What kind of animal is the bush dog? We will explain its characteristics, ecology, and habitat. This animal, which can be found in Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, etc., is very well known in South America. However, its population has drastically decreased and it may be extinct.
What is Bush Dog? Basic Stats
The bush dog is a carnivorous animal classified in the mammalian order Carnivora, family Canidae, genus Speothos. Its English name is Bush Dog, and its scientific name is Speothos venaticus. Its body length is 58-75cm, its tail length is 11-15cm, and its weight is 5-7kg. The list of information is as follows.
| Japanese（和名） | ヤブイヌ |
| English（英名） | Bush Dog |
| scientific name(学名) | Speothos venaticus |
| classification（分類） | Mammalia、Carnivora、Canidae、Speothos 哺乳綱、食肉目、イヌ科、ヤブイヌ属 |
| IUCN Status(保全状況) | NEAR THREATENED |
| Length（体長） | 58～75cm |
| Weight（体重） | ５～７kg |
taxonomic class
| 階級 | 分類 |
|---|---|
| 界 | 動物界（Animalia） |
| 門 | 脊索動物門（Chordata） |
| 綱 | 哺乳綱（Mammalia） |
| 目 | 食肉目（Carnivora） |
| 科 | イヌ科（Canidae） |
| 属 | ヤブイヌ属（Speothos） |
| 種 | ヤブイヌ（Speothos venaticus） |
Habitat
Bush dogs are found in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, and Peru in South America, and Panama in Central America.
Geographical Distribution
The bush dog is found throughout South America. Its main areas are as follows:
Region Details: Amazon Basin (Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, northern Bolivia), Guarani Region (Paraguay, southern Brazil, northern Argentina), and other tropical rainforests, humid forests, and riverine woodlands in South America.
Habitat Characteristics
Dense jungles and humid forests
Prefers environments with moist ground and dense shrubs and vines.
Rivers and Wetlands
Often found near flowing streams and wetlands.
Ability to swim underwater.
Ground Hiding Places
Uses ground hiding places for hunting and resting, such as under tree roots, fallen logs, and rock shelters.
What are its characteristics? What kind of creature is it?
Bush dogs have a sturdy, heavy body, flat head, small, round ears that are set far apart. Their hair is short and coarse, and the front of their body is yellowish brown or dark brown. They are said to be the most primitive canine animal. Bush dogs are found in forests, grasslands, open pastures, and humid savannas.
1️⃣ Basic Information
Item
Content
Scientific Name: Speothos venaticus
English Name: Bush Dog
Classification: Carnivora → Canidae → Bush Dog
Body Length: Approximately 60-75cm
Height: Approximately 30-35cm
Weight: 5-10kg (Males and females are roughly the same size)
Lifespan: Approximately 7-8 years in the wild, up to 12 years in captivity
Body Color: Brown to dark brown, with slightly lighter feet and chest
Body Type: Short-legged, stocky, long body for good swimming
Characteristics: Round ears, short tail, cooperative hunting in packs
2️⃣ Physical Characteristics
Body Type
Small to medium-sized canine
Short legs, long body, stocky body → Easy to navigate through jungles and swamps
Coat Color
Brown to dark brown, with slightly lighter colored chest and feet
Camouflaged in jungle environments
Head/Face
Rounded ears, short, wide snout
Small teeth, suitable for catching small animals
Tail
Short, less noticeable than body shape
Tail shape geared more toward concealment than balance
3️⃣ Behavioral and Ecological Characteristics
Package Life
Cooperative in small groups of 3-10 individuals
Hunting Method
Primary prey: small mammals, birds, and insects
Works with the pack to drive and capture prey
Body shape is easy to swim
Can move through rivers and swamps
Highly cautious
Quickly flees from predators and humans
What is their personality like?
Bush dogs live in groups of about 10 to 12 individuals and are very social animals with a strong sense of camaraderie. They are active during the day, but are generally nocturnal. They also prefer waterside and wetlands, have webbed feet, and are good at swimming and diving. Their range of activity is 4 to 10 square kilometers, and they have a habit of marking their territory with urine.
