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The Black-Backed Jackal (Lupulella Mesomelas), also called the silver-backed Jackal, is a medium-sized canine native to eastern and southern Africa. These regions are separated by roughly 900 kilometres. Compared to members of the genus Canis, the Black-Backed Jackal is a very ancient species, and has changed little since the Pleistocene, being the most basal wolf-like canine, alongside the closely related Side-Striped Jackal. The Side-Striped Jackal (Lupulella Adusta) is a canine native to central and southern Africa.
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.
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.
The species generally shows a preference for open areas with little dense vegetation, though it occupies a wide range of habitats, from arid coastal deserts to areas with more than 2000 mm of rainfall. It also occurs in farmlands, savannas, open savanna mosaics, and alpine areas.
Unlike the smaller and related Black-Backed Jackal (Lupulella Mesomelas), which dwells in open plains, the Side-Striped Jackal primarily dwells in woodland and scrub areas.
Jackal taxidermy is the art of preserving the Jackal skin and other body parts to produce lifelike sculptures for display, either at home as a hunting trophy or in museums for educational purposes. Skin is preserved and mounted on an artificial armature to display the specimen.
The contemporary English word “taxidermy” is derived from the Greek terms taxis, meaning “movement,” and derma, meaning “skin,” thereby combining these two meanings. This is why, in a broad sense, taxidermy is synonymous with “the motion of skin.”
For expert taxidermists, skills in sculpture, painting, and sketching are just as important as those in carpentry, woodworking, tanning, moulding, and casting.
The remaining parts of the body are synthetic replacements for real organs and tissues. Polyurethane foam is used for the manikin or form, which includes the anatomy of every muscle and vein; glass is used for the eyes; clay is used for the eyelids; for the nose and mouth the foam of the mannequin is sculptured.
Works of taxidermy can be found in a wide range of environments, including museums, classrooms, galleries, stores, restaurants, and private households, due to the complexity and delicate craftsmanship involved in the taxidermy process.
Thorough preparation is the key factor to ensuring a high-quality final product. All hides are tanned and oiled using the world’s very best available chemicals and processes to ensure permanence and longevity. Forms are selected to ensure the best fit and posture will be altered to suit you, the client’s preference without additional cost. Natural habitat bases are custom-made for full mount trophies without additional cost. Only the finest materials and 40 years of professional experience are used in defining your trophies in a whole new way. The final trophies are almost Life-Formed. When the restoration is required, every effort is made to repair cuts and abrasions, and to minimise bullet damage. Natural scarring is kept unless otherwise requested.
When making an Jackal mount, careful planning is key to getting a high-quality result. When tanning and oiling the skins, only the best chemicals and methods are used. This ensures that the skins will last for many years.
Your preferred form for the Jackal will be chosen after taking your measurements into account, and the posture of your form will be changed at no extra cost. Full-mount Jackal trophies come with bases made to look like the animal’s natural habitat and made just for the Jackal mount.
The taxidermy process at Life-Form takes your prized Jackal trophy and gives it a whole new meaning by using only the best materials and drawing on more than 40 years of experience in the field.
When repair is needed, every effort is made to fix cuts and scrapes and lessen bullet damage. Existing scars are left alone unless the client asks for them to be taken away.
Using the helpful tips below, it’s important to take extra care of your prized Jackal trophy to make sure it stays in perfect shape for years to come.
The pricing of any trophy is subject to the costing stipulated per taxidermy order, quantity of trophies and preferred mounting options, along with additional requirements.
Should you wish to receive a quotation prior to the hunt, the taxidermist can generate such for you. Please contact [email protected]
Taxidermy is an art form that involves a complicated step-by-step process to make sure that each trophy looks just right and is of a high enough quality that it will last your whole life.
The time it takes a taxidermist to mount an animal might range from days to weeks, and possibly several months, depending on the quantity of trophies per taxidermy order, the display preferences, and volumes of client trophies to be produced, simultaneously, per production schedule.
This depends largely on the “what, how, when” factors. A taxidermy order also only becomes available for production scheduling upon receipt of the required deposit and trophy mounting instructions.
