African Wild Dog: A Native Species To Sub-Saharan Africa.
source - canva
The African wild dog also called the painted dog or Cape hunting dog is a wild canine native to sub-Saharan Africa.
source - canva
The only extant member of the genus Lycaon.
source - canva
Since 1990, the African wild dog has been listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List, as the largest subpopulation probably comprises fewer than 250 individuals.
source - canva
The species is specialized in hunting antelopes during the day, which it catches by chasing them to exhaustion.
source - canva
The lions and spotted hyenas are its natural enemies: the former will kill the dogs where possible, whilst hyenas are frequent kleptoparasites.
source - canva
The African wild dog has several names in English, including African hunting dog, Cape hunting dog, painted hunting dog, painted dog, and painted lycaon.
source - canva
The African wild dog possesses the most specialized adaptations for coat color, diet, and for pursuing its prey through its cursorial ability.
source - canva
Losing the first digit on its forefeet gives it a longer stride and makes it faster.
source - canva
Of all African canids, the African wild dog is the bulkiest and most solidly built.
source - canva
The species stands 60 to 75 cm in shoulder height, measures 71 to 112 cm in head-and-body length, and has a tail length of 29 to 41 cm.
source - canva
The African wild dog's fur is significantly different from that of other canids, as it consists entirely of stiff bristle hairs with no underfur.
source - canva
Solitary living and hunting are extremely rare in the African wild dog species because they have very strong social bonds, stronger than those of sympatric lions and spotted hyenas.