Culpeo
Species of carnivore

Culpeo
Culpeo in the Andes of Chile
CITES Appendix II [2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Canidae
Genus: Lycalopex
Species:
L. culpaeus
Binomial name
Lycalopex culpaeus
(Molina, 1782)
Culpeo range

The culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus), also known as Culpeo zorro, Andean zorro, Andean fox, Paramo wolf,[3] Andean wolf,[4] and colpeo fox,[4] is a species of South American fox. Despite the name, it is not a true fox, but more closely related to wolves and jackals. Its appearance resembles that of foxes due to convergent evolution.

The culpeo's diet consists largely of rodents, rabbits, birds and lizards, and to a lesser extent, plant material and carrion. They may prey on Andean flamingos and baby vicuña. The culpeo sometimes attacks farm animals, among them sheep, goats and poultry; for this, it is hunted in rural Chile and Argentina.[5] In some regions, it has become rare, but overall the species is not threatened with extinction.

The culpeo was domesticated by the Selkʼnam people of Tierra del Fuego, producing the Fuegian dog which became extinct in the late 19th or early 20th century.[6]

Description

Culpeo skull

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. In 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 average weight of the male is 11.4 kg (25 lb), while the typically smaller females average 8.4 kg (19 lb). Overall, a weight range of 5 to 13.5 kg (11 to 30 lb) has been reported. Total length can range from 94 to 133 cm (37 to 52 in), including a tail of 32 to 44 cm (13 to 17 in) in length.[7] The pelt has a grizzled appearance. The neck and shoulders are often tawny to rufous in color, while the upper back is dark. The bushy tail has a black tip.[8]

Range

The culpeo's range extends from the southern regions of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego in the south to Ecuador and Peru in the north, with some populations extending into southern Colombia. It is also found in the Sierras Grandes mountain range in Córdoba, Argentina.[9] It is most common on the western slopes of the Andes, where it inhabits open country and deciduous forests.

Habitat

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, like the Altiplano, up to the tree line (4,800 metres (15,700 ft)).[1]

Diet

The culpeo is an opportunistic predator that will take any variety of prey. It mainly feeds on rodents (including common degus) and lagomorphs (especially the introduced European rabbit and European hare); however, it occasionally feeds on domestic livestock and young guanacos.[10][11] They will also feed on insects, birds, lizards, fruit, and carrion of llamas and vicuñas.[11] Culpeos are considered beneficial because they are significant predators of the rabbits introduced in 1915; such introduced rabbit populations are believed to have allowed culpeos to spread from the Andean foothills across the Patagonian plain.[12] They sometimes take young lambs up to 1 week old. In limited studies, the larger culpeo appears to dominate potential competitors, including South American gray foxes, Geoffroy's cats, pampas cats, grisons and various raptorial birds.[8] In the southeastern Argentine Patagonia region, culpeos generally tend to consume more of the introduced European hare than the South American gray fox does year-round, while the gray fox tends to consume more rodents. However, during colder seasons, the culpeo's diet overlaps more with the gray fox due to a lack of variety in prey, thus causing prey partitioning as the culpeos use their size advantage to exclude the gray fox from areas with higher concentrations of prey.[13] Its range also overlaps that of the much larger puma, but the size difference ensures that the two species have limited competition. They are known to eat the carcasses of vicuñas. Culpeos have also been observed preying upon introduced beavers in Tierra del Fuego.[14] During a period of drought in central Chile's scrublands lagomorphs, coati, goats, and cattle make up a large amount of their diet.[15]

