Culpeo

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General Overview

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The culpeo is a species of South American fox. Despite its name, the Culpeo is not a true fox. Rather, it is more closely related to wolves and jackals, although its appearance resembles that of foxes. The culpeo’s diet consists largely of rodents, rabbits, birds and lizards, as well as plant material and carrion. Sometimes, the culpeo attacks farm animals, such as sheep, goats and poultry. Therefore, it is hunted in rural Chile and Argentina.

Description

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The culpeo is a canid intermediate in size between a red fox and a coyote. It is the second-largest native canid on the continent after the maned wolf. It has many similarities in appearance to the red fox, such as its grey and reddish fur, a white chin, reddish legs, and a stripe on its back which can be barely visible. Culpeo will range between around 8.4kg and 11.4kg in adulthood. Their bushy tail has a black tip.

Habitat

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The culpeo lives in a wide variety of habitats of western South America. They are found in broadleaf Nothofagus temperate rainforest, sclerophyllous matorral, deserts, chaparrals, and plateaus.

Diet

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The culpeo is an opportunistic predator that will take any variety of prey. They feed on rodents and lagomorphs. Occasionally, it will feed on domestic livestock, insects, birds, lizards, fruit, and carrion.

Reproduction

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The typical mating period is between August and October. After a gestation of 55-60 days, the female usually gives birth to between two and give pups.

Subspecies

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• Altiplano culpeo L c. andinus (Found in Peru, Bolivia, northern Chile and northern Argentina)
• Culpeo L. c. culpaeus (Found in central Chile and central Argentina)
• Fuegian culpeo L. c. lycoides (Found in Tierra del Fuego, in Chile and Argentina)
• Patagonian culpeo L. c. magellanicus (Found in southern Chile and southern Argentina)
• Ecuadorian culpeo L. c. reissii (Found in Ecuador and southern Colombia)
• Achalan red fox L. c. smithersi (Found in the Sierras Pampeanas in Argentina)