Concept in Definition ABC

Inside of the gender CANIS and the family of the canids highlights a mammal carnivore and scavenger, the jackal. Like the other canids, it is genetically derived from the wolf. This means that it is taxonomically related to the domestic dog.

Habitat and physiological characteristics

This animal is originally from continent African. It is relatively medium in size, with an average height of 50 centimeters and a weight of around 11 kilos. The different species are distinguished by the color of their fur.

Its life expectancy is very similar to that of any other canid, that is, between 10 and 20 years, although it has been found that in captivity its life expectancy is always greater than in Liberty.

Behaviour

The jackal is a predator that stands out for its cunning, like the coyote or the fox. However, they are thinner than these and have elongated ears. They stand out for their physical endurance and, in fact, run long distances at a velocity 16 km / h average.

During the day it looks for somewhere to protect itself from its natural predators (for example the lion or the cheetah) and goes hunting when the sun goes down or at twilight, when the luminosity allows it to stalk its dams.

One of the aspects that most characterizes this animal is its peculiar way of hunting. His strategy It consists in never acting alone, but in acting in small groups. Jackals attack their prey in an organized way and using their fangs to attack the weak points of their prey. Many of their attacks consist of exhausting their prey through constant harassment and when they are already weakened, they launch a group attack, usually lethal.

If it cannot feed on its prey immediately, they bury it temporarily, in order to dig it up in the future and be able to eat that same prey again.

Data of interest

- Unlike other canids, it is a monogamous animal, that is, it remains with the same partner for most of its life.

- The process of reproduction of the females is approximately 60 days old, and the litters range between 5 and 10 puppies.

- Just as in most western tales and legends gold symbolizes and represents cunning, in the eastern world this quality is attributed to the jackal.

- Although it is a mainly carnivorous animal, it can feed on herbs if food is scarce, in its search for food it usually observes a distance It is wise for other animals to scavenge, such as hyenas, until they stop eating and thus destroy the remains of the prey.

Photos: Fotolia - EBF / MR Anderson

Themes in Jackal