Hidden deep in the forests and wetlands of Central and South America lives a creature so rare that even scientists barely know it — the bush dog.

The smallest pack hunter in the world, the bush dog is roughly the size of a house cat, standing only 12 to 16 inches tall. Weighing between 11 to 18 pounds, it has short legs, webbed feet, and reddish-brown fur, making it perfectly built for swimming through flooded forests and muddy riverbanks.

Why it’s so hard to study:
Bush dogs are extremely shy and elusive. They avoid human contact and live in dense forests, which makes them almost impossible to observe in the wild.

Researchers believe these tiny hunters play an important role in maintaining the ecological balance by controlling small prey populations.

Despite their fascinating traits, bush dogs remain one of the least understood animals on the planet — a living mystery hidden within the jungles of the Americas.