A synopsis of the wild dogs of Colombia

Abstract

Five species of canids are known in Colombia, except for the domestic dog. Three of them have not been recorded so far as elements of the Colombian fauna, and the fourth was discovered in the country as recently as 1944. The number of canine species in Colombia compares with a total of 12 in all of South America, 8 or 9 in North America, 11 in Africa and 12 in Eurasia. The systematic position, distribution and description of each species of Colombian wild dog is presented below. No attempt is made here to characterize the subspecies.