Speothos venaticus Female Skull Replica measures 5.1 inches. Speothos venaticus Female Skull is museum quality polyurethane cast. Made in USA. California Academy of Sciences specimen. 2-part skull (separate cranium and jaw). Our precise skull can be used as a teaching tool, museum skull exhibit, home décor skull, or office décor skull.
The Bush Dog or Speothos venaticus is a canid found in Central and South America. In spite of its extensive range, it is very rare in most areas except in Suriname, Guyana and Peru.
Speothos venaticus have 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.
The teeth are adapted for its carnivorous habits. The Bush Dog is one of three canid species (the other two being the dhole and the African wild dog) with trenchant heel dentition, having a single cusp on the talonid of the lower carnassial tooth that increases the cutting blade length.
Bush Dogs or Speothos venaticus are found from Costa Rica in Central America and through much of South America east of the Andes, as far south as central Bolivia, Paraguay and southern Brazil.
Bush dogs mate throughout the year; oestrus lasts up to twelve days and occurs every 15 to 44 days.
Speothos venaticus are diurnal (active during the day) and live in social groups of up to 12 animals, with a dominant breeding pair in each pack.
While only the alpha female produces the offspring, non-breeding members of the group will guard and care for pups. Males bring food to the female in the den.
Like many other canids, the Bush Dog or Speothos venaticus mating includes a copulatory tie, during which the animals are locked together. Urine-marking plays a significant role in their pre-copulatory behavior.
Gestation lasts from 65 to 83 days and normally results in the birth of a litter of three to six pups, although larger litters of up to 10 have been reported.
The Speothos venaticus young are born blind and helpless and initially weigh 4.4 to 6.7 oz. The eyes open after 14 to 19 days and the pups first emerge from the nativity den shortly thereafter.
The young are weaned at around four weeks and reach sexual maturity at one year. They can live for up to 10 years in captivity.
