African Wild Dogs

African Wild Dogs

The African Wild Dog has many aliases including the Hunting Dog, Cape Hunting Dog and is also known as the Painted Dog, due to the unique artistic patterns along their body. Their scientific name, Lycaon pictus, is latin, meaning painted wolf.

The African Wild Dog is not closely related to other canids such as the jackal, wolf or domestic dog. They are not scavengers, rather voracious, relentless hunters with an acute sense of smell.

Preferring to use sight to hunt prey, their menu frequently includes small and medium antelope, warthog, zebra and ostrich. Wild Dogs are endurance runners, able to pursue prey for many kilometres where eventually the target is overcome with exhaustion and wrestled to the ground.

To increase speed and agility, the African Wild Dog runs on its toes. The four toes on each foot have strong non-retractable claws that increase grip and allow for quick turns.

The Wild Dog possesses large bowl-shaped ears and a long tasselled tail with a white tip. Both ears and tail are used to communicate to other pack members from long distances, such as when they are hunting.

At no stage of their life do African Wild Dogs choose to live alone. They live as a pack which is highly organised and tightly knit, making it one of the most social of all mammals.

Did You Know?

  • Of the 39 African countries known to have had populations of dogs in the past, only 6 now hold significant numbers
  • In each African Wild Dog family there is a dominant male and female. In most cases, only the dominant male and female are permitted to reproduce
  • As wild dogs grow older, they go bald! Elderly wild dogs can be easily identified by large, dark bald patches over their body
  • Wild Dogs provide ample space around a carcass for family members. Pups are provided with regurgitated food from any animal within the pack and injured or ill members are also given easy access to food without discrimination
Class

Mammalia

Order

Carnivora

Family

Canidae

Species Name

Lycaon pictus

Status

Endangered