Reproduction

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

Classification

Subspecies

Subspecies distribution: L. c. reissii (green); L. c. andinus (yellow); L. c. smithersi (blue); L. c. culpaeus (black); L. c. magellanicus (cyan); L. c. lycoides (red)
Lycalopex culpaeus
Subspecies Authority Range Image
Altiplano culpeo [es] L. c. andinus (Thomas, 1914)[16] Found in Peru, Bolivia, northern Chile and northern Argentina
Culpeo L. c. culpaeus [es] (Molina, 1782)[17] Found in central Chile and central Argentina
Fuegian culpeo [es] L. c. lycoides (Philippi, 1896)[18] Found in Tierra del Fuego, in Chile and Argentina
Patagonian culpeo [es] L. c. magellanicus (Gray, 1837)[8] Found in southern Chile and southern Argentina
Ecuadorian culpeo [es] L. c. reissii (Hilzheimer, 1906)[8] Found in Ecuador and southern Colombia
Achalan red fox [es] L. c. smithersi (Thomas, 1914)[16] Found in the Sierras Pampeanas in Argentina

Taxonomy

The taxonomy of the culpeo has been the topic of debate due to their high phenetic variability and the scarcity of research, among other things. Over the past three decades, they have been placed variably in the genera Dusicyon (Clutton-Brock, et al., 1976; Wozencraft, 1989), Canis (Langguth, 1975; Van Gelder, 1978), Pseudalopex (Berta, 1987; Wozencraft, 1993; Tedford et al., 1995) and Lycalopex (Zunino, 1995; Wozencraft, 2005).[19]

This canid, like other South American foxes, is still sometimes classified as a member of the genus Pseudalopex.[1] As Pseudalopex and Lycalopex have largely come to describe the same genus, either classification is acceptable, although the modern practice is to give Lycalopex prominence.[20]

Cerdocyonina[22]

Domestication

The culpeo was domesticated by the Selkʼnam people of Tierra del Fuego, producing the Fuegian dog.[6] They were used in hunting, fishing, and as a source of warmth in shelters.[23][24][25] They became extinct in the late 19th or early 20th century as part of the Selknam genocide.[26]

