Why Does the Maned Wolf Have Such Long Legs? | Amazing Maned Wolf Facts #ManedWolf #WildlifeFacts #AnimalAdaptations #SouthAmericanWildlife #LongLeggedPredator #fblifestyle | WildByte

For maned wolf pups, playtime is serious business! Keepers captured rare footage of Nikko and his six-month-old pup, Lu, enjoying a playful afternoon at the Zoo's conservation campus in Front Royal, Virginia. Natural parental care helps young wolves build the skills they need to thrive in adulthood. Learn more about our maned wolf pups in our latest pupdate! https://s.si.edu/4mlKYme | Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

The maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) is a unique canid native to South America. Despite its name and appearance, it is neither a true wolf nor a fox. The maned wolf has long, slender legs that help it navigate through tall grasslands, a reddish-brown coat, large erect ears, and a distinctive black mane along its neck and back that stands up when it feels threatened or is trying to communicate. This species is solitary by nature and primarily nocturnal. It is omnivorous, with a diet that includ