Maned Wolf in the Cerrado

Maned Wolf in the Cerrado is an original illustration set in Central Brazilian Cerrado. It lies in the tropics, where the climate is tropical savanna — a pronounced dry season.

A solitary long-legged canid walks through tall golden grass at sunrise, its exceptionally long black legs, russet coat and large upright ears clearly visible. Scattered twisted shrubs and low trees dot the open ground behind it.

Why does the maned wolf have such long legs?

The legs are not for speed but for height — they lift the head above tall grass so the animal can see and hear over it, in a landscape where sightlines end at chest level. It is not a wolf or a fox but the only member of its genus. Grassland with scattered gnarled fire-adapted trees on deep acid soil is savanna shaped by fire.

Terpano is a free daily geography puzzle. You study one original illustration, place a pin on a borderless terrain map, and see how close you were. There is no account and no sign-up; progress stays in your own browser. It plays in 11 languages.