References

  1. ^ a b c Lucherini, M. (2016). "Lycalopex culpaeus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T6929A85324366. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T6929A85324366.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. ^ Guntiñas, Marta; Lozano, Jorge; Cisneros, Rodrigo; Llorente, Esther; Malo, Aurelio F. (2021). "Ecology of the culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus): a synthesis of existing knowledge". Hystrix: The Italian Journal of Mammalogy. 32 (1): 5–17. doi:10.4404/hystrix-00388-2020.
  4. ^ a b Johnson, Warren E. (1992). Comparative ecology of two South American foxes, 'Dusicvon ariseus' and 'Culpaeus' (Doctoral). Iowa State University. p. 2. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  5. ^ Macdonald, David Whyte; Sillero-Zubiri, Claudio (2004). The Biology and Conservation of Wild Canids. Oxford University Press. p. 244. ISBN 978-0-19-851555-5.
  6. ^ a b Petrigh, Romina S.; Fugassa, Martin H. (December 13, 2013). "Molecular identification of a Fuegian dog belonging to the Fagnano Regional Museum ethnographic collection, Tierra del Fuego" (PDF). Quaternary International. 317: 14–18. Bibcode:2013QuInt.317...14P. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2013.07.030. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 20, 2016. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  7. ^ Burnie, D.; Wilson, D. E., eds. (2005). Animal: The Definitive Visual Guide to the World's Wildlife. DK Adult. p. 182. ISBN 0789477645.
  8. ^ a b c d Novaro, Andrés J. (24 October 1997). "Pseudalopex culpaeus" (PDF). Mammalian Species (558). American Society of Mammalogists: 1–8. Bibcode:1997MamSp.558....1N. doi:10.2307/3504483. JSTOR 3504483. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-05-14 – via www.science.smith.edu.
  9. ^ "Zorro Colorado" (PDF). Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarollo Sustentable de Argentina (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  10. ^ Novaro, Andres J.; Moraga, Claudio A.; Briceño, Cristobal; Funes, Martin C.; Marino, Andrea (2009). "First records of culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus) attacks and cooperative defense by guanacos (Lama guanicoe)". Mammalia. 73 (2): 148–150. doi:10.1515/MAMM.2009.016. hdl:11336/102311. S2CID 84525738.
  11. ^ a b "Lycalopex culpaeus (Culpeo)". Animal Diversity Web.
  12. ^ Alderton, David. Foxes, Wolves, and Wild Dogs of the World. London: Blandford, 1998. p175-6.
  13. ^ Zapata, Sonia C.; Travaini, Alejandro; Delibes, Miguel; Martínez-Peck, Rolando (August 2005). "Food habits and resource partitioning between grey and culpeo foxes in southeastern Argentine Patagonia". Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment. 40 (2): 97–103. Bibcode:2005SNFE...40...97Z. doi:10.1080/01650520500129836. hdl:10261/50241. ISSN 0165-0521.
  14. ^ Tadich, Tamara A.; Novaro, Andrés J.; Kunzle, Pablo; Chacón, Mauricio; Barrientos, Miguel; Briceño, Cristóbal (2017-11-03). "Agonistic behavior between introduced beaver (Castor canadensis) and endemic culpeo fox (Pseudalopex culpaeus lycoides) in Tierra del Fuego Island and implications". Acta Ethologica. 21 (1). ISPA [pt] CRL Portuguese Ethological Society (Springer): 29–34. doi:10.1007/s10211-017-0278-z. hdl:11336/95336. ISSN 0873-9749. S2CID 11176126.
  15. ^ Lobos, Gabriel; Tapia, Gianina; Alzamora, Alejandra; Rebolledo, Nico; Salinas, Hugo; Trujillos, Juan Carlos; Girón, Gustavo; Ascanio, Rafael (December 2020). "Dieta del zorro culpeo Lycalopex culpaeus (Molina, 1782) durante la megasequía de Chile central: rol del ganado y evidencia de una alta interacción trófica entre mamíferos carnívoros". Mastozoología Neotropical (in Spanish). 27 (2): 319–327. doi:10.31687/saremMN.20.27.2.0.10.
  16. ^ a b Thomas, O. (1914). "On various South-American mammals". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 13 (75): 345–363. doi:10.1080/00222931408693492.
  17. ^ Molina, G. I. (1782). Saggio sulla storia naturale del Chili (in Italian). Stamperia di S. Tommaso d'Aquino. p. 293.
  18. ^ Philippi, R. A. (1896). "Dos animales nuevos de la fauna Chilena". An. Univ. Santiago de Chile (in Spanish). 94: 541–546.
  19. ^ Jiménez, J.E.; Novaro, A.J. (2004). "Chapter 3.4: Culpeo (Pseudalopex culpaeus)". In Sillero-Zubiri, C.; Hoffmann, M.; Macdonald, D.W. (eds.). Canids: Foxes, Wolves, Jackals, and Dogs. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-06. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  20. ^ Wozencraft, W. C. (2005). "Order Carnivora". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 579–581. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  21. ^ Lindblad-Toh, K.; Wade, C. M.; Mikkelsen, T. S.; Karlsson, E. K.; Jaffe, D. B.; Kamal, M.; Clamp, M.; Chang, J. L.; Kulbokas 3rd, E. J. (2005). "Genome sequence, comparative analysis and haplotype structure of the domestic dog" (PDF). Nature. 438 (7069): 803–819. Bibcode:2005Natur.438..803L. doi:10.1038/nature04338. PMID 16341006. S2CID 4338513.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ Wang, X.; Tedford, R. H. (2007). "Ch1-Evolutionary History of Canids". In Jensen, Per (ed.). The Behavioural Biology of Dogs (1 ed.). Cabi Publishing. p. 11. ISBN 978-1-84593-187-2.
  23. ^ Alonso Marchante, José Luis (2019). "Cazadores del viento" [Hunters of the Wind]. Selkʼnam: Genocidio y resistencia [Selkʼnam: Genocide and Resistance] (in Spanish). Santiago de Chile; Catalonia. p. 75. ISBN 978-956-324-749-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  24. ^ Martial, Louis-Ferdinand [in French] (2005) [1884–1889]. Mision al Cabo de Hornos, la expedición científica francesa en la Romanche Julio de 1882 a setiembre de 1883 [Mission to Cape Horn, the French scientific expedition in Romanche July 1882 to September 1883] (in Spanish). Ushuaia, Argentina: Zaguier & Urruty Pubs. p. 225.
  25. ^ Lothrop, Samuel Kirkland (1928). The Indians of Tierra del Feugo. Contributions from the Museum of the American Indian. Vol. X. Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation. pp. 59–60.
  26. ^ Gigoux, Carlos (2022). ""Condemned to Disappear": Indigenous Genocide in Tierra del Fuego" (PDF). Journal of Genocide Research. 24 (1): 1–22. doi:10.1080/14623528.2020.1853359.

