The maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) has exceptionally long, slender legs. It inhabits open regions with tall vegetation cover so the extra height helps it to see over the long grass. These wolves pair for life although they seem to live fairly independently within their territory of 25-30 square km. They lead such secretive lives that not a great deal is known about their behaviour. Attempts to breed and study them in captivity have had little success as captive females often abandon or even eat their newborn pups.
Mainly nocturnal, the maned wolf has a varied diet, eating rabbits, mice and birds, ants, grubs, berries and fruit. According to South American folklore, children can avoid dental problems by wearing a maned wolf's tooth on a chain around their neck and snakebite victims can avoid death by eating two small pieces of its heart.
