Discover the short-eared dog (Aterocynus microtis): A rare canid thriving in Bolivia and Peru. This elusive species, often referred to as the world’s least-known canid, flourishes in the pristine high-altitude forests of Latin America. Learn more in the official research article.
Aterocynus microtis) captured by a camera trap in Bolivia.”width=”580″ height=”405″
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Short-eared dog (Aterocynus microtis) photographed in Bolivia. Image credit: G. Ayala & ME Vizcarra.
According to Dr. Robert Wallace and his colleagues at the Wildlife Conservation Society, “The short-eared dog, also known as the ghost dog, is likely the least understood medium-to-large mammal in the neotropics, and its habitat distribution remains largely unknown.”
Recent analyses reveal that short-eared dogs are forest specialists. Studies in southern Peru indicate they prefer terra firma, or highland forests, far from rivers.
Previously, Bolivia recorded only six localities, four museum specimens, and two field sightings by trained biologists. However, extensive efforts to document mammal distribution have uncovered more habitats for this fascinating species.
Between 2001 and 2024, researchers conducted 34 camera trap surveys in the Greater Madidi Tambopata landscape and the Llanos de Moxos biocultural landscape, resulting in 4,635 photographs depicting 594 independent short-eared dog events across 21 of 34 camera trap surveys.
Dr. Wallace stated, “This research demonstrates the power of modern conservation techniques like camera trapping, providing valuable insights into one of the Amazon rainforest’s least-known species.”
Camera traps have unveiled the distinct features of the short-eared dog: a dark, dense coat ranging from blackish-gray to reddish-brown, a prominent head with tiny rounded ears, short legs, and a bushy tail. Remarkably, they possess partially webbed feet, a trait unique among Amazonian canids.
Despite their mythic reputation, new findings suggest that short-eared dogs are more common than previously believed, with capture rates estimating around 15 individuals per 100 square kilometers.
Active primarily during daylight hours, with peak activity between 6 a.m. and 12 p.m., short-eared dogs are true forest specialists, thriving in untouched highland forests, which explains their elusive nature.
Given their dependence on intact forest ecosystems, the conservation of short-eared dogs hinges on the establishment and effective management of protected areas. Researchers found that their relative abundance was significantly higher in protected areas and indigenous territories compared to unprotected zones.
According to the authors, “The most critical management strategy is to safeguard the Amazon forest canopy through the creation and effective management of protected regions, paired with sustainable practices in indigenous lands.” This knowledge illustrates how short-eared dogs are quietly flourishing in the dense forests of Bolivia and Peru, emphasizing the urgent need for habitat protection.
This important study was published in Neotropical Biology and Conservation on March 27, 2026.
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RB Wallace et al. 2026. Delivering Insights: Short-Eared Dog (Aterocynus microtis) Distribution and Ecology in Bolivia. Neotropical Biology and Conservation 21 (1): 49-66; doi: 10.3897/neotropical.21.e183324
Source: www.sci.news
