| Short-eared dog[1] | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Canidae |
| Tribe: | Canini |
| Subtribe: | Cerdocyonina |
| Genus: | Atelocynus Cabrera, 1940 |
| Species: | A. microtis |
| Binomial name | |
| Atelocynus microtis (Sclater, 1883) | |
| Subspecies | |
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| Short-eared dog range | |
Theshort-eared dog (Atelocynus microtis),[2] also known as thesmall-eared dog,[3]short-eared fox orsmall eared zorro is a unique and elusivecanid speciesendemic to theAmazonianbasin.[1][2] This is theonly species assigned to thegenusAtelocynus.[1]
The short-eared dog has many names in the local languages where it is endemic, includingcachorro-do-mato-de-orelha-curta inPortuguese,zorro de oreja corta ("short-ear fox") inSpanish,nomensarixi inChiquitano,uálaca inYucuna,cuachi yaguar inGuarayu,quinamco inMooré, andachuj inNinam andMosetén.[4]
Other common names in Spanish includezorro ojizarco ("blue-eyed fox"),zorro sabanero ("savannah fox"), andzorro negro ("black fox").[citation needed]
In 2022, a study sequenced thegenomes of the living members of the subtribeCerdocyonina, which indicates that they commenced diversifying from a common ancestor between 3.9—3.5 million years ago. This finding is consistent with the ancestor arriving in South America from Central America through theIsthmus of Panama and then entering into eastern South America. The subtribe then expanded to occupy the entire continent.[5]
After the formation of the Isthmus of Panama in the latter part theTertiary (about 2.5 million years ago in thePliocene), canids migrated from North America to the southern continent as part of theGreat American Interchange. The short-eared dog's ancestors adapted to life in tropicalrainforests, developing the requisite morphological and anatomical features. Although it has a superficial resemblance to thebush dog, the short-eared dog's closest living relative is thecrab-eating fox.[5] It is one of the most unusual canids.[why?][4]
Two subspecies of this canid are recognized,[1]A. m. microtis andA. m. sclateri.
The short-eared dog can be found in theAmazon rainforest region of South America (inBrazil,Bolivia,Peru,Colombia,Ecuador and possiblyVenezuela).[1] There is a single report of "three slender, doglike animals" of this species sighted in theDarien region ofPanama in 1984 by German biologist Sigi Weisel and a nativeEmbera-nation Panamanian; this rare species' presence in Panama is possible because of "the continuous mass of forest habitat that covers this region".[3] It lives in various parts of the rainforest environment, preferring areas with little human disturbance. It lives in both lowlandforests known asFloresta Amazônica andterra firme forest, as well as inswamp forest,stands of bamboo, andcloud forest.[6] It is a solitary animal and prefers to remain under tree-cover, avoiding both human and other animal interaction.[7]
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The short-eared dog has short and slenderlimbs with short and rounded ears. It has a distinctive fox-like muzzle and bushy tail. Itspaws are partlywebbed, helping adapt it to its partly aquatic habitat.[8]
Its fur ranges from dark to reddish-grey, but can also be nearly navy blue, coffee brown, dark grey, or chestnut-grey to black, and the coat is short, with thick and bristly fur.[4] It has a somewhat narrow chest, with dark color variation on the thorax merging to brighter, more reddish tones on the abdominal side of the body.
This wild dog is mainly acarnivore, with fish, insects, and small mammals making up the majority of its diet. An investigation led in theCocha Cashu Biological Station inPeru into the proportions of different kinds of food in this animal's diet produced the following results:
This species has some unique behaviors not typical to other canids.Females of this species are about one-third larger thanmales. The excited malesprays amusk produced by the tail glands. It prefers a solitary lifestyle, in forest areas. It avoids humans in itsnatural environment. Agitated males raise the hairs on their backs.[9]
The lifespan andgestation period of the short-eared dog are unknown, althoughsexual maturity is reached at three years of age, relatively late compared to other canid species.[10]
Feral dogs pose a prominent threat to the population of short-eared dogs, as they facilitate the spread of diseases, such ascanine distemper andrabies, to the wild population. The short eared dog suffers greatly from loss of habitat. There is a significant amount of disturbance in formerly remote South American forests, and almost no habitat except where daily human settler and prospector traffic destroys or exposes their dens. Humans also contribute to their extermination by degradation of the species' natural habitat and the general destruction oftropical rainforests.
The short-eared dog is currently considerednear threatened by theIUCN.[2] No comprehensive ecological and genetic research has been carried out on the species.