Further reading

  • Guntiñas, Marta; Lozano, Jorge; Cisneros, Rodrigo; Narváez, Carlos; Armijos, Jorge (July 2017). "Feeding ecology of the culpeo in southern Ecuador: wild ungulates being the main prey". Contributions to Zoology. 86 (2): 169–180. doi:10.1163/18759866-08602004.
  • Johnson, Warren E.; Franklin, William L. (February 18, 1994). "Role of Body Size in the Diets of Sympatric Gray and Culpeo Foxes". Journal of Mammalogy. 75 (1): 163–174. Bibcode:1994JMamm..75..163J. doi:10.2307/1382248. JSTOR 1382248.
  • Kelt, Douglas A.; Meserve, Peter L.; Previtali, M. Andrea; Milstead, W. Bryan; Lang, Brian K.; Véas, Hector; Gutiérrez, Julio R.; Troncoso, Alejandra J.; Oli, Madan K. (2025). "The components of predation in Culpeo Foxes (Lycalopex culpaeus), and the value of long-term observations". Therya. 16 (1): 107–124. doi:10.12933/therya-25-6150. ISSN 2007-3364.
  • Lozano, Jorge; Guntiñas, Marta; Cisneros, Rodrigo; Llorente, Esther; Duro, Adrián; Malo, Aurelio F. (2024). "Diversity and biogeographical patterns in the diet of the culpeo in South America". Ecology and Evolution. 14 (8) e70176. Bibcode:2024EcoEv..1470176L. doi:10.1002/ece3.70176. PMC 11319844. PMID 39139910.
  • Novaro, Andres J. (1995). "Sustainability of harvest of culpeo foxes in Patagonia". Oryx. 29 (1): 18–22. doi:10.1017/S0030605300020822.
  • Pia, Mónica; López, María S.; Novaro, Andrés J. (2003). "Effects of livestock on the feeding ecology of endemic culpeo foxes (Pseudalopex culpaeus smithersi) in central Argentina". Revista Chilena de Historia Natural. 76 (2): 313–321. Bibcode:2003RvCHN..7600015P. doi:10.4067/S0716-078X2003000200015.
  • Salvatori, Valeria; Vaglio-Laurin, Gaia; Meserve, Peter L.; Boitani, Luigi; Campanella, Andrea (August 27, 1999). "Spatial Organization, Activity, and Social Interactions of Culpeo Foxes (Pseudalopex culpaeus) in North-Central Chile". Journal of Mammalogy. 80 (3): 980–985. doi:10.2307/1383268. JSTOR 1383268.
  • Zapata, Sonia C.; Travaini, Alejandro; Delibes, Miguel; Martínez-Peck, Rolando (2005). "Food Habits and Resource Partitioning between Grey and Culpeo Foxes in Southeastern Argentine Patagonia". Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment. 40 (2): 97–103. Bibcode:2005SNFE...40...97Z. doi:10.1080/01650520500129836. hdl:10261/50241.
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