African Wild Dog[1]
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN 2.3)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Canidae Subfamily: Caninae Genus: Lycaon Brookes, 1827 Species: L. The conservation status of a Species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species remaining extant either in the present day or the near future An endangered species is a population of an organism which is at risk of becoming Extinct because it is either few in numbers or threatened by changing environmental or predation The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List or Red Data List) created in 1963 is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global Chordates ( Phylum Chordata) are a group of Animals that includes the Vertebrates together with several closely related Invertebrates Mammals ( class Mammalia) are a class of Vertebrate Animals characterized by the presence of Sweat glands, including sweat glands The diverse order Carnivora (kɑrˈnɪvərə or sometimes /ˌkɑrnɪˈvɔərə/ from Latin carō (stem carn-) "flesh" + vorāre The Canidae (ˈkænədiː ′kanə′dē family is a part of the order Carnivora within the Mammals (Class Mammalia The Subfamily Caninae includes all living Canids and their closest fossil relatives such as the Sardinian Dhole. For the motorcycle racer see Josh Brookes Joshua Brookes ( November 24, 1761 - January 10, 1833) was a British pictus
Binomial name
Lycaon pictus (Temminck, 1820)
African Wild Dog range

The African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus) is a carnivorous mammal of the Canidae family, found only in Africa, especially in scrub savanna and other lightly wooded areas. Coenraad Jacob Temminck ( March 31, 1778, Amsterdam - January 30, 1858, Lisse) was a Dutch aristocrat and A carnivore (ˈkɑrnɪvɔər meaning 'meat eater' ( Latin carne meaning 'flesh' and vorare meaning 'to devour' is any animal with a diet consisting The Canidae (ˈkænədiː ′kanə′dē family is a part of the order Carnivora within the Mammals (Class Mammalia A savanna or savannah is a Tropical or Subtropical Grassland or Woodland Ecosystem. It is also called the African Hunting Dog, the Cape Hunting Dog, the Spotted Dog, or the Painted Wolf in English, Wildehond in Afrikaans, and Mbwa mwitu in Swahili. Afrikaans is an Indo-European language, derived from 17th century Dutch and classified as Low Franconian Germanic, mainly spoken in Swahili (called Kiswahili in the language itself is the First language of the Swahili people (Waswahili who inhabit several large stretches It is the only species in the monotypic genus, Lycaon. In Biology, a species is one of the basic units of Biological classification and a Taxonomic rank. A genus (plural genera from Γένος Latin genus "descent family type gender" is a low-level Taxonomic

Contents 1 Anatomy and reproduction 2 Hunting 3 Distribution and threats 4 Name controversy 5 Subspecies 6 References 7 External links

Anatomy and reproduction

The African Wild Dog has a pelage with an irregular pattern of black, yellow, and white, distinctive for each individual. In Mammals pelage is the Hair, Fur, or Wool that covers the Animal. The scientific name Lycaon pictus is derived from the Greek for "painted wolf". Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly It is the only canid species to lack dewclaws on the forelimbs. The Canidae (ˈkænədiː ′kanə′dē family is a part of the order Carnivora within the Mammals (Class Mammalia A dewclaw is a vestigial digit of the Foot of many Mammals Birds and Reptiles (including some extinct orders like certain

Adults typically weigh 17-36 kilograms (37-79 pounds). ^[3] A tall, lean animal, it stands about 30 inches (75 cm) at the shoulder, with a head and body length averaging about 40 inches (100cm) and a tail of 12 to 18 inches (30-45cm). Animals in southern Africa are generally larger than those in the eastern or western Africa.

