short-eared dog

Native to South America it’s the short-eared dog, aka small-eared dog or short-eared zorro. They prefer the lowland rainforests, terra firme forests, and bamboo areas of the Amazon , near streams, rivers, or swamps. Zorros were first discovered in 1969 but there is still much to learn about them. Due to diseases transmitted by domesticated dogs and rapid habitat loss, these intriguing canids are listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.

First the Stats… Scientific name: Atelocynus microtis Weight: Up to 18 lbs. Length: Up to 39 inches, plus up to a 14 inch tail Lifespan: Unknown

Now on to the Facts! 1.) There are 2 subspecies of these cute critters: Atelocynus microtis microtis and Atelocynus microtis sclateri.

2.) To mark their territory, they will spray a stinky musk from glands located at the base of their tail.

3.) These dogs move more like cats do, with a slinky motion.

4.) Short-eared zorros can be found in Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru.

5.) Females are about a third larger than males, but they are otherwise not sexually dimorphic.

But wait, there’s more on the short-eared dog! 6.) Like most dogs, they are diurnal (active during the day).

7.) These elusive creatures eat insects, fish, reptiles, birds, small mammals, and even fruit; thus making them omnivores .

Did you know…? The short-eared dog has partially webbed paws to help with swimming and moving on the slippery ground near water.

8.) A young short-eared dog is called a whelp or a pup.

9.) They are mostly solitary but can be found hunting in pairs.

10.) Leopards and jaguars are their main predators.

Now a Short Short-Eared Dog Video!

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Predation is the ecological process by which an animal (or an organism) kills and feeds on another. The animal that kills to feed is called a predator . The 1 that is killed to be eaten is called prey.

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Coming from the Latin term omnis (meaning all or everything) and vorare (meaning to eat or devour), omnivores are animals that consume plant and animal matter. Some animals that fit into this category are pigs , dogs , coatis , bears , hedgehogs , chimpanzees , and more.'); toolTips('.classtoolTips29','

Coming from the Latin term omnis (meaning all or everything) and vorare (meaning to eat or devour), omnivores are animals that consume plant and animal matter. Some animals that fit into this category are pigs , dogs , coatis , bears , hedgehogs , chimpanzees , and more.'); toolTips('.classtoolTips31','

An animal that falls into this category is active during the day. Animals that fit this description typically use sight for hunting prey. Others, like turtles , are active during the day as they need the sun\'s rays to aid in the production of vitamin D, which is needed to help process calcium and prevent metabolic bone disease. Hummingbirds rely on the sun as most of the nectar they gather comes from flowers that are open during the day. Cows , dogs , elephants , butterflies , and squirrels , for example, are diurnal.');

short-eared dog

Meet the Secretive Short-Eared Dog