The identity of the mysterious Amazon “ghost dog” finally revealed

A 25-year study based on nearly 600 photographs taken in Bolivia and Peru has revealed the secrets of Atelocynus microtis, the Amazon's mysterious “ghost dog”.

For a long time, the inhabitants of the Amazonian forests have spoken of a mysterious, nearly invisible canid—a ghostly presence capable of fueling local legends and being compared to mythological creatures such as the Chupacabra. This is the Atelocynus microtis (the “small-eared fox”), a small predator that, until recently, remained shrouded in mystery due to its particularly elusive nature.

The study: 25 years of camera traps in Bolivia and Peru

Today, an analysis published in the journal Neotropical Biology and Conservation sheds new light on the species. This work is the result of a quarter-century of field observations conducted in both Bolivia and Peru (notably in the Madidi-Tambopata and Llanos de Moxos regions). It is based on 34 camera trap monitoring campaigns that yielded nearly 600 images of the animal. The results disproved the notion that this is a rare species: the observed density—15 individuals per 100 km²—actually places the small-eared fox ahead of the jaguar in terms of population size, although this species remains less widespread than medium-sized carnivores such as the ocelot.

Profile of the small-eared fox: webbed feet and night vision

Physically, the animal is small to medium in size. Its body-tail length can reach about one meter, with a shoulder height of about 35cm and a weight of 9 to 10kg; females are generally larger than males. Its muzzle resembles that of a fox, and its ears are short and rounded. Its dense, dark coat ranges from black to brown to dark gray on the back, lightening to reddish tones on the belly. Two characteristics set it apart evolutionarily: a slight webbing between its toes, useful in muddy environments, and a reflective layer behind the retina (the tapetum lucidum) that ensures excellent vision, even in the dark.

Diurnal, solitary, and far from rivers: surprising habits

Camera traps have also helped correct a common misconception about its habits. Contrary to what was previously thought, it is not a nocturnal animal, but a species that is primarily active during the day, with peak activity between 6 a.m. and 12 p.m. It's an essentially solitary hunter; in fact, it's rare for two individuals to be observed together. It feeds mainly on small animals (mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds, insects) and supplements its diet with fruit. Curiously, although its semi-webbed feet suggest a connection to water, it prefers high-altitude forests far from rivers. It's likely this choice of a remote habitat that has made it so difficult to observe for so long.

A healthy population, but not out of danger

The study’s authors caution, however, that these encouraging figures do not mean the species is out of danger: its survival depends entirely on the preservation of the Amazon rainforest. That is why they consider it essential to expand protected areas and support sustainable development models within Indigenous territories, in order to stem deforestation.