C. brachyurus Skull Replica measures 8.9 inches. C. brachyurus Skull Replica is museum quality polyurethane resin cast. Made in USA. 2-part skull (separate cranium and jaw). Known as Maned Wolf.
Found in America, Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay and is almost extinct in Uruguay. Its markings resemble those of foxes, but it is neither a fox nor a wolf. It is the only species in the genus Chrysocyon (meaning “golden dog”).
The Maned Wolf or C. brachyurus bears minor similarities to the red fox, although it belongs to a different genus.
The average adult weighs 51 lb. and stands 35 in. tall at the shoulder, has a head-body length of 39 in. with the tail adding another 18 in. Its ears are large and long about 7 inches.
The Maned Wolf or C. brachyurus is the tallest of the wild canids; its long legs are likely an adaptation to the tall grasslands of its native habitat.
Fur of the Maned Wolf may be reddish-brown to golden orange on the sides with long, black legs, and a distinctive black mane.
The C. brachyurus coat is marked further with a whitish tuft at the tip of the tail and a white bib beneath the throat.
The mane is erectile and typically is used to enlarge the wolf’s profile when threatened or when displaying aggression.
The C. brachyurus skull can be identified by its reduced carnassials, small upper incisors and long canine teeth. Like other canids, it has 42 teeth. The maned wolf’s rhinarium extends to the upper lip, similar to the bush dog, but its vibrissae are longer. The skull also features a prominent sagittal crest.
The Maned Wolf or C. brachyurus is a solitary animal and does not form packs.
It typically hunts alone, usually between sundown and midnight, rotating its large ears to listen for prey animals in the grass. They tap the ground with a front foot to flush out the prey and pounce to catch it. They kill prey by biting on the neck or back, and shaking the prey violently if necessary.
The Maned Wolf or C. brachyurus is omnivorous. It specializes in preying on small and medium-sized animals, including small mammals (typically rodents and rabbits), birds, and even fish, but a large portion of its diet is vegetable matter, including sugarcane, tubers, and fruit.
The Maned Wolf or C. brachyurus hunts by chasing its prey, digging holes, and jumping to catch birds in flight. Armadillos are also commonly consumed.
The wolf apple, a tomato-like fruit, is the Maned Wolves most common food item. The wolf apple is actively sought by the maned wolf, and is consumed throughout the year.
Their mating season ranges from November to April. Gestation lasts 60 to 65 days, and a litter may have from two to six black-furred pups, each weighing roughly 16 oz. Pups are fully grown when one year old. During that first year, the pups rely on their parents for food.
C. brachyurus pups are born weighing between 340 and 430 grams. They begin their lives with black fur, becoming red after 10 weeks. The eyes open at about 9 days of age.
They are nursed up to 4 months. Afterwards, they are fed by their parents by regurgitation, starting on the third week of age and lasting up to 10 months.
Three-month-old pups begin to accompany their mother while she forages. Males and females both engage in parental care, but it is primarily done by the females. Maned wolves reach sexual maturity at 1 year of age, when they leave their birth territory.
