African Wild Dogs | African Wild Dogs resting Wallpapers

African Wild Dogs resting

The dogs are usually 80