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The Crab–eating fox (Cerdocyon thous)
The crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous), also known as the forest fox, wood fox, and the common fox, is an extant species of medium-sized canid, endemic to the central part of South America and which appeared during the Pliocene epoch. Cerdocyon comes from the Greek words kerdo (meaning fox) and cyon (dog) referring to the dog and fox-like characters of this animal.
Cerdocyonina is a tribe which appeared around 6.0 Ma in North America as Cerdocyon avius becoming extinct by around 1.4—1.3 Ma. living about 4.7 million years. This genus carried on in South America from an undetermined time, possibly around 3.1 Ma and continues to present in the form or similar to the crab-eating fox. 
As one of the species of the tribe Canini, it is related to the Canis genus. It was theorized at present that the crab-eating fox’s nearest relative is the Short-eared Dog. This, however, has to be supported by mitochondrial investigations. Two subgenera (Atelocynus and Speothos) were long ago included in Cerdocyon.
The crab-eating fox is a canid that ranges in savannahs, woodlands subtropical forests, prickly, shrubby thickets and tropical savannahs such as the caatinga, plains, and campo from Colombia and southern Venezuela to Paraguay, Uruguay and Northern Argentina.
Its habitat also includes wooded river banks such as Riparian forest. In the rainy season their range moves uphill, whilst in drier times they move to low ground. Their habitat covers all environments except rainforests, high mountains and open grassy savannahs. In some regions of their range they are threatened with extinction.
Cerdocyon thous, Cerdocyon avius and other species of the genus Cerdocyon underwent radiational evolution on the South American continent.
All relatives of the crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous) are extinct. It is the only representative at present of the genus Cerdocyon. Genetically there are 74 diploidchromosomes (36 pairs).
The crab-eating fox is predominantly greyish-brown with areas of red on the face and legs, and black-tipped ears and tail. It has short, strong legs and its tail is long and bushy. It may reach an adult weight of 10 to 17 pounds (4.5 to 7.7 kg). The head and body length averages 64.3 centimetres (25.3 in) and the average tail length is 28.5 centimetres (11.2 in). This fox weighs between five to eight kilograms (11 to 18 lb).
It is mainly nocturnal and also is active at dusk, spending its day in dens that were dug by different animals. It hunts individually or lives in pairs and it eats crabs, lizards and different flying animals. It is easy to domesticate and farm, but its fur is not so highly valued as that of other species.
Coloration varies from grey-brown, to yellow air raid, to pale, navy-blue spotted, to dark grey. There is a black streak along the back legs with a black stripe along the back. On muzzle, ears and paws there is more reddish fur. Tail, legs and ear tips are black. The torso is somewhat narrow with strong short legs. The dense hairy tail stays upright when they are excited. The ears are wide and round.
The adult female gives birth to one or two litters per year, and the breeding pair is monogamous. The pair ranges the plains together. As a tropical animal, reproduction is not fixed to certain times of year, and takes place twice yearly. The reproductive period most often begins in November or December, and July.
The crab-eating fox searches for crabs on muddy floodplains during the wet season giving this animal its common name. It is an opportunist and an omnivore, preferring insects or meat from rodents and birds when available. Other foods readily consumed include turtle eggs, tortoises, fruit, eggs, crustaceans, insects, lizards, crabs and carrion. Their diet is varied and differs in different investigations, suggesting opportunistic feeding and geographical variation. During the wet season the diet contains more crabs and crustaceans, while during the dry season it contains more insects. The crab-eating fox contributes to the control of rodents and harmful insects.
(Source: Wikipedia – The Free Online Encyclopedia)
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