Lycaon pictus

African hunting dog


Classification

Geographic Range

Ethiopian: Ivory coast to Somalia to S. Africa

Physical Characteristics

Mass: 17 to 36 kg

Weight (17-36kg). Has a very interesting marbled pattern on its fur, perhaps a form of camouflage that breaks up the pattern of the animal, making it is harder to detect. Also thought to be for individual recognition. Marble pattern also allows hunting dogs to blend in with the pack so prey will not realize how many members are in the pack.

Natural History

Food Habits

Hunting technique varies within narrow limits and consists of a silent approach followed by a fast chase, which may reach speeds of 66mph. Young are fed through regurgitated food from the adult. Follow around antelope herds. Feed on impala, Thomson's gazelle, gnu, hartebeest, topi, and kob. Will feed on other animals but these are the most common.

Reproduction

Breeding season lasts throughoput the year. Gestation period is about 60-80 days. from 2-19 pups are born blind and naked. Eyes open at about 14 days. Pups eat regurgitated meat at 1 month. Males tend to be more tolerant of the pups than the females.

Behavior

Form very tight social units called "packs". The training for this unit begins at birth. For example, a mother is more likely to feed her young if the whole lot of them are begging for food. If a single individual begs it will get snapped at. Packs vary in size, may be as high as 60 but tend to be closer to 10-15. Packs are nomadic except when caring for pups. Before the dogs go on a hunt they preform a ritualistic behavior known as the "meet," where the dogs mill around each other as anticipation for the hunt rises. Also this "meet" is a time to weed out the weak dogs, ones that can not participate in the hunt. These animals are picked on by the other dogs and sometimes killed and eaten. Wild dogs tend to be diurnal and active for 4-5 hours a day.

Habitat

Have been reported in the in most of the grasslands, savannas and woodlands of East Africa, with the exception of some of the semi-arid parts of northern Kenya. However they seem to prefer open territory, preferring it for hunting. Distribution closley coincides with the location of herds of antelope.