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Short-eared dog
Order : Carnivora
Family : Canidae
Species : Atelocynus microtis
The Short-eared Dog (Atelocynus microtis) is a rare animal. The very first biologists that studied them found that capturing them was easy, this was in 1969, but from that year, these dogs seemed to just vanish into thin air. Then, sightings resumed in the late 80s ('87 to be exact).
This last decade, it seems as if the Short-eared Dog's population is increasing, as manifested by sightings at Ecuador and Peru. Short-eared Dogs have been discovered in Colombia and Bolivia, and some experts said they were in Venezuela too, but that was just speculation.
In 2000, there was a study done at Cocha Cashu, experts/biologists monitored 5 members of these dogs, and they projected a density of 1 member per 2 square kilometer. Still, too little is known to conclusively peg down the rest of its kind's range, and as far as the carnivores are concerned, the Short-eared Dog remains very seldom-seen.
They are known to inhabit lowland areas, this includes terra firme forests, bamboo areas and if reports are accurate, they can swim. Fact is, so much crucial data on ecology, pathology and biology are missing as far as these animals are concerned.
Interesting factThe sighting documented at the highest elevation was at the Ecuadorean Andes and was at 1200 meters
This last decade, it seems as if the Short-eared Dog's population is increasing, as manifested by sightings at Ecuador and Peru. Short-eared Dogs have been discovered in Colombia and Bolivia, and some experts said they were in Venezuela too, but that was just speculation.
In 2000, there was a study done at Cocha Cashu, experts/biologists monitored 5 members of these dogs, and they projected a density of 1 member per 2 square kilometer. Still, too little is known to conclusively peg down the rest of its kind's range, and as far as the carnivores are concerned, the Short-eared Dog remains very seldom-seen.
They are known to inhabit lowland areas, this includes terra firme forests, bamboo areas and if reports are accurate, they can swim. Fact is, so much crucial data on ecology, pathology and biology are missing as far as these animals are concerned.
Interesting factThe sighting documented at the highest elevation was at the Ecuadorean Andes and was at 1200 meters
The Short-eared dog, short-eared fox, small-eared dog, small-eared zorro is listed as Data Deficient (DD), inadequate information to make a direct, or indirect, assessment of its risk of extinction, on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Namings for the shorteared dog
A young / baby of a shorteared dog is called a 'whelp or pup'. The females are called 'bitch' and males 'dog or sire'. A shorteared dog group is called a 'pack, litter (young), kennel, gang or legion'.Habitats
Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands, Dry savanna, Forest, Permanent Rivers / Streams / Creeks (includes waterfalls), Savanna, Subtropical / Tropical Moist Lowland, Subtropical / Tropical Swamp and Wetlands (inland)
Facts about the short-eared dog
Leite's research project on the short-eared dog is part of a larger quest to answer one of conservation's greatest questions: How much space do different plant and animal species need to survive? (Full text)
The small-eared dog (Atelocynus microtis) is found only in lowland tropical forest. (Full text)
The Small-eared Zorro, Dusicyon or Atelocynus microtis, is a dog-like fox from rainforests of South America. (Full text)
The short-eared dog is almost completely unstudied, although most visual records of it come from areas adjacent to rivers. (Full text)