There is little sexual dimorphism, though judging by skeletal dimensions, males are usually 3-7% larger. Sexual dimorphism is the systematic difference in form between individuals of different Sex in the same Species. It has a dental formula of

3. Dentition is the development of Teeth and their arrangement in the Mouth. 1. 4. 2

3. 1. 4. 3

for a total of 42 teeth. The premolars are relatively large compared to other canids, allowing it to consume a large quantity of bone, much like hyenas. The Hyaenidae is a Mammalian family of order Carnivora. The Hyaenidae family native to both African and Asian continents consists of four ^[4] The heel of the lower carnassial M1 is crested with a single cusp, which enhances the shearing capacity of teeth and thus the speed at which prey can be consumed. This feature is called trenchant heel and is shared with two other canids: the Asian Dhole and the South American Bush Dog. The Dhole ( Cuon alpinus) also known as the Asiatic Wild Dog, Indian Wild Dog or Red Dog is a Mammal of the order Carnivora For the conservative Democratic group within the United States House of Representatives, see Blue Dog Coalition.

A study established that the African Wild dog had a Bite Force Quotient of 142, the highest of any extant carnivorous mammal. ^[5] The BFQ is essentially the strength of bite as measured against the animal's mass.

The African Wild Dog reproduces at any time of year, although mating peaks between March and June during the second half of the rainy season. Litters can contain 2-19 pups, though 10 is the most usual number. The time between births is usually 12-14 months, though it can also be as short as 6 months if all of the previous young die. The typical gestation period is approximately 70 days^[3]. Pups are usually born in an abandoned den dug by other animals such as those of the Aardvark. The Aardvark ( Orycteropus afer) ("Digging foot" is a medium-sized burrowing nocturnal Mammal native to Africa. Weaning takes place at about 10 weeks. After 3 months, the den is abandoned and the pups begin to run with the pack. At the age of 8-11 months they can kill small prey, but they are not proficient until about 12-14 months, at which time they can fend for themselves. Pups reach sexual maturity at the age of 12-18 months.

Females will disperse from their birth pack at 14-30 months of age and join other packs that lack sexually mature females. Males typically do not leave the pack they were born to. ^[6] This is the opposite situation to that in most other social mammals, where a group of related females forms the core of the pack or similar group. In the African Wild Dog, the females compete for access to males that will help to rear their offspring. In a typical pack, males outnumber females by a factor of two to one, and only the dominant female is usually able to rear pups. This unusual situation may have evolved to ensure that packs do not over-extend themselves by attempting to rear too many litters at the same time. ^[7] The species is also unusual in that other members of the pack including males may be left to guard the pups whilst the mother joins the hunting group, the requirement to leave adults behind to guard the pups may decrease hunting efficiency in smaller packs. ^[8]

A captive breeding and translocation program at Mkomazi Game Reserve, the first of its kind in East Africa, was founded in 1995 to provide dogs for a multinational effort to stabilize their numbers and to reintroduce the species to its traditional homeland. Mkomazi Game Reserve is located in North Eastern Tanzania on the Kenyan Border The dogs are allocated to four breeding compounds to maximize genetic diversity. An extensive veterinary program has been set up to improve their immunity to disease.

Hunting

The African Wild Dog hunts in packs. Like most members of the dog family, it is a cursorial hunter, meaning that it pursues its prey in a long, open chase. During pursuit, it may reach speeds of up to 45 mph. ^[9] Nearly 80% of all hunts end in a kill. Members of a pack vocalize to help coordinate their movements. Its voice is characterized by an unusual chirping or squeaking sound, similar to a bird.

After a successful hunt, hunters regurgitate meat for those that remained at the den during the hunt, such as the dominant female and the pups. They will also feed other pack members such as the sick, injured or very old that cannot keep up.

