Short-eared zorro, Small-eared dog
The short-eared dog (Atelocynus microtis ), also known as the short-eared zorro or small-eared dog, is a unique and elusive canid species endemic to the Amazonian basin. This is the only species assigned to the genus Atelocynus.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
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CrepuscularCrepuscular animals are those that are active primarily during twilight (that is, the periods of dawn and dusk). This is distinguished from diurnal...
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OmnivoreAn omnivore is an animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and ani...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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PiscivoresA piscivore is a carnivorous animal that eats primarily fish. Piscivorous is equivalent to the Greek-derived word ichthyophagous. Fish were the die...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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ZoochoryZoochory animals are those that can disperse plant seeds in several ways. Seeds can be transported on the outside of vertebrate animals (mostly mam...
Among animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withThe Short-eared dog is a unique and elusive canid species native to the Amazonian basin. It 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. Its paws are partly webbed, owing to its partly aquatic habitat. The Short-eared dog moves with feline lightness unparalleled among the other canids. It has a somewhat narrow chest, with a dark color variation on the thorax merging to brighter and more reddish tones on the abdominal side of the body.
Short-eared dogs can be found in South America including Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and possibly Venezuela. They live in various parts of the rainforest environment, preferring areas with little human disturbance. They occur in Amazonia and in tropical moist forests, as well as in swamp forests, stands of bamboo, and cloud forests.
Short-eared dogs are solitary animals and prefer moving in trees away from human and other animal interactions. They may be active at any time of the day or night. When excited males spray a musk produced by the tail glands and if agitated they raise the hairs on their backs.
Short-eared dogs are omnivores and eat both meat and plants. However, fish, insects, and small mammals make up the majority of their diet. They will also gladly feast on frogs, crabs, small reptiles, birds, and various wild fruits.
Short-eared dogs give birth to their young in May and June. The pups are raised by the female inside the hollow log or in the burrow made by other animals. They become reproductively mature at 3 years of age, which is relatively late compared to other canid species.
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. Humans also contribute to the extermination of Short-eared dogs by the degradation of their natural habitat and the destruction of tropical rainforests.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Short-eared dog total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are decreasing.