Mammals · Carnivora · Canidae

Culpeo

Lycalopex culpaeus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

It is the second largest native canid in South America after the maned wolf, and ranges across the Andes from sea level to 4,500 metres. Despite being called a fox, it is more closely related to wolves and jackals than to true foxes.

Weight

5 kg – 14 kg

Size

94 cm – 1.3 m

Lifespan

11 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Temperate forestDesertMountainCarnivore Nocturnal Solitary Temperate forest Desert Mountain Mammal

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Fun facts

It is the second largest native canid in South America, behind only the maned wolf.
It is a key seed disperser: fruits such as the peumo germinate better after passing through its gut.
It can live anywhere from sea level to 4,500 metres up in the Andes.
distribuciónIt is South America's largest wild canid and lives across a very wide altitudinal range, from the coast to over 4,000 metres in the Andes.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: A wide range of Andean and Patagonian habitats, from temperate forest to desert, between sea level and 4,500 m
Birth weight: 168 - 170 grams
Size at birth: Born naked and with its eyes closed
Sexual maturity: ~1 year
Gestation / incubation: 55-61 days
Litter / clutch size: 2 to 5 young per litter (5.2 on average according to some sources)
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of 13.1 years in captivity

Sources consulted: Animal Diversity Web; AnAge; JungleDragon; Animalia.bio; Animal of the World Wiki; Quasar Expeditions; Animal Spot; Wikipedia; Beyond BA