Crab-eating fox

The crab-eating fox (*Cerdocyon thous*), a robust canid native to the savannas and forests of South America, is distinguished by its short, dense, mottled gray-brown coat—often accented with yellowish hues—and its characteristic black legs. This nocturnal predator owes its name to its unique habit of hunting crabs in muddy areas during the rainy season, although it is an opportunistic omnivore that also consumes fruit, rodents, and insects. Typically living in monogamous pairs, it is recognizable by its bushy tail tipped with black and its pointed ears, which give it an appearance that is both elegant and cunning. Its great ecological flexibility and discreet nature allow it to thrive in a variety of habitats, making it one of the most fascinating and well-adapted canids on the continent.