The bush dog is a canid that lives from Panama to northern Argentina. It is a very primitive canid. Despite the enormous area in which it lives, it is a animal very little known Its shyness in the presence of humans means that the tiny packs in which it coexists are very little observed.
Lately there is speculation about the reasons for the disappearance of the bush dog from areas where it used to live, asking in these places: Why is the bush dog in danger of extinction? ?
Continue reading our site for the latest news on the jungle dog:
Morphology of the bush dog
The venadero dog, Speothos venaticus, also called vinegar fox, jungle dog, mountain dog or water dog, is a canid whose appearance closely resembles that of a mustelid.
This dog measures from 23 to 30 cm. up to the withers, and measures from 60 to 75 cm., being its weight from 5 to 7 kg., and its legs and tail are short. It has a short thick neck, square head with small, round ears and a short snout. It has a very compact overall appearance.
Its fur is reddish-brown, darker on the upper part of the back and lighter on the flanks. On the chest and legs the hair is shorter and very dark.
Mountain Dog Habits
Jungle Dogs are excellent swimmers. So much so that between their fingers they have interdigital membranes.
The bush dog is also called the vinegar fox because it marks its territory with a very acetic aroma reminiscent of vinegar. The females have a curious habit: they mark upright vertical surfaces on their legs.
Another peculiar habit of the bush dog is that after being suckled by the mother, the father takes the puppies to bathe them. Bush dogs live in small packs made up of 4 to 12 individuals.
Bulldog feeding
Bulldogs can be diurnal, nocturnal, or crepuscular. Their activity will be developed according to the hunt they have to practice. They hunt collectively like wolves. Their most common prey are: agoutis, pacas, capybaras, birds, capybaras, deer, rodents, frogs and even peccaries. They do not disdain carrion.
Bulldog Habitat
The bush dog lives in remote forests below 1,500 meters. Dense jungles do not appeal to him. We have already commented before that bush dogs can be found from Panama to the north of Argentina.
The only conditions for this canid species not to disappear from its habitat are two: the first is that humans do not intervene in its territory. The agricultural industry, the wood, oil, gas industry; or roads, farms, towns, etc., are the reason for the disappearance from that environment of bush dogs.
The other reason is the drought or desiccation of their territories. Where these two circumstances have occurred, bush dogs have migrated. In the national parks and protected areas the bush dog has no problems.
Very old species
The bush dog is a species with a remote past, but its present is uncertain in certain areas, such as Ecuador. Before, it was a common species there, but now there are fears for its future. An important conservationist program is being developed in Panama to reintroduce the species
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