Maned wolf

Another favorite animal of mine is the maned wolf. I love them for their unique grace and their dissimilarity to other wolves.
Despite its name, the maned wolf isn’t closely related to wolves or jackals. It belongs to a distinct genus, with many unique traits. Its legs are the longest of any mammal relative to body size — not just for looks, but as an evolutionary adaptation that helps it move and observe its surroundings in tall grasslands.

The maned wolf (also known as guará) is widely found across South America, especially in Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. This elusive and cautious creature avoids human settlements and is rarely seen. Still, it sometimes watches people from a distance with curiosity before quietly disappearing into the wild. It’s never aggressive, only rarely preys on livestock, and has no history of attacking humans.
Its diet consists mainly of small mammals and various fruits. The maned wolf moves with incredible grace, especially when hunting — much like a fox, it leaps into the air to catch its prey. There’s elegance in every movement, which matches its striking appearance.
At first glance, it looks more like a large fox on long, slender legs than a wolf. Its body is relatively short — about 125–130 cm long — but its shoulder height can reach 74–87 cm. An adult weighs 20–23 kg. Its unusual proportions are emphasized by large upright ears, a short tail (28–45 cm), and a long, narrow snout. Interestingly, pups are born with short legs, which lengthen over time — much like cheetahs. Still, maned wolves aren’t built for speed.

Their fur is soft and long, with a rich reddish color, white markings on the chin and tail tip, and a distinctive black mane running from the top of the head down the back. This “mane” rises when the animal feels threatened, making it appear larger and more imposing.

I hope you found this little dive into the life of the maned wolf interesting. Maybe you even learned something new — if so, awesome! Personally, I think this is one of the most beautiful animals on Earth. Don’t you agree that the natural world is truly full of wonders?