African Wild Dog

African Wild Dog Classification and Evolution The African Wild Dog (also known as the Painted Dog and the Cape Hunting Dog) is a medium sized species of canine found across sub-Saharan Africa. The African WildDog is most easily identified from both domestic and other wild Dogs by their brightly mottled fur, with it's name in Latin aptly meaning painted wolf. The African Wild Dog is said to be the most sociable of all the canines, living in packs of around 30 individuals. Sadly however, this highly intelligent and sociableanimal is severely under threat in much of it's natural habitat, primarily due to habitat loss and having been hunted by Humans.

African Wild Dog Anatomy and Appearance The most distinctive feature of the African Wild Dog is it's beautifully mottled fur which makes this canine very easy to identify. The fur of the African Wild Dog is red, black, white, brown and yellow in colour with the random pattern of colours being unique to each individual. It is also thought to act as a type of camouflage, helping the African Wild Dog to blend into it's surroundings. The African Wild Dog also has large ears, a long muzzle and long legs, with four toes on each foot. This is one of the biggest differences between the African Wild Dog and other canine species as they have five. They also have a large stomach and a long, large intestine which aids them in more effectively absorbing moisture from their food.

African Wild Dog Distribution and Habitat African Wild Dogs are found naturally roaming the deserts, open-plains and arid savanna of sub-Saharan Africa where the range of the African Wild Dog has decreased rapidly. It is thought that the African Wild Dog was once found in nearly 40 different African countries but that number is much lower today, at between 10 and 25. Now most African Wild Dogpopulations are primarily restricted to National Parks across southern Africa, with the highest populations found in Botswana and Zimbabwe. African Wild Dogs require large territories to support the pack, with pack sizes having in fact dropped in number with their decreasing home-ranges.

African Wild Dog Behaviour and Lifestyle African Wild Dogs are highly sociable animals that gather in packs of generally between 10 and 30 individuals. There is a strict ranking system within the pack, led by the dominant breeding pair. They are the world's most sociable Dogs and do everything as a group, from hunting for and sharing food, to helping sick members and assisting in raising young. African Wild Dogs communicate between one another through touch, movement and sound. Pack members are incredibly close, gathering together before a hunt to nose and lick each other, whilst wagging their tails and making high-pitched noises. African Wild Dogs lead a crepuscular lifestyle meaning that they are most active during dawn and dusk.

African Wild Dog Reproduction and Life Cycles In African Wild Dog packs, there is usually only one breeding pair, which are the dominant male and female members. After a gestation period of around 70 days, the female African Wild Dog gives birth to between 2 and 20 pups in a den, which she remains in with her young for the first few weeks, relying on the other pack members to provide her with food. The African Wild Dog cubs leave the den at between 2 and 3 months old and are fed and cared for by the entire pack until they are old enough to become independent and generally leave to join or start another African Wild Dog pack. It is thought that the more looked after the pups are, the higher their chances of survival.

African Wild Dog Facts

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Canidae
Genus:	Lycaon
Scientific Name:	Lycaon pictus
Common Name:	African Wild Dog
Other Name(s):	Hunting Dog, Painted Dog, Painted Wolf
Group:	Mammal
Number Of Species:	1
Location:	sub-Saharan Africa
Habitat:	Open plains and savanna
Colour:	Grey, Black, White, Brown, Tan, Gold, Red
Skin Type:	Fur
Size (L):	75cm - 110cm (29in - 43in)
Weight:	17kg - 36kg (39lbs - 79lbs)
Top Speed:	72kph (45mph)
Diet:	Carnivore
Prey:	Antelope, Warthog, Rodents
Predators:	Lions, Hyenas, Humans
Lifestyle:	Crepuscular
Group Behaviour:	Pack
Life Span:	10 - 13 years
Age Of Sexual Maturity:	12 - 18 months
Gestation Period:	70 days
Average Litter Size:	8
Name Of Young:	Pup
Age Of Weaning:	3 months
Conservation Status:	Endangered
Estimated Population Size:	Less than 5,000
Biggest Threat:	Habitat loss