The maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), a distinctive canid native to South America, possesses a unique appearance with its long legs and reddish-brown coat. Found across central and eastern South America, including Brazil, Paraguay, and parts of Argentina and Peru, it is the largest canid on the continent. This solitary animal often sparks curiosity regarding its diet, especially given its “wolf” designation, which typically suggests a meat-heavy diet.
More Than Just Meat Eaters
Maned wolves are omnivores, meaning their diet consists of both plant and animal matter. This classification distinguishes them from many other canids, which are often perceived as strictly carnivorous. An omnivore is an organism that regularly consumes significant quantities of both plant and animal sources, deriving nutrients and energy from a varied diet.
This omnivorous nature allows maned wolves considerable dietary flexibility, a trait that contrasts with the more specialized diets of many larger canids. Unlike typical wolves that form packs to hunt large prey, the maned wolf hunts alone and relies on a diverse range of food items. This adaptability enables them to thrive in various environments by utilizing available resources, rather than depending solely on a consistent supply of animal prey.
A Detailed Look at Their Diet
The maned wolf’s diet comprises a wide array of both animal and plant foods. Their animal prey typically includes small mammals such as rodents, rabbits, and armadillos, along with birds, bird eggs, reptiles, and various insects. They are known to hunt by listening for prey in tall grass, then pouncing or digging to capture it. While animal matter is a component, a significant portion of their diet, often exceeding 50%, consists of plant material.
Among the plant-based foods, the “lobo-guará fruit” (Solanum lycocarpum), also known as the wolf apple, is particularly important. This tomato-like fruit can constitute a substantial part of their diet, sometimes ranging from 40% to 90% in some studies. Maned wolves actively seek out and consume wolf apples year-round, unlike other fruits that may be seasonal. Other plant items include sugarcane, tubers, bulbs, roots, and various other fruits and vegetables available in their habitat.
Why Their Diet is So Unusual
The maned wolf’s highly omnivorous diet, especially its significant reliance on fruit, is unusual for a canid of its size. Their habitat, which spans the South American grasslands, savannas, and shrublands known as the Cerrado, plays a significant role in shaping their dietary choices. In these environments, large prey animals can be scarce or seasonally limited, making a flexible diet an advantageous adaptation for survival. This dietary versatility allows maned wolves to exploit a broader range of food sources as they become available throughout the year.
Their long legs, which give them a distinctive appearance, are also considered an adaptation to their environment, helping them see and navigate through tall grasses while foraging. Unlike true wolves that are cooperative hunters of large game, maned wolves are solitary and target smaller, more manageable prey or rely on abundant plant resources. The wolf apple, a key part of their diet, may also offer more than just nutrition; it is thought to help protect maned wolves from parasitic infections, such as the giant kidney worm, which can be fatal.