Animal jackal: features and species of representatives of the dog family

The predatory animal jackal belongs to the family of dogs. He is in many respects similar to his relatives, dogs and wolves, but still has significant differences. In comparison with wolves, these animals are smaller in size. Their diet consists of not too large birds and animals, although sometimes jackals can eat large animals that are sick or dead. During the hunt, they prefer to lie down and attack the victim from ambush, making a rapid throw. Often the cubs of large animals become prey to the jackal.

Areal

Jackals are found in many countries. In Asia, they live mainly in the southern regions, but still there are species of jackals living just north of the foot of the Himalayas and the Pamirs. They can also be found in the Caucasus and in the south of Turkmenistan.

In the European part, jackals live in the Balkans and in countries south of Hungary. Here you can find a species called a golden jackal.

North and north-east Africa is the habitat of the largest species, including wolf, Senegalese, Ethiopian and other species of jackals.

Kinds

The animal world is very diverse. Studying the family of dogs, you wonder how many species are known to mankind. Here are just a few varieties of jackals:

• golden;
• ordinary;
• Senegalese;
• Ethiopian;
• striped;
• Wolf, and so on.

Let us examine in more detail some of them.

Ordinary jackal

This species is called an African wolf or an Asian jackal. Areal:

• Africa (northern part);
• Europe (center and southeast);
• Asia (southeast).

Outwardly the jackal is very similar to his relatives - gray wolves. Its main differences: a sharp muzzle, a small tail, a slender physique. The animal has a light gait, and the color in the winter has red-red tones, while the wolf's step is heavy, and wool is predominantly gray.

An ordinary jackal though has this name, has more similarities with coyotes, gray and Ethiopian wolves. He does not look much like a striped and temperamental jackal. In the folklore tales of the African and Asian peoples he is referred to as a cunning and a deceiver. In them, the animal jackal is a prototype of coyotes and foxes, which became heroes of ancient fairy tales of the peoples of Europe and North America.

The molting process takes 60 days. It happens twice a year:

• In the autumn. In the second half of September, the animal begins to shed its tail. Further this process passes to a back, a stomach and sides, extending subsequently on extremities and a head of a jackal.
• In the spring. Since March, molting initially begins with the limbs and the head of a jackal, then gradually passes to the sides, back and other parts of the body, including the tail.

In the hunt jackals are very careful. They will not attack animals that surpass them in size. The jackal searches for the prey, approaches it secretly and makes a sharp jump. On large animals, they attack only in packs.

Reproduction of common jackals

As a rule, ordinary jackals live in pairs or with their offspring. It is difficult to meet large schools, but they do happen. Mostly this is a place where a lot of waste from human life is concentrated. Animals here do not lack food, therefore group in schools. Unlike other species, the ordinary jackal lives peacefully in his family.

The marriage period lasts about 28 days. What is surprising, all this time the male and the female are inseparable. The testicle lasts 4 days, and if the pairing was unsuccessful, it resumes for 6-8 days. Mating period is February.

The female of the jackal bore young for 60-63 days. In the litter minimum 2, maximum 8 puppies. Babies appear completely blind. Their wool is soft and has a color from gray to brown. A month later the color changes and acquires the usual color for this kind - red-red, with impregnations of a black shade. Puppies open their eyes on the 8-11 day. At 5 months they have teeth. The female feeds the puppies for 2-3 months, gradually transferring them to the usual ration for jackals.

Jackal striped

The area of this predator is Africa, more precisely, its southern and central parts. The striped jackal likes to settle in savanna areas where there are trees and shrubs. This species has 4 subspecies and on the African continent is represented more than other relatives.

According to the external description it is an animal of medium size:

• 7-14 kg - body weight;
• 70-85 cm - the size of the trunk;
• 40-50 kg - height at the withers;
• 30-40 cm - the tail.

Females are significantly smaller than males. The animal has strong, powerful, slightly curved canines of great length. Unlike other species, it has a short, wide muzzle. The coat is of dark gray color, on the sides there is a light stripe. This feature of color and became the reason for the name of the species. The finiteness of the predator is predominantly of a reddish hue. The color of the tail is black, and its tip is white.

Sexual maturity striped jackals reach at the age of 6 months. These animals are monogamous, couples live together throughout their lives. The average life expectancy of individuals of this species is about the same as in large dogs, 10-12 years. A family group consists of a pair and its offspring. It can include 7-8 individuals.

Hunted striped jackals predominantly in the night. Their food is invertebrates during the rainy season and small animals in drought. They do not disdain the vegetable food, which in their diet takes up to 30%.

For cattle, these jackals do not pose a serious danger. They also do not use cadaver meat, since they prefer freshly caught prey. Animal striped jackal adapts well to any situation, especially unpretentious to eating.

The Ethiopian Jackal

This species of predators also belongs to the dog family. The Ethiopian jackal has a long, elongated muzzle. Height at withers is 60 cm. By weight, adult individuals reach a mass:

• 13 kg - females;
• 16 kg are males.

Feature in the structure - long paws. By external factors, this animal is a typical representative of the genus dog. The coat is dark red. On the chest, throat and paws, the shade is lighter, but sometimes it can be white. The ears (back) and the tail are black.

The animal Ethiopian jackal lives in Africa. Five subspecies are found in the northern part of the Ethiopian rift, and two more widespread live in the south of the same country.