One of the smallest wild pack hunting dogs on the planet, the bush dog (Speothos venaticus) is a small, stout canid with medium-length, red-brown fur and a bear-like face. The Bush dog has evolved partially webbed feet to help swim in river habitats and has sharp claws that help dig out prey. It inhabits lowland forests up to 1,900 metres (6,200 ft) elevation, wet savannas and other habitats near rivers, but may also be found in drier cerrado and open pasture. It hunts in family packs of up to 12 in Central and South America – from Costa Rica in Central America and through much of South America east of the Andes, as far south as central Bolivia, Paraguay, and southern Brazil.
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