The African Wild Dog's main prey varies among populations, but always centers around medium-sized ungulates such as the Impala. Ungulates (meaning roughly "being Hoofed quot or "hoofed animal" are several groups of Mammals most of which use the tips of their toes usually An impala ( Aepyceros melampus Greek αιπος aipos "high" κερος ceros "horn" + melas "black" pous While the vast majority of its diet is made up of mammal prey, it sometimes hunts large birds, especially Ostriches. The Ostrich ( Struthio camelus) is a large Flightless bird native to Africa (and formerly the Middle East) ^[7]

A few packs will also include large animals in their prey, such as the Wildebeest and zebras. Zebras are African Equids best known for their distinctive white and black stripes Hunting larger prey requires a closely coordinated attack, beginning with a rapid charge to stampede the herd. One wild dog then grabs the victim's tail, while another attacks the upper lip, and the remainder disembowel the animal while it is immobilised. This behaviour is also used on other large dangerous prey such as the Warthog, the African Buffalo and Giraffe calves and large antelope — even the 1 ton Giant Eland. The warthog or common warthog ( Phacochoerus africanus, "African Lens-Pig" is a wild member of the pig family that lives in Africa The African Buffalo or Cape Buffalo ( Syncerus caffer) is a large African bovid. The giraffe ( Giraffa camelopardalis) is an African Even-toed ungulate Mammal, the tallest of all land-living Animal Species The Giant Eland ( Taurotragus derbianus also known as the Lord Derby Eland) is an open Forest Savannah Antelope.

Remarkably, this large-animal hunting tactic appears to be a learned behavior, passed on from generation to generation within specific hunting packs, rather than an instinctive behaviour found commonly within the species. In the fields of Neuropsychology, Personal development and Education, Learning is one of the most important Mental function of humans Instinct is the inherent disposition of a living Organism toward a particular Behavior. Some studies have also shown that other information, such as the location of watering holes, may be passed on in a similar fashion.

Distribution and threats

The home range of packs varies enormously, depending on the size of the pack, and the nature of the terrain. Many animals including humans tend to live in groups Herds flocks, bands packs, parties or colonies (hereafter groups of conspecific individuals In the Serengeti, the average range has been estimated at 1,500 square kilometres (580 square miles), although individual ranges overlap extensively. This article is about a geographical region for the National Park see Serengeti National Park The Serengeti ecosystem is located in north-western Tanzania ^[7]

There were once about 500,000 African Wild Dogs in 39 countries, and packs of 100 or more were not uncommon. Now there are only about 3,000-5,500 in less than 25 countries. ^[2] It is primarily found in eastern and southern Africa, mostly in the two remaining large populations associated with the Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania and the population centered in northern Botswana and eastern Namibia. The Selous Game Reserve is one of the largest fauna reserves of the world located in the south of Tanzania. Tanzania ˌtænzəˈniːə officially the United Republic of Tanzania (Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya The Republic of Botswana (Lefatshe la Botswana is a Landlocked nation in Southern Africa. Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa on the Atlantic coast Smaller but apparently secure populations of several hundred individuals are found in Zimbabwe, South Africa (Kruger National Park) and in the Ruaha/Rungwa/Kisigo complex of Tanzania. See also Great Zimbabwe National Monument. For information about the March and June 2008 presidential elections see Zimbabwean presidential election The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa Kruger National Park is the largest Game reserve in South Africa. Tanzania ˌtænzəˈniːə officially the United Republic of Tanzania (Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya Isolated populations persist in Zambia, Kenya and Mozambique. The Republic of Zambia (ˈzæmbɪə is a Landlocked country in Southern Africa. The Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the north Somalia to the northeast Tanzania to the south Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique (Moçambique or República de Moçambique, ʁɛ'publikɐ d musɐ̃'bik is a country in southeastern Africa

