A new study has found that the elusive short-eared dog (Atelocynus microtis), a predator known as the 'ghost dog' that roams the Amazon rainforest, may be more widespread than previously thought.
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Data published in the journal Neotropical Biology and Conservation provides fresh insight into the mysterious Amazonian carnivore. Using almost 25 years of camera-trap data, researchers have uncovered new details about the species' appearance, behaviour and distribution.
Researchers working in Bolivia and Peru compiled more than 500 records of the species and conducted 34 intensive camera-trap surveys across Amazonian forests. The project generated 594 independent photographic records, creating what is believed to be the largest collection of confirmed short-eared dog observations ever assembled.
Lead author Robert Wallace highlighted that the study is a "wonderful example of how conservation technology and remote sensing – in this case the intensive use of camera traps – can provide substantial data on one of the least known species of the Amazonian rainforests".
Images show a distinctive animal, unlike any other Amazonian canid, with a dense coat that varies from dark grey to reddish-brown, a large head, small rounded ears, short legs and a long bushy tail.
It also possesses partially webbed paws – a feature unique among wild dogs living in the Amazon.
The Amazon's rarest canid
Despite its near-mythical reputation, researchers estimate that around 15 short-eared dogs occupy every 100 square kilometres of suitable habitat. While still uncommon, the density suggests the species is more abundant than larger predators such as jaguars, although less numerous than medium-sized carnivores, such as ocelots.
The study also provides a glimpse into the animal's daily routine, showing that unlike many rainforest predators that are most active at night, short-eared dogs appear to be primarily diurnal, with activity peaking between 6am and midday.
The research highlights the importance of intact rainforest for the species' survival, with the short-eared dog showing a strong preference for terra firme forests – upland areas that remain above seasonal floodwaters. According to researchers, the dense, relatively undisturbed forest indicates why the animal is so rarely encountered by humans.
The findings also suggest that protected areas play a vital role in safeguarding populations. Researchers found higher numbers of short-eared dogs within national parks and Indigenous territories linked to protected areas than in unprotected landscapes.
As deforestation continues to threaten parts of the Amazon, scientists warn that preserving large tracts of continuous forest will be essential for the species' future.
Main image: screenshot from a video of a short-eared dog. Credit: Wallace et al., 2026
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