1️⃣ Basic Personality
Characteristics Description
Highly Cooperative: Because they live in packs, they excel at working together. They hunt and travel as a pack.
Gentle and Low Aggression: They are usually docile and avoid unnecessary conflict.
Highly Vigilant: They are sensitive to predators and humans, and will quickly flee if they sense danger.
Curious: They are interested in new things and environments, but approach them cautiously.
Defensive Instinct: They will use their fangs to intimidate pack members and young if necessary.
2️⃣ Relationship between Behavioral Patterns and Personality
Pack Mentality
Rarely acting alone, they always work together with their packmates.
Hunting, migration, and guarding behavior are performed by the entire pack.
Hunting and Cooperation
Packs chase and capture small mammals and birds.
While hunting, they maintain distance from their packmates and work together to bring down prey.
Alertness and Caution
Sensitive to new environments, humans, and predators.
Quickly flee when they sense danger.
Sociality
There is a hierarchy within the pack, and young and juvenile animals learn social skills through play.
They share information through vocalizations and body movements.
What is their ecology like?
Bush dogs live by feeding on mammals and birds such as tinamous ostriches. They reproduce viviparously. They breed in burrows found in old armadillo or anteater nests, tree bases, or rock crevices. The gestation period is two months and they can give birth to 1-6 puppies at a time. There is a nursing period of about six months and their lifespan in captivity is about 13 years.
1️⃣ Basic Lifestyle
Activity: Mainly crepuscular (early morning and late evening) and nocturnal
During the day, they rest in jungles, under fallen trees, or in the shade of rocks
Habitat: South American jungles, humid forests, riverside areas, and wetlands
Package Structure:
Small packs of 3-10 individuals are the norm
Females and young are the primary focus, with males assisting in pack protection and hunting
2️⃣ Diet (Foraging Behavior)
Omnivorous, carnivorous (mainly small mammals)
Also eats small mammals, birds, insects, and fruit
Hunting Characteristics
Works with the pack to drive and capture prey
Uses short legs to skillfully navigate jungles and corner prey
Forages primarily on the ground, in shrubs, and along rivers
3️⃣ Movement and Behavior
Cooperate within the group
Foraging, resting, moving, and guarding are performed as a group.
Vigilance
Sensitive to predators (such as jaguars and pumas) and humans.
Flee quickly in times of danger, and use their fangs to intimidate if necessary.
Adaptability
Adapted to environments such as humid forests, swamps, and riverbanks.
Body shape is well-suited for tracking and swimming in jungles.
4️⃣ Breeding and Cubs’ Behavior
Item
Content
Estrus: Seasonal, but varies by region.
Gestation: Approximately 63 days (approximately 2 months).
Birth: Approximately 2-4 cubs (rarely 1 cub).
Cub Behavior: Protected by the group, they learn hunting and social behaviors from their mother and other adults in the group.
Development: Capable of participating in hunting activities between 6 months and 1 year of age, and attains adult-level behavioral abilities by around 1 year of age.
Do they have any natural enemies?
The natural enemies of bush dogs are pumas and jaguars.
About Young Bush Dogs
This section provides detailed information about young bush dog (Speothos venaticus) puppies.
1️⃣ Basic Information
Item Description: Name: Puppy/Juvenile; Birth Weight: Approximately 200-400g (Small); Body Length: Approximately 15-20cm (Tail Not Included); Coat Color: Light Brown to Reddish Brown, May Have Spotted Skin
As they grow, their coat color darkens, reaching the dark brown of adults. |
| Position in the Pack: Protected by their mother and the center of the pack.
Bush dogs often give birth to 2-4 pups at a time.
2️⃣ Physical Characteristics
Small and covered in soft fur.
Legs are still short, and running and swimming abilities are not as developed as in adults.
Rounded snout, with a strong ability to explore and learn by smell.
Small fangs, but rarely used for defense.
