Culpeo
Scientific name: Lycalopex culpaeus
- How weight is recorded: Whole weight
Field notes
Appearance
Culpeos have reddish-brown to grey dorsal fur, white or pale ventral colouring, and distinctive black ears with white posterior patches. Males are noticeably larger than females, with heavier shoulders and neck.
Size and weight
Males 7–11 kg, body length 60–70 cm; females 5–7 kg, body length 55–65 cm. Tail is long and bushy, 30–40 cm.
Habitat
Culpeos occupy open ridges, arid plains, and scrubland from lowlands to alpine zones around 4000 m elevation. They adapt to both dry and mesic terrain but show preference for areas with panoramic visibility.
Distribution
Culpeos range through the Andes from Colombia to Tierra del Fuego, with highest densities in central-west Chile and Argentina. They descend into coastal plains and climb to alpine heights.
Diet
Culpeos hunt small to medium rodents (chinchillas and vizcachas predominate), hares, birds, and insects; larger ungulates are taken opportunistically when available.
Behaviour
Primarily crepuscular hunters active throughout daylight hours under high prey availability. They are largely solitary or paired, ranging widely across expansive territories.
Hunting tips
Track fresh sign in snow or soft ground along watercourses and valley floors. Listen for vocalizations during dawn and dusk; culpeos respond readily to whistled calls mimicking hares or guena flutes. Approach upwind through rocky or brushy terrain to mask your silhouette against ridgelines.
Whole weight
This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.
Where it is hunted
Listed as huntable in 3 countries in Huntify.
Names in other languages
Current language: en
These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.