Guarás

Guarás is the plural form of guará, the common name for the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), a canid native to South America. The term is widely used in Brazilian Portuguese to refer to individual animals or populations of this species.

Geographic range and habitat extend across parts of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Peru, with strongholds in the Cerrado and adjacent grasslands and scrublands. They favor open or semi-open landscapes with tall grasses, river valleys, and edges where visibility is relatively high and prey is abundant.

Physically, the maned wolf is notable for its long legs, reddish-brown fur, and a distinctive black mane along the neck. It is the largest canid in South America but is not closely related to other large canids. Behaviorally, guarás are typically solitary or occur in pairs; they are mostly crepuscular or nocturnal and use scent marking to defend territories.

Diet is omnivorous, with fruit comprising a large portion of intake, including the fruit of the wolf apple (Solanum lycocarpum). They also eat small vertebrates, insects, and carrion. Reproduction involves monogamous pairs; breeding season is variable by region, with a gestation around 63 days and litters of 2–6 pups born in dens.

Conservation status: Listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN due to habitat loss, fragmentation, road mortality, and conflicts with livestock. Protection varies by country, and conservation efforts emphasize habitat corridors, monitoring, and reducing human-wildlife conflict.