3️⃣ Behavior & Personality
Dependent on Mother
Stay close to their mother from birth
Drink breast milk and learn safety behaviors from their mother and the pack
Protection within the pack
Protection from the pack center
Defending against predators is the responsibility of the mother and the pack as a whole
Play & Social Learning
Play by chasing and light shoving
Through play, they learn cooperation, rank, and force control within the pack
Vigilance
Sensitive to predators and danger, and learn escape behavior by watching their mother and the pack’s movements
4️⃣ Diet & Growth Stages
Age
Diet & Behavior
0-1 Months
Mainly breast milk, gradually begins to sniff leaves and small insects on the ground
1-3 Months
Learns to explore and forage with the pack
3-6 Months
Cubs participate in pack hunts, consuming mainly solid foods
6-12 Months
Transition to behavioral patterns similar to those of adults and establishes socialization within the pack
5️⃣ Ecological Points
Cubs grow up safely under the protection of the pack
Through play and imitation, they develop hunting, social, and danger avoidance abilities By the time they reach adulthood, their roles within the group are established and they learn to live cooperatively.
Are bush dogs endangered?
Bush dogs are listed on the Red List as Near Threatened (NT). Their population has dropped drastically due to agricultural land development, plantations, poaching, and other factors. In Brazil and Peru, they are now legally protected.
1️⃣ IUCN Assessment
Status: Near Threatened (NT) → Near Threatened
Assessing Organization: IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Reason:
Distribution has shrunk due to deforestation, land development, and wetland destruction.
Increasing impacts from human activities such as hunting and traffic accidents.
Population size is unstable, but the risk of extinction is still low.
2️⃣ Population and Distribution Status
Distributed in South America (Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Paraguay, and northern Argentina).
Habitat fragmentation due to deforestation and land development.
Population size is unclear, with only small numbers confirmed in localized areas.
3️⃣ Conservation Status and Important Points
Legal Protection
Hunting is prohibited in protected areas in Brazil and Argentina.
In some South American countries, permits are required for capture and captivity.
Habitat conservation is key to avoiding extinction.
Protection of wild individuals and management that understands the ecology of populations are important.
4️⃣ Summary
The bush dog is not endangered, but is Near Threatened (NT).
Due to habitat destruction and human activity, its population is declining.
Protecting protected areas and forests is key to its survival.
💡 Key Points
The bush dog is not in complete danger of extinction, but its population is declining due to deforestation and human activity, and it needs protection.
Can bush dogs be kept as pets?
Bush dogs are listed as endangered, and cannot be kept by the general public. We recommend viewing them at zoos and other places. Check the calendar to see the wild animals on exhibit on days you can go. Also check transportation services such as buses and trains. Also check the opening map at the general information desk in the zoo.
1️⃣ Nature of Wildlife
Bush dogs are small to medium-sized canine carnivores (weight 5-10kg, body length approximately 60-75cm).
Highly social, they live in groups and are highly stressed when alone.
Gentle and cooperative, but highly alert, they will use their fangs to intimidate others if necessary.
2️⃣ Difficulty of Keeping
Key Points
Sociality: They primarily live in groups. Keeping them alone can cause stress and behavioral abnormalities.
Exercise & Space: They require group exploration and hunting. A large space for exercise is essential.
Diet: They are omnivorous, feeding on small mammals, birds, insects, and fruit. Requires diet management similar to that of the wild.
Defensive instinct: They are highly cautious and may attack people or other animals they meet for the first time.
Legal: As a wild animal, captivity is restricted in many countries.
3️⃣ Laws and Regulations
Bush dogs are internationally listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
International trade requires a permit.
In many South American countries, private ownership is prohibited or requires a permit.
Keeping them as pets is nearly impossible.
4️⃣ Conditions for Captivity (in Zoos and Conservation Facilities):
Keep in groups (minimum 3-5 animals).
Provide ample space for exercise similar to a jungle environment.
A balanced diet to accommodate their omnivorous diet.
A safe environment isolated from predators and humans.
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