The situation of the maned wolf in Bolivia and Paraguay is uncertain. The maned wolf is a solitary animal. The maned wolf participates in symbiotic relationships. Gauchos called Fuegian dogs "maned dogs" because of their resemblance to the maned wolf. The preferred habitat of the maned wolf includes grasslands, scrub prairies, and forests. Interestingly, the maned wolf is poorly parasitized by fleas. It is the second-largest native canid on the continent, after the maned wolf. The maned wolf is not closely related to any other living canid. Until 1996 the maned wolf was a vulnerable species by the IUCN. Its nearest relative was the maned wolf, an extant South American canid. Although the maned wolf displays many fox-like characteristics, it is not closely related to foxes. The maned wolf is particularly susceptible to potentially fatal infection by the giant kidney worm. Even with these uncertainties the maned wolf is protected against hunting in all countries. Popularly, the maned wolf is thought to have the potential of being a chicken thief. The maned wolf ("Chrysocyon brachyurus") is the largest canid of South America.