Who is this weasel-like dog with webbed paws?
By An Qi

If you take the animal in the gallery below for a weasel, it may be really angry at you. 

"I am NOT a weasel, NOT a ferret, NOT a marten, NOT a badger. Raccoon? How dare you!" /VCG Photo

"I am NOT a weasel, NOT a ferret, NOT a marten, NOT a badger. Raccoon? How dare you!" /VCG Photo

"I am NOT a weasel, NOT a ferret, NOT a marten, NOT a badger. Raccoon? How dare you!" /VCG Photo

"I am NOT a weasel, NOT a ferret, NOT a marten, NOT a badger. Raccoon? How dare you!" /VCG Photo

"I am NOT a weasel, NOT a ferret, NOT a marten, NOT a badger. Raccoon? How dare you!" /VCG Photo

"I am NOT a weasel, NOT a ferret, NOT a marten, NOT a badger. Raccoon? How dare you!" /VCG Photo

"I am NOT a weasel, NOT a ferret, NOT a marten, NOT a badger. Raccoon? How dare you!" /VCG Photo

"I am NOT a weasel, NOT a ferret, NOT a marten, NOT a badger. Raccoon? How dare you!" /VCG Photo

Hint: it is a dog. 

The bush dog, found in Central and South America, is a close relative of the maned wolf. Generally, the bush dog measures less than one meter; but it has merely a 20-30 shoulder height thanks to it's adorably short limbs.  

Super short legs. /VCG Photo

Super short legs. /VCG Photo

The bush dog is an excellent swimmer. It even has partially webbed feet for swimming, and is able to hunt preys in water. 

Take a closer look at its paws, you will see they are partly webbed. /VCG Photo

Take a closer look at its paws, you will see they are partly webbed. /VCG Photo

Like some of its "big cousins" in the dog family, the bush dog lives in groups. Only the alpha male and its wife can breed. The gallery below shows six bush dog pups born in a British zoo in July 2018. Look how cute they are! 

Bush dog pup in Chester Zoo, July 2018. /VCG Photo

Bush dog pup in Chester Zoo, July 2018. /VCG Photo

Bush dog pup in Chester Zoo, July 2018. /VCG Photo

Bush dog pup in Chester Zoo, July 2018. /VCG Photo

Bush dog pup with 7-year-old female, Mana, in Chester Zoo, July 2018. /VCG Photo

Bush dog pup with 7-year-old female, Mana, in Chester Zoo, July 2018. /VCG Photo

Mana proves to be a responsible mother. /VCG Photo

Mana proves to be a responsible mother. /VCG Photo

Bush dog pup in Chester Zoo, July 2018. /VCG Photo

Bush dog pup in Chester Zoo, July 2018. /VCG Photo

When they are born, the pups are blind. After a few weeks, they become stronger and very active. /VCG Photo

When they are born, the pups are blind. After a few weeks, they become stronger and very active. /VCG Photo

The biggest bush dog littler ever born at Chester Zoo emerges from its den. /VCG Photo

The biggest bush dog littler ever born at Chester Zoo emerges from its den. /VCG Photo

The six pups, born to mum Mana and dad Franco (4 years old), made their public debut after spending their first few weeks tucked away in their underground burrows. /VCG Photo

The six pups, born to mum Mana and dad Franco (4 years old), made their public debut after spending their first few weeks tucked away in their underground burrows. /VCG Photo

Keepers believe the first of the sextuplets arrived on 13 May, which is when they first heard tiny cries coming from the dens as they performed their morning rounds. /VCG Photo

Keepers believe the first of the sextuplets arrived on 13 May, which is when they first heard tiny cries coming from the dens as they performed their morning rounds. /VCG Photo

The litter, which is the average size for bush dogs and is made up of two males and four females, is the largest to be born at the zoo. /VCG Photo

The litter, which is the average size for bush dogs and is made up of two males and four females, is the largest to be born at the zoo. /VCG Photo

Now, the youngsters have popped out to play and begun exploring the outside world under the watchful eye of their parents. /VCG Photo

Now, the youngsters have popped out to play and begun exploring the outside world under the watchful eye of their parents. /VCG Photo

Tim Rowlands, Curator of Mammals at the zoo, said: "Mana is doing a wonderful job of caring for her new pups but with it being her biggest litter ever, she is certainly got her paws full." /VCG Photo

Tim Rowlands, Curator of Mammals at the zoo, said: "Mana is doing a wonderful job of caring for her new pups but with it being her biggest litter ever, she is certainly got her paws full." /VCG Photo

"We have seen fairly big litters of four or five pups born in the past, but never have we had a litter of six." /VCG Photo

"We have seen fairly big litters of four or five pups born in the past, but never have we had a litter of six." /VCG Photo

"It is an incredibly exciting time for the keepers, as well as our pack of bush dogs which is now 16 strong." /VCG Photo

"It is an incredibly exciting time for the keepers, as well as our pack of bush dogs which is now 16 strong." /VCG Photo

"Once the pups are confident enough to stay out of their den for extended periods of time, they will each be weighed, sexed and microchipped." /VCG Photo

"Once the pups are confident enough to stay out of their den for extended periods of time, they will each be weighed, sexed and microchipped." /VCG Photo

"This data helps us monitor their progress and coordinate the endangered species breeding program, which is working to boost their numbers in zoos around the world." /VCG Photo

"This data helps us monitor their progress and coordinate the endangered species breeding program, which is working to boost their numbers in zoos around the world." /VCG Photo

"In the wild, bush dogs face a huge number of threats, including the destruction of their forest home to make way for farming developments, human-wildlife conflict, poaching for their meat and the introduction of diseases in their habitat from domesticated dogs." /VCG Photo

"In the wild, bush dogs face a huge number of threats, including the destruction of their forest home to make way for farming developments, human-wildlife conflict, poaching for their meat and the introduction of diseases in their habitat from domesticated dogs." /VCG Photo

"With such a multitude of threats putting their existence at risk - these six pups are very, very special." /VCG Photo

"With such a multitude of threats putting their existence at risk - these six pups are very, very special." /VCG Photo

(Cover photo via VCG, designed by CGTN's Li Yueyun)

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