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Bush dog Facts

Bush dog Facts
Bush dog is a small mammal that belongs to the family of dogs. There are three subspecies of bush dog that can be found in Central and South America. Bush dog can survive in various types of habitats that provide enough water. It primarily inhabits lowland forests and seasonally flooded areas, but it can be also found in wet savannahs and open plains. Bush dog is also known as savannah dog or water dog due to specific preference of habitat. Number of bush dogs in the wild is decreasing due to negative human activity and habitat destruction. Scientists estimate that wild population of bush dogs consists of around 15 000 animals. Bush dog is listed as near threatened species, which means that it may become endangered in the near future.
Interesting Bush dog Facts:
Bush dog can reach 20 to 30 inches in length and 11 to 18 pounds of weight. Tail is usually 5 inches long.
Bush dog has reddish fur on the head and neck, brown fur on backs and dark brown fur on the belly. Light-colored fur can be seen on the throat. Young animals are covered with black fur.
Bush dog has short, rounded snout and small ears. It has stocky body with short legs and short, bushy tail.
Bush dog is semi-aquatic animals, which means that it is adapted to the life close to the water. It has partially webbed feet which facilitate swimming and diving.
Bush dog is diurnal animal (active during the day). It sleeps in the hollows of the trees or in the abandoned burrows of armadillo during the night.
Bush dog is a carnivore (meat-eater). Its diet is based on large rodents such as paca, agouti and capybara. Group of bush dogs can kill larger mammals such as peccary and tapir or birds, such as rhea.
Group of bush dogs hunts cooperatively. One part of the group chases animal on the land, while others wait for it in the water, where the prey usually seeks protection.
Bush dog lives in family groups composed of up to 12 animals.
Group of bush dogs occupies territory of 1.5 to 3.9 square miles.
Bush dog produces high-pitched cries for communication with other members of the group.
Bush dogs can mate all year round.
Pregnancy lasts 65 to 83 days and ends with 1 to 6 puppies (usually 4). Babies are blind and helpless at birth. At the age of 2 to 3 weeks, they are ready to leave the safety of a den. Babies depend on the mother's milk during the first 8 weeks of their life.
Only dominant female in the group produce offspring. Other females protect, clean and feed young animals.
Bush dogs reach sexual maturity at the age of one year.
Bush dogs can survive 10 years in the wild.


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