JACKAL

Facts

Black-Backed Jackal

The Black-Backed Jackal is a fox-like canid with a slender body, long legs, and large ears. It is similar to the closely related Side-Striped Jackal and more distantly related to the Golden Jackal, though its skull and dentition are more robust and the incisors much sharper. It weighs 6–13 kg (13–29 lb), stands 38–48 cm (15–19 in) at the shoulder, and measures 67.3–81.2 cm (26.5–32.0 in) in body length.

The base colour is reddish brown to tan, which is particularly pronounced on the flanks and legs. A black saddle intermixed with silvery hair extends from the shoulders to the base of the tail. A long, black stripe extending along the flanks separates the saddle from the rest of the body, and can be used to differentiate individuals. The tail is bushy and tipped with black. The lips, throat, chest, and inner surface of the limbs are white. The winter coat is a much deeper reddish brown. The hair of the face measures 10–15 mm in length, and lengthens to 30–40 mm on the rump. The guard hairs of the back are 60 mm on the shoulder, decreasing to 40 mm at the base of the tail. The hairs of the tail are the longest, measuring 70 mm in length.

The Black-Backed Jackal is a monogamous and territorial animal, social organisation greatly resembles that of the Golden Jackal. However, the assistance of elder offspring in helping raise the pups of their parents has a greater bearing on pup survival rates than in the latter species. The basic social unit is a monogamous mated pair which defends its territory through laying faeces and urine on range boundaries. Scent marking is usually done in tandem, and the pair aggressively expels intruders. Such encounters are normally prevented, as the pair vocalises to advertise its presence in a given area. It is a highly vocal species, particularly in Southern Africa. Sounds made by the species include yelling, yelping, woofing, whining, growling, and cackling. It communicates with group members and advertises its presence by a high-pitched, whining howl, and expresses alarm through an explosive cry followed by shorter, high-pitched yelps. This sound is particularly frantic when mobbing a Leopard. When trapped, it cackles like a fox.

The mating season takes place from late May to August, with a gestation period of 60 days. Pups are born from July to October. Summer births are thought to be timed to coincide with population peaks of vlei rats and four-striped grass mice, while winter births are timed for ungulate calving seasons. Litters consist of one to nine pups, which are born blind. For the first three weeks of their lives, the pups are kept under constant surveillance by their dam, while the sire and elder offspring provide food. The pups open their eyes after 8–10 days and emerge from the den at the age of 3 weeks. They are weaned at 8–9 weeks, and can hunt by themselves at the age of 6 months. Sexual maturity is attained at 11 months, though few Black-Backed Jackal reproduce in their first year. Dominant pups appropriate food, and become independent at an earlier age. The grown pups may disperse at one year of age, though some remain in their natal territories to assist their parents in raising the next generation of pups. The average lifespan in the wild is 7 years, though captive specimens can live twice as long.

Black-Backed Jackal are omnivores. Their diet includes invertebrates, such as beetle, grasshopper, cricket, termite, millipede, spider, and scorpion. Mammals are eaten such as rodent, hare, and young antelope up to the size of Topi calves. They also feed on carrion, bird, bird eggs, lizard and snake. In coastal areas, they feed on beached marine mammals, seal, fish, and mussels. They also consume fruits and berries occasionally.

In South Africa, Black-Backed Jackal frequently prey on antelopes (primarily impala and Springbuck and occasionally Duiker, Reedbuck, and Steenbok), carrion, hare, hoofed livestock, insects, and rodents. They also prey on small carnivores, such as Mongoose, Polecat, and Wildcat. On the coastline of the Namib Desert, Jackal feed primarily on marine birds (mainly Cape and White-breasted Cormorant and Jackass Penguin), marine mammals including Cape fur Seal, fish, and insects. In East Africa, during the dry season, they hunt the young of Gazelles, Impala, Topi, Tsessebe and Warthog. In Serengeti woodlands, they feed heavily on African grass Rat.

They typically kill tall prey by biting at the legs and loins, and frequently go for the throat. Like most canids, the Black-Backed Jackal caches surplus food.

Black-Backed Jackal pups are vulnerable to African Wolf, Honey Badger, Spotted Hyena and Brown Hyena. Adults have few natural predators, save for Leopard and African Wild Dog.

Side-Striped Jackal

The Side-Striped Jackal is a slender, medium-sized canid, which tends to be slightly larger on average than the Black-Backed Jackal. Body mass ranges from 6.5 to 14 kg (14 to 31 lb), head-and-body length from 69 to 81 cm (27 to 32 in) and tail length from 30 to 41 cm (12 to 16 in). Shoulder height can range from 35 to 50 cm (14 to 20 in). Its pelt is coloured buff-grey. The back is darker grey than the underside, and the tail is black with a grey, almost silver tip. Indistinct white stripes are present on the flanks, running from elbow to hip. The boldness of the markings varies between individuals, with those of adults being better defined than those of juveniles.

The Side-Striped Jackal skull is similar to that of the Black-Backed Jackal, but is flatter, with a longer and narrower rostrum. Its sagittal crest and zygomatic arches are also lighter in build. Due to its longer rostrum, its third upper premolar lies almost in line with the others, rather than at an angle. Its dentition is well suited to an omnivorous diet. The long, curved canines have a sharp ridge on the posterior surface, and the outer incisors are canine-like. Its carnassials are smaller than those of the more carnivorous Black-Backed Jackal. Females have four inguinal teats.

The Side-Striped Jackal tends to be less carnivorous than other Jackal species, and is a highly adaptable omnivore whose dietary preferences change in accordance to seasonal and local variation. It tends to forage solitarily, though family groups of up to 12 Jackal have been observed to feed together in western Zimbabwe. In the wild, it feeds largely on invertebrates during the wet season and small mammals, such as the Springhare, in the dry months. It frequently scavenges from campsites and the kills of larger Predators. In the wild, fruit is taken exclusively in season, while in ruralised areas, it can account for 30% of their dietary intake. The Side-Striped Jackal tends to be comparatively less predatory when compared to other Jackal species. It typically does not target prey exceeding the size of neonatal antelope.

The Side-Striped Jackal lives both solitarily and in family groups of up to seven individuals. The family unit is dominated by a breeding pair, which remains monogamous for a number of years.

The breeding season for this species depends on where they live; in Southern Africa, breeding starts in June and ends in November. The Side-Striped Jackal has a gestation period of 57 to 70 days, with average litter of three to six young. The young reach sexual maturity at six to eight months of age, and typically begin to leave when 11 months old. The Side-Striped Jackal is among the few mammal species that mate for life.