Bush dogs are small, social canids that resemble oversized otters. They have a long body (ranging from 57–75 cm), short legs, and a relatively large head. Their fur is short and coarse and varies in color from reddish to dark brown. Despite being highly social, bush dogs are often hard to find, as they are strictly nocturnal and rarely encountered during the day. They form long-term reproductive monogamous pairs that stay together for many years and usually raise two pups per year. Bush dogs are predators, primarily targeting rodents and marsupials. However, they have also been known to prey on the young or sick of larger species, such as pacas, agoutis, and even small deer.
The new records come from camera traps set up for other research projects as part of the long-term monitoring of vertebrate populations carried out by STRI scientists in Barro Colorado Island and the Agua Salud and Pipeline trails in the mainland of Central Panama. Cameras were set to take pictures 24 hours a day, every 30 minutes for 15 days per month. The species identification was possible due to the unique pelage pattern of bush dogs, characterized by a reddish coat, prominent white facial mask and black lips, with variable presence of an additional white chest patch.
Lead researcher, Rolando Ruedas, STRI Staff Scientist and professor in the Department of Biology of the University of Panama, states: "Camera trapping is proving to be an indispensable tool to understand nocturnal and elusive species that are otherwise hard to observe. By expanding our camera trapping efforts, we can continue updating the knowledge of the distribution of species and their diversity across Panama".
