Bush dog [NT]
Speothos venaticus
[Scientific name]
Cachorro-do-mato-vinagre
[Portuguese]
Jaguá yvyguy
[Guaraní]
Sacha alcu
[Quechua]
The bush dog (Speothos venaticus) is the only extant species in their genus and one of South America’s most adept hunters. They have a small, compact body (for pursuing burrowing prey and navigating through vegetation), a short tail, and short legs with webbed feet, suggesting semi-aquatic habits (manifested by a penchant for diving in captivity). Their diet primarily consists of large rodents, such as capybara and acouchi, and they occur from eastern Central America and northern South America, south through Paraguay, and north-eastern Argentina. These dogs are considered common but elusive.
POPULATION TREND
DECREASING
HABITAT & ECOLOGY
Forest • Grassland • Human modified • Inland Wetlands • Savanna • Shrubland