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Culpeo
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Fauna of Argentina
Fauna of Bolivia
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Fauna of Ecuador
Fauna of Peru
Mammals of Peru
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Mammals of Argentina
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Fauna of Argentina Forum
The Culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus), sometimes known as the Culpeo zorro or Andean Fox (Wolf), is a South American species of wild dog. It is the second largest native canid on the continent after the Maned Wolf. In its appearance it bears many similarities to the widely recognized red fox. It has grey and reddish fur, a white chin, reddish legs, and a stripe on its back that may be barely visible.
The Culpeo's diet consists largely of rodents, rabbits, birds and lizards, and to a lesser extent, plant material and carrion. The Culpeo does attack sheep on occasion, and is therefore often hunted or poisoned. In some regions it has become rare, but overall the species is not threatened with extinction.
Range
Its distribution extends from Ecuador and Peru to the southern regions of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. Some populations live in southern regions of Colombia. It is most common on the western slopes of the Andes, where it inhabits open country and deciduous forests. Populations of the Culpeo are also found in some of the westernmost of the Falkland Islands, where they were introduced by humans. The extinct domestic perro yagan was probably a close relative.
Diet
The Culpeo Fox mainly feed on rodents, lagomorphs and occasionally feed on domestic livestock, and young guanacos. They sometimes take young lambs a week old and younger.
Habitat
The culpeo lives in some areas in South America. They usually live in the areas where there are deserts, bushlands, upland mountains, and space plateaus, like Altiplano.
Reproduction
They mostly mating period is from the August to October. After a gestation period of 55-60 days, the female gives birth to cubs. The females usually give birth to 2-5 pups among the rocks.
Subspecies
Lycalopex culpaeus andinus
Lycalopex culpaeus culpaeus
Lycalopex culpaeus lycoides
Lycalopex culpaeus magellanicus
Lycalopex culpaeus reissii
Lycalopex culpaeus smithersi
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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Culpeo