Speothos venaticus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	CARNIVORA	CANIDAE

Scientific Name:

Speothos venaticus

Species Authority:

(Lund, 1842)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Bush Dog, Savannah Dog, Vinegar Dog
French	–	Chiens Des Buissons, Zorro
Spanish	–	Cachorro De Mato Vinagre, Cachorro Vinagre, Guanfando, Pero Selvático, Perrito Venadero, Perro De Agua, Perro De La Selva, Perro De Monte, Umba, Zorrito Vinagre

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Near Threatened ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s

Zuercher, G.L., Swarner, M., Silveira, L. & Carrillo, O.

Evaluator/s:

Sillero-Zubiri, C. & Hoffmann, M. (Canid Red List Authority)

Justification:
Listed as Near Threatened as although the species occurs in a variety of habitats across a large range, it is nowhere abundant and occurs at very low densities. Currently, the population is estimated to number fewer than 15,000 mature individuals, and is thought likely to experience a continuing decline nearing 10% over the coming decade largely as a result of ongoing habitat loss and degradation. Almost qualifies as threatened under criterion C1.

History:

2004	–	Vulnerable (IUCN 2004)
1996	–	Vulnerable (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)
1994	–	Vulnerable (Groombridge 1994)
1990	–	Vulnerable (IUCN 1990)
1988	–	Vulnerable (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1988)
1986	–	Vulnerable (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1986)
1982	–	Vulnerable (Thornback and Jenkins 1982)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species occurs from extreme eastern Central America and northern South America, south to Paraguay and north-eastern Argentina. Isolated subpopulations may also still occur in Ecuador and Colombia, west of the Andes. Their historical distribution may have extended as far north as Costa Rica (de la Rosa and Nocke 2000), where the species may still survive in suitable habitat.
Countries:	Native: Bolivia; Brazil; Colombia; Ecuador; French Guiana; Guyana; Panama; Paraguay; Peru; Suriname; Venezuela Presence uncertain: Argentina
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	Despite its large distributional range and occurrence in a variety of habitats (i.e., cerrado and rainforest), the species seems to be naturally rare throughout its range, and is seldom recorded even using newer non-invasive techniques such as camera-traps. There are no published density estimates of Bush Dogs, but they are believed to occur at exceptionally low densities. For example, based on track records, Beisiegel and Ades (2004) recorded the minimum home range for a group as ca. 1,600 ha; a very rough density estimate based on their data would be around 0.04 individuals/km² (B. Beisiegel pers. comm. 2008). Another group of bush dogs, radio-tracked for one year (2004/2005) in an area of cerrado in Nova Xavantina (south eastern part of the state of Mato Grosso), used a home range of 145 km² (Kernell, 95%). The group was formed by a pair of adults (male and female) and a variable number of juveniles and pups (2-4 individuals). Considering an average of 4 individuals for the total area, yields a density of 0.03 individuals/km² (E.S. Lima, K. DeMatteo, S. Klorfine, R.S.P Jorge, H.S. Lima and J.C. Dalponte in prep.).
Population Trend:	Unknown

Population:

Despite its large distributional range and occurrence in a variety of habitats (i.e., cerrado and rainforest), the species seems to be naturally rare throughout its range, and is seldom recorded even using newer non-invasive techniques such as camera-traps. There are no published density estimates of Bush Dogs, but they are believed to occur at exceptionally low densities. For example, based on track records, Beisiegel and Ades (2004) recorded the minimum home range for a group as ca. 1,600 ha; a very rough density estimate based on their data would be around 0.04 individuals/km² (B. Beisiegel pers. comm. 2008).

Another group of bush dogs, radio-tracked for one year (2004/2005) in an area of cerrado in Nova Xavantina (south eastern part of the state of Mato Grosso), used a home range of 145 km² (Kernell, 95%). The group was formed by a pair of adults (male and female) and a variable number of juveniles and pups (2-4 individuals). Considering an average of 4 individuals for the total area, yields a density of 0.03 individuals/km² (E.S. Lima, K. DeMatteo, S. Klorfine, R.S.P Jorge, H.S. Lima and J.C. Dalponte in prep.).

