| Bush dog[1] | |
|---|---|
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| Bush dog atPrague Zoo | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Canidae |
| Genus: | Speothos |
| Species: | S. venaticus |
| Binomial name | |
| Speothos venaticus (Lund, 1842) | |
| Subspecies | |
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| Bush dog range | |
Thebush dog (Speothos venaticus) is acanine found inCentral andSouth America.[1][2] In spite of its extensive range, it is very rare in most areas except inSuriname,Guyana andPeru;[2][4] it was firstdescribed byPeter Wilhelm Lund fromfossils inBrazilian caves and was believed to be extinct.[4]
The bush dog is theonly extantspecies in thegenusSpeothos,[1] and genetic evidence suggests that its closest living relative is themaned wolf of central South America[5] or theAfrican wild dog.[6] The species is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.[7][8][9]
In Brazil, it is calledcachorro-vinagre ('vinegar dog') andcachorro-do-mato ('bush dog'). InSpanish-speaking countries, it is calledperro vinagre ('vinegar dog'),zorro vinagre ('vinegar fox'),perro de agua ('water dog'), andperro de monte ('shrub or woodland dog').
Adult bush dogs 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. Younger individuals, however, have black fur over their entire bodies.[4] Adults typically have a head-body length of 57–75 cm (22–30 in), with a 12.5–15 cm (5–6 in) tail. They have a shoulder height of 20–30 cm (8–12 in) and weigh 5–8 kg (11–18 lb).[10][better source needed] They have short legs relative to their body, as well as a short snout and relatively small ears.[4]
The teeth are adapted for its carnivorous habits. Uniquely for an American canid, thedental formula is3.1.4.13.1.4.2 for a total of 38 teeth.[4] The bush dog is one of three canid species (the other two being thedhole and theAfrican wild dog) with trenchant heel dentition, having asingle cusp on thetalonid of the lowercarnassial tooth that increases the cutting blade length.[4] Females have four pairs ofteats and both sexes have largescent glands on either side of the anus.[4] Bush dogs have partially webbed toes, which allow them to swim more efficiently.[11]
Speothos has adiploid chromosome number of 74.[12] This makes it unable to produce fertile hybrids with other canid species.[citation needed]
Bush dogs are found fromCosta Rica[13] in Central America and through much of South America east of the Andes, as far south as centralBolivia,Paraguay, and southernBrazil. They primarily inhabit lowland forests up to 1,900 metres (6,200 ft) elevation,[4] wet savannas and other habitats near rivers, but may also be found in driercerrado and open pasture.[2] The historic range of this species may have extended as far north asCosta Rica where the species may still be found in suitable habitat.[2][14][15] New, repeated observations of bush dog groups have been recorded in east-central (Barbilla National Park) and south-eastern (La Amistad International Park) Costa Rica, and a substantial portion of theTalamanca Mountains up to 120 km (75 mi) to the north-northwest and at elevations up to 2,119 m (6,952 ft).[16] Very recent fossils dating from 300 AD to 900 AD (the Late Ceramic Age) have been found in the Manzanilla site on the eastern coast ofTrinidad.[17]
There are three recognisedsubspecies:[1][4]
Bush dogs arecarnivores and hunt during the day. Their typical prey arepacas,agoutis,acouchis andcapybaras, all large rodents.[12] Although they can hunt alone, bush dogs are usually found in smallpacks. The dogs can bring down much larger prey, includingpeccaries andrheas, and a pack of six dogs has even been reported hunting a 250 kg (550 lb)tapir, where they trailed the animal and nipped at its legs until it was felled. When hunting paca, part of the pack chases it on land and part wait for it in the water, where it often retreats.[4]
Bush dogs appear to be the most gregarious South American canid species. They use hollow logs and cavities such asarmadillo burrows for shelter. Packs consist of a single mated pair and their immediate relations, and have a home range of 3.8 to 10 square kilometres (1.5 to 3.9 sq mi).[4] Only the adult pair breed, while the other members of the pack are subordinate, and help with rearing and guarding any pups.[20] Packmates keep in contact with frequent whines, perhaps because visibility is poor in the undergrowth where they typically hunt.[21] While eating large prey, parents position themselves at either ends of the animal, making it easier for the pups to disembowel it.[4]
Bush dogs mate throughout the year;oestrus lasts up to twelve days and occurs every 15 to 44 days.[22] Like many other canids, bush dog mating includes acopulatory tie, during which the animals are locked together.[22]Urine-marking plays a significant role in their pre-copulatory behavior.[23][24]
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.[4] The young are born blind and helpless and initially weigh 125 to 190 grams (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.[4] The young are weaned at around four weeks and reach sexual maturity at one year.[25] They can live for up to 10 years in captivity.[4]
Bush dogs are among the least-studied canines, and their conservation efforts are still in early stages. Due to their rarity, when bush dog bones were discovered in a cave in 1839, paleontologist Peter Wilhelm Lund mistakenly believed they were extinct.[7] Living individuals were later found.
Research shows they are generalists capable of thriving in diverse habitats. However, conservation is challenging due to their dense habitats and sparse, scattered populations, making them difficult to locate. Bush dogs require large, undisturbed territories to support their pack-based lifestyle, and they are notably shy.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists bush dogs as Near Threatened due to a population decline of approximately 20–25% over the past 12 years.[9] The main threats include habitat loss (particularly from deforestation for wood, cattle farming, and palm oil production), loss of prey due to human hunting, and diseases contracted from domestic dogs. Habitat loss, especially through Amazonian clear-cutting, is the most significant threat, while disease transmission from unvaccinated domestic dogs has also become a growing concern due to human encroachment.
Hunting bush dogs is illegal in most of their range, including countries like Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Bolivia, Panama, and Argentina. However, Guyana and Suriname lack explicit hunting bans for bush dogs, and many countries in the bush dog's range have limited resources to enforce existing wildlife laws.
To better understand and protect bush dogs, scientists are experimenting with various monitoring methods[when?]. Traditional camera traps have proven ineffective due to bush dogs' elusive nature, so researchers are now using scent-detection dogs to locate bush dog burrows.[8] This approach aims to provide valuable insights into their habitat use, prey preferences, and pack dynamics, including when cubs leave the pack. Protected areas such as theYasuni Biosphere Reserve may support stable populations.
In a positive development, bush dogs were recently captured on camera traps in Costa Rica's Talamanca Mountains in 2020, suggesting they may be expanding their range northward and into higher elevations. This could indicate that with dedicated conservation efforts, bush dogs may stabilize or even increase in numbers.
