Reproduction, Growth and Parental Care in Crab-Eating Foxes Cerdocyon thous at the National Zoological Park, Washington

The Crab-eating fox Cerdocyon thous is a small canid with a wide distribution in South America. In nature, they are most often observed in pairs and they form long-term pair bonds in captivity (Kleiman & Brady, 1978). Little has been published on their breeding habits and captive management (CoimbraFilho, 1966) and when, in 1975, the National Zoological Park's Conservation and Research Center initiated a long-term investigation into the breeding habits and social behaviour of South American canids, they were one of the species included. The following report summarises information on the reproduction, behaviour and physical development of three pairs of captive Crab-eating foxes and their 18 offspring during the period January 1976 to the end of February 1977.,