Population Trend:

Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Bush Dogs are reported to be a habitat generalist by indigenous peoples, within the context of occurring generally near water sources, particularly small streams, and near available prey populations, especially Agouti paca (O. Carrillo and M. Swarner, pers. obs.). Bush Dogs have been observed in lowland (below 1,500 m) forested habitats including primary and gallery forest (Defler 1986), semi-deciduous forest, and seasonally flooded forest (Aquino and Puertas 1997). Observations have also been recorded from cerrado habitat in Brazil (Silveira et al. 1998; C. Brady pers. comm.) and Paraguay (Zuercher and Villalba 2002) and pampas (wet savanna) edge/riparian areas (Strahl et al. 1992; Emmons 1998). In some cases, they have been observed several kilometres from forest habitat (Silveira et al. 1998). The species is also occasionally reported from secondary forest, ranchland (M. Swarner, pers. obs.) and fragmented cerrado ranchland (L. Silveira and A. Jácomo pers. comm.).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

Bush Dogs are reported to be a habitat generalist by indigenous peoples, within the context of occurring generally near water sources, particularly small streams, and near available prey populations, especially Agouti paca (O. Carrillo and M. Swarner, pers. obs.). Bush Dogs have been observed in lowland (below 1,500 m) forested habitats including primary and gallery forest (Defler 1986), semi-deciduous forest, and seasonally flooded forest (Aquino and Puertas 1997). Observations have also been recorded from cerrado habitat in Brazil (Silveira et al. 1998; C. Brady pers. comm.) and Paraguay (Zuercher and Villalba 2002) and pampas (wet savanna) edge/riparian areas (Strahl et al. 1992; Emmons 1998). In some cases, they have been observed several kilometres from forest habitat (Silveira et al. 1998). The species is also occasionally reported from secondary forest, ranchland (M. Swarner, pers. obs.) and fragmented cerrado ranchland (L. Silveira and A. Jácomo pers. comm.).

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The only serious perceived threat is from habitat conversion and human encroachment.

Major Threat(s):

The only serious perceived threat is from habitat conversion and human encroachment.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Included in CITES – Appendix I. Occurs in several protected areas throughout its range. Hunting is prohibited in Colombia (Law Number 848:1973), Ecuador (Law Number 74:1981), French Guiana (Law Number JO19860625:1986), Panama (Law Number 2-80:1980), Paraguay (Law Number 18796:1975) and Peru (Law Number 5056:1970). Hunting and trade is regulated in Argentina (Law Number 22.421:1981), Bolivia (Law Number 12301:1975), Brazil (Law Number 5197:191967), and Venezuela (Law Number 276:1970). There is no Information for Guyana and Suriname. Bush Dogs do occur in captivity and are breeding successfully. No known attempts at reintroduction. Gaps in knowledge The distribution of bush dogs should be re-evaluated. There are no population estimates or demographic data for bush dogs in any of their range countries. Our understanding of dietary habits is based mostly on anecdotal information and does not address seasonal or geographic variation. Habitat associations are not clearly understood – the species was once thought to be dependent on forests but is now regularly observed in open habitats. The impact of disease, both historically and currently, is unclear (this is especially true for diseases introduced by domestic animals). Accepted ideas of behaviour and social structure, obtained from captive animals, have not yet been verified in wild populations. Interspecific relationships with sympatric carnivores need to be further evaluated.

Conservation Actions:

Included in CITES – Appendix I. Occurs in several protected areas throughout its range.

Hunting is prohibited in Colombia (Law Number 848:1973), Ecuador (Law Number 74:1981), French Guiana (Law Number JO19860625:1986), Panama (Law Number 2-80:1980), Paraguay (Law Number 18796:1975) and Peru (Law Number 5056:1970). Hunting and trade is regulated in Argentina (Law Number 22.421:1981), Bolivia (Law Number 12301:1975), Brazil (Law Number 5197:191967), and Venezuela (Law Number 276:1970). There is no Information for Guyana and Suriname.

Bush Dogs do occur in captivity and are breeding successfully. No known attempts at reintroduction.

Gaps in knowledge
The distribution of bush dogs should be re-evaluated. There are no population estimates or demographic data for bush dogs in any of their range countries. Our understanding of dietary habits is based mostly on anecdotal information and does not address seasonal or geographic variation. Habitat associations are not clearly understood – the species was once thought to be dependent on forests but is now regularly observed in open habitats. The impact of disease, both historically and currently, is unclear (this is especially true for diseases introduced by domestic animals). Accepted ideas of behaviour and social structure, obtained from captive animals, have not yet been verified in wild populations. Interspecific relationships with sympatric carnivores need to be further evaluated.

Citation:	Zuercher, G.L., Swarner, M., Silveira, L. & Carrillo, O. 2008. Speothos venaticus. In: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 January 2009.
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