Bush Dog
Speothos venaticus
Status: Near threatened. There are very few of them and their population is very scattered, so it has made conservation efforts on their behalf difficult. Threats to their survival include habitat loss and fragmentation, and loss of their prey species due to human extermination.
Throughout Central and South America, there is folklore about "El Cadejo". It is thought that the legends came about as a mixture of the Ancient Mayan beliefs of dogs being protectors and guardians of the spirit into the underworld, and the introduction of Christianity when missionaries came to the lands, gaining a dual nature of good and evil.
Cadejo is a dog-like spirit creature. A benevolent cadejo is white, with blue eyes. It is guardian to those who roam on isolated roads, particularly women, children, and those in need. It also protects people from making bad choices. A black cadejo is the evil counterpart, with glowing red eyes and dark, tangled fur. It stalks, tempts, and frightens travelers, startles horses, and howls in the darkness.
References:
Thompson, S. A., Lopez, L. L. d. (2007). Mayan Folktales. United Kingdom: Bloomsbury Publishing.
Journal of American Folklore. (1916). United States: American Folk-lore Society.