and a distinctive black mane. The coat is further marked with a whitish tuft at the tip of the tail and a white "bib" beneath the throat. The mane is erectile, and is typically used to enlarge the wolf's profile when threatened or when displaying aggression. Hunting and territorialityUnlike other large canids (such as Wolves, African Hunting Dogs, Dholes) the Maned Wolf does not form packs. It hunts alone, usually between sundown and midnight. It kills its animal prey by biting on the neck or back, and shaking it violently if necessary . Monogamous pairs may defend a shared territory of about 30 square km, though the wolves themselves may seldom meet, outside of mating. The territory is criscrossed by paths that the wolves create as they patrol at night. Several adults may congregate in the presence of a plentiful food source; a fire-cleared patch of grassland, for example, which would leave small vertebrate prey exposed to foraging wolves. Maned Wolves, both male and female, use their urine to communicate, e.g. to mark their hunting paths, or the places where they have buried hunted prey . The urine has a very distinctive smell, which some people liken to hops or cannabis. The responsible substance is very likely a pyrazine, which occurs in both plants. ReproductionThe mating season ranges from November to February. Gestation lasts 70 to 75 days, and a litter may have up to 2-6 black-furred pups, each weighing about 1 lb. DietManed Wolves specialize in small and medium-sized prey, including small animals like dan monks(rodents, hares), birds, and even fish. A large fraction of their diet (over 50%, according to some studies) is vegetable matter, including sugarcane, tubers, and fruit---especially Wolf Apples, the tomato-like fruit of the Lobeira, which may help protect against the kidney worm. Captive maned wolves were traditionally fed meat-heavy diets and developed kidney stones. Zoo diets now feature fruits and vegetables, as well as meat and dog chow.
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Post by Atheron on Jan 11, 2012 11:15:57 GMT -5
Short-Eared DogInformation from WikipediaThe Short-eared Dog (Atelocynus microtis), also known as Small Eared Zorro or Short-eared Fox, can be found in South America. They prefer areas of rainforest with little human disturbance. It has short and slender limbs with short and rounded ears. The Short-eared Dog has a distinctive fox-like muzzle and bushy tail. They range from dark to reddish-grey. The Short-eared Dogs eats small mammals, fish, insects, fruits and reptiles. The Short-eared Dog is on the Threatened Species list.
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Post by Atheron on Jan 11, 2012 11:20:35 GMT -5
Canine-like ThylacineInformation from WikipediaThe Thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) was the largest known carnivorous marsupial of modern times. Native to Australia and New Guinea, it is thought to have become extinct in the 20th century. It is commonly known as the Tasmanian Tiger (due to its striped back), the Tasmanian Wolf, and colloquially the Tassie (or Tazzy) Tiger or simply the Tiger. It was the last extant member of its genus, Thylacinus, although a number of related species have been found in the fossil record dating back to the early Miocene. The Thylacine became extinct on the Australian mainland thousands of years before European settlement of the continent, but survived on the island of Tasmania along with a number of other endemic species, including the Tasmanian Devil. Intensive hunting encouraged by bounties is generally blamed for its extinction, but other contributory factors may have been disease, the introduction of dogs, and human encroachment into its habitat. Despite being officially classified as extinct, sightings are still reported. Like the tigers and wolves of the Northern Hemisphere, from which it inherited two of its common names, the Thylacine was a top-level predator. As a marsupial, it was not related to these placental mammals, but due to convergent evolution it displayed the same general form and adaptations. Its closest living relative is the Tasmanian Devil. DescriptionDescriptions of the Thylacine vary, as evidence is restricted to preserved joey specimens; fossil records; skins and skeletal remains; black and white photographs and film of the animal in captivity; and accounts from the field. The Thylacine resembled a large, short-haired dog with a stiff tail which smoothly extended from the body in a similar way to that of a kangaroo. Many European settlers drew direct comparisons with the Hyena, due to its unusual stance and general demeanour. Its yellow-brown coat featured 13 to 21 distinctive dark stripes across its back, rump and the base of its tail, which earned the animal the nickname, "Tiger". The stripes were more marked in younger specimens, fading as the animal got older. One of the stripes extended down the outside of the rear thigh. Its body hair was dense and soft, up to 15 mm (0.6 inches) in length; in juveniles the tip of the tail had a crest. Its rounded, erect ears were about 8 cm (3.1 inches) long and covered with short fur. Colouration varied from light fawn to a dark brown; the belly was cream-coloured. The mature Thylacine ranged from 39–71 in long, including a tail of around 19.6–25.5 in. The largest measured specimen was 9 ft 6 in from nose to tail. Adults stood about 23.6 in at the shoulder and weighed 44–66 lb. There was slight sexual dimorphism with the adult females being smaller than the males on average. The female Thylacine had a pouch with four teats, but unlike many other marsupials, the pouch opened to the rear of its body. Males had a scrotal pouch, unique amongst the Australian marsupials, into which they could withdraw their scrotal sac. The Thylacine was able to open its jaws to an unusual extent: up to 120 degrees. This capability can be seen in part in David Fleay's short black-and-white film sequence of a captive Thylacine from 1933. The jaws were muscular and powerful and had 46 teeth. Thylacine footprints could be distinguished from other native or introduced animals; unlike foxes, cats, dogs, wombats or Tasmanian Devils, Thylacines had a very large rear pad and four obvious front pads, arranged in almost a straight line. The hindfeet were similar to the forefeet but had four digits rather than five. Their claws were non-retractable. The early scientific studies suggested it possessed an acute sense of smell which enabled it to track prey, but analysis of its brain structure revealed that its olfactory bulbs were not well developed. It is likely to have relied on sight and hearing when hunting instead. Some observers described it having a strong and distinctive smell, others described a faint, clean, animal odour, and some no odour at all. It is possible that the Thylacine, like its relative, the Tasmanian Devil, gave off an odour when agitated. The Thylacine was noted as having a stiff and somewhat awkward gait, making it unable to run at high speed. It could also perform a bipedal hop, in a similar fashion to a kangaroo — demonstrated at various times by captive specimens. Guiler speculates that this was used as an accelerated form of motion when the animal became alarmed. The animal was also able to balance on its hind legs and stand upright for brief periods. Although there are no recordings of Thylacine vocalisations, observers of the animal in the wild and in captivity noted that it would growl and hiss when agitated, often accompanied by a threat-yawn. During hunting it would emit a series of rapidly repeated guttural cough-like barks (described as "yip-yap", "cay-yip" or "hop-hop-hop"), probably for communication between the family pack members. It also had a long whining cry, probably for identification at distance, and a low snuffling noise used for communication between family members Ecology and BehaviorLittle is known about the behaviour or habitat of the Thylacine. A few observations were made of the animal in captivity, but only limited, anecdotal evidence exists of the animal's behaviour in the wild. Most observations were made during the day whereas the Thylacine was naturally nocturnal. Those observations made in the 20th century may have been atypical as they were of a species already under the stresses that would soon lead to its extinction. Some behavioural characteristics have been extrapolated from the behaviour of its close relative, the Tasmanian Devil. The Thylacine probably preferred the dry eucalyptus forests, wetlands, and grasslands in continental Australia. Indigenous Australian rock paintings indicate that the Thylacine lived throughout mainland Australia and New Guinea. Proof of the animal's existence in mainland Australia came from a desiccated carcass that was discovered in a cave in the Nullarbor Plain in Western Australia in 1990; carbon dating revealed it to be around 3,300 years old. In Tasmania it preferred the woodlands of the midlands and coastal heath, which eventually became the primary focus of British settlers seeking grazing properties for their livestock. The animal had a typical home range of between 40 and 80 km². It appears to have kept to its home range without being territorial; groups too large to be a family unit were sometimes observed together. The Thylacine was a nocturnal and crepuscular hunter, spending the daylight hours in small caves or hollow tree trunks in a nest of twigs, bark or fern fronds. It tended to retreat to the hills and forest for shelter during the day and hunted in the open heath at night. Early observers noted that the animal was typically shy and secretive, with awareness to the presence of humans and generally avoiding contact, though it occasionally showed inquisitive traits. There is evidence for at least some year-round breeding (cull records show joeys discovered in the pouch at all times of the year), although the peak breeding season was in winter and spring. They would produce up to four cubs per litter (typically two or three), carrying the young in a pouch for up to three months and protecting them until they were at least half adult size. Early pouch young were hairless and blind, but they had their eyes open and were fully furred by the time they left the pouch. After leaving the pouch, and until they were developed enough to assist, the juveniles would remain in the lair while the female hunted. Thylacines only once bred successfully in captivity, in Melbourne Zoo in 1899. Their life expectancy in the wild is estimated to have been 5 to 7 years, although captive specimens survived up to 9 years.
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