The African Wild Dog is endangered by habitat loss and hunting. It uses very large territories (and so can persist only in large wildlife protected areas) and it is strongly affected by competition with larger carnivores that rely on the same prey base, particularly the Lion and the Spotted Hyena. The lion ( Panthera leo) is a member of the family Felidae and one of four Big cats in the Genus Panthera. The Spotted Hyena, or Laughing Hyena, ( Crocuta crocuta) is a carnivorous Mammal of the family Hyaenidae. Lions often will kill as many wild dogs as they can, but do not eat them. It is also killed by livestock herders and game hunters, though it is typically no more (perhaps less) persecuted than other carnivores that pose more threat to livestock. Most of Africa's national parks are too small for a pack of wild dogs so the packs expand to the unprotected areas which tend to be ranch or farm land. A national park is a reserve of land usually declared and owned by a national Government, protected from most Human development and pollution Ranchers and farmers protect their domestic animals by killing the wild dogs. Like other carnivores, the African Wild Dog is sometimes affected by outbreaks of viral diseases such as rabies, distemper and parvovirus. Rabies (from rabies “madness rage fury” Also known as “ hydrophobia ” is a viral Zoonotic neuroinvasive disease that Parvovirus, commonly abbreviated to parvo, is a Genus of the Parvoviridae family linear non-segmented single stranded DNA viruses Although these diseases are not more pathogenic or virulent for wild dogs, the small size of most wild dog populations makes them vulnerable to local extinction due to diseases or other problems. ^[2]

The Painted Dog Conservation (PDC) effort based in Hwange National Park, western Zimbabwe, works with local communities to create new strategies for conserving the wild dog and its habitat. Hwange National Park (formerly Wankie) is the largest game reserve in Zimbabwe. See also Great Zimbabwe National Monument. For information about the March and June 2008 presidential elections see Zimbabwean presidential election

Name controversy

A controversy began in the late 1990s when conservationists working to protect them said that their most common name, "African Wild Dog", was a source of confusion and prejudice. The conservation movement also known as nature conservation is a political social and to some extent scientific movement that seeks to protect natural resources including Conservationist Greg Rasmussen wrote in 1998:

"The name 'wild dog' developed during an era of persecution of all predators when the name applied to feral dogs, hyenas, jackals and the cape hunting dogs (Pringle, 1980). Greg Rasmussen (born in London, UK) is a British Wildlife conservation biologist who has studied the African Wild Dog for over twenty years The term pariah dog is used to refer to feral dogs of a particular type, a subspecies of dog, and a purebred dog category or group The Hyaenidae is a Mammalian family of order Carnivora. The Hyaenidae family native to both African and Asian continents consists of four A jackal (from Turkish çakal, via Persian shaghal ultimately from Sanskrit sṛgālaḥ) is a member of any of three 'Painted' aside from being a direct translation of the specific epithet, accurately describes the unique varicoloured markings of each individual. Apart from being misleading, continued use of the name 'wild dog' does little more than further fuel negative attitude and prejudice which is detrimental to conservation efforts. "^[10].

Rasmussen is one of the founders of Painted Dog Conservation. He advocates using the name "Painted Dog. "^[11]

Subspecies

There are five recognized subspeices of this canid:^[1]

• Lycaon pictus pictus
• Lycaon pictus lupinus
• Lycaon pictus manguensis
• Lycaon pictus sharicus
• Lycaon pictus somalicus

References

• Nowak, Ronald M. (2005). Walker's Carnivores of the World. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press. ISBN 0-8018-8032-7
• Creel, Scott & Creel, Nancy. (2002). The African wild dog: Behavior, Ecology and Conservation. Princeton University Press.
• Githiru et al (2007) African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) from NE Kenya: Recent records and conservation issues. Zoology Department Research Report. National Museum of Kenya.

External links

• African wild dog Conservancy: Dedicated to conserving wild dogs through research and education
• Wild Dog conservation in Zimbabwe
• Namibia Nature Foundation Wild Dog Project: Conservation of African wild dogs in Namibia
• African wild dogs: Wildlife summary from the African Wildlife Foundation
• Perth Zoo
• Edinburgh Zoo Fact Sheet
• BBC - Pictures of African wild dog Puppies
• Painted Dog Conservation: Working to conserve the species in Zimbabwe
• Save the African wild dog
• Video of wild dogs hunting springbok in Botswana Watch them escape with the help of a group of Oryx protecting their young in the Central Kalahari
• More video of wild dogs in the Central Kalahari More video of wild dogs seen in Botswana

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