However, in 2009, a cladistic analysis of DNA identified the Falkland Island wolf's closest living relative as the maned wolf ( " Chrysocyon brachyurus " ) an unusually long-legged, fox-like South American canid, from which it separated about 6.7 million years ago.
32.
The Smithsonian National Zoo Park has been working to protect maned wolves for nearly 30 years and coordinates the collaborative, inter-zoo maned wolf Species Survival Plan of North America, which includes breeding maned wolves, studying them in the wild, protecting their habitat, and educating people about them.
33.
Other endangered animals include the aye-aye, Alaotran gentle lemur, free-ranging black lion tamarin, pied tamarin and silvery marmoset, Andean bear, maned wolf, narrow-striped mongoose, Mauritius pink pigeon, Mauritius kestrel, Saint Lucia amazon, Bali starling, Meller's duck, Madagascar teal ( Bernier's teal ), Round Island boa, Lesser Antillean iguana and Mallorcan midwife toad.
34.
One study based on DNA evidence, published in 2009, showed that the extinct genus " Dusicyon ", the Falkland Islands wolf and its mainland relative, was the most closely related species to the maned wolf in historical times, and that about seven million years ago it shared a common ancestor with that genus.
35.
Protected species include the white-necked hawk ( Buteogallus lacernulatus ), maned sloth ( Bradypus torquatus ), maned wolf ( Chrysocyon brachyurus ), purple-winged ground dove ( Claravis geoffroyi ), golden lion tamarin ( Leontopithecus rosalia ), the catfish Microcambeva barbata, the butterflies Mimoides lysithous and Parides ascanius, and Salvadori's antwren ( Myrmotherula minor ).
36.
As part of its conservation effort, the zoo participate in about 20 Species Survival Plans ( SSP ), including Andean condor, Chinese alligator, clouded leopard, colobus monkey, cotton-top tamarin, fishing cat, gibbon, golden lion tamarin, Indochinese tiger, jaguar, lion, lion-tailed macaque, Louisiana pine snake, maned wolf, ocelot, red wolf, spectacled bear, spider monkey, and toucan.
37.
Similar propulation gains have resulted for other endangered species, including the African white and black rhino, Mexican gray wolf, Brazilian maned wolf, scimitar-horned oryx and Attwater's prairie chicken, a native Texas grouse once on the verge of extinction, whose numbers in the wild have been boosted by the release of more than 300 Fossil Rim-raised birds in the past 10 years.
