The culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus), also known as Culpeo zorro, Andean zorro, Andean fox, Paramo wolf, Andean wolf, and colpeo fox, In some regions, it has become rare, but overall the species is not threatened with extinction.
The culpeo was domesticated by the Selkʼnam people of Tierra del Fuego, producing the Fuegian dog which became extinct in the late 19th or early 20th century. The pelt has a grizzled appearance. The neck and shoulders are often tawny to rufous in color, while the upper back is dark. The bushy tail has a black tip.
Range
The culpeo's range extends from the southern regions of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego in the south to Ecuador and Peru in the north, with some populations extending into southern Colombia. It is also found in the Sierras Grandes mountain range in Córdoba, Argentina. It is most common on the western slopes of the Andes, where it inhabits open country and deciduous forests.
Habitat
The culpeo lives in a wide variety of habitats of western South America. They are found in broadleaf Nothofagus temperate rainforest, sclerophyllous matorral, deserts, chaparrals, and plateaus, like the Altiplano, up to the tree line (). They will also feed on insects, birds, lizards, fruit, and carrion of llamas and vicuñas. They sometimes take young lambs up to 1 week old. In limited studies, the larger culpeo appears to dominate potential competitors, including South American gray foxes, Geoffroy's cats, pampas cats, grisons and various raptorial birds. Its range also overlaps that of the much larger puma, but the size difference ensures that the two species have limited competition. They are known to eat the carcasses of vicuñas. Culpeos have also been observed preying upon introduced beavers in Tierra del Fuego.
During a period of drought in central Chile's scrublands lagomorphs, coati, goats, and cattle make up a large amount of their diet.
Reproduction
The typical mating period is between August and October. After a gestation period of 55–60 days, the female gives birth usually to between two and five pups.
Classification
Subspecies
thumb|Subspecies distribution: L. c. reissii (green); L. c. andinus (yellow); L. c. smithersi (blue); L. c. culpaeus (black); L. c. magellanicus (cyan); L. c. lycoides (red)
{| class="wikitable"
|+ style="text-align: centre;" | Lycalopex culpaeus
! Subspecies !! Authority !! Range !! Image
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
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| (Thomas, 1914)
| Found in Peru, Bolivia, northern Chile and northern Argentina
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|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| Culpeo
| (Molina, 1782)
| Found in central Chile and central Argentina
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|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|
| (Philippi, 1896)
| Found in Tierra del Fuego, in Chile and Argentina
| frameless|200px
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|
| (Gray, 1837)
This canid, like other South American foxes, is still sometimes classified as a member of the genus Pseudalopex.