Short-eared dog

The short-eared dog has many names in the local languages where it is endemic, including ' in Portuguese, ' ("short-ear fox") in Spanish, ' in Chiquitano, ' in Yucuna, ' in Guarayu, ' in Mooré, and achuj in Ninam and Mosetén. Other common names in Spanish include ' ("blue-eyed fox"), ' ("savannah fox"), and '''' ("black fox"). ==Evolution and systematics==

In 2022, a study sequenced the genomes of the living members of the subtribe Cerdocyonina, 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 the Isthmus of Panama and then entering into eastern South America. The subtribe then expanded to occupy the entire continent. It is one of the most unusual canids. Two subspecies of this canid are recognized, and ==Occurrence and environment==

, Madre de Dios, Peru The short-eared dog can be found in the Amazon rainforest region of South America (in Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and possibly Venezuela). It is a solitary animal and prefers to remain under tree-cover, avoiding both human and other animal interaction. ==Appearance==

, Frankfurt/Main, Germany The short-eared dog has short and slender limbs with short and rounded ears. It has a distinctive fox-like muzzle and bushy tail. Its paws are partly webbed, helping adapt it to its partly aquatic habitat. 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. 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. ==Diet==

This wild dog is mainly a carnivore, with fish, insects, and small mammals making up the majority of its diet. An investigation led in the Cocha Cashu Biological Station in Peru into the proportions of different kinds of food in this animal's diet produced the following results: :: ==Reproduction and behavior==

This species has some unique behaviors not typical to other canids. Females of this species are about one-third larger than males. The excited male sprays a musk produced by the tail glands. It prefers a solitary lifestyle, in forest areas. It avoids humans in its natural environment. Agitated males raise the hairs on their backs. The lifespan and gestation period of the short-eared dog are unknown, although sexual maturity is reached at three years of age, relatively late compared to other canid species. ==Threats, survival, and ecological concerns==

Feral dogs pose a prominent threat to the population of short-eared dogs, as they facilitate the spread of diseases, such as canine distemper and rabies, 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 of tropical rainforests. ==Status of conservation==

The short-eared dog is currently considered near threatened by the IUCN. No comprehensive ecological and genetic research has been carried out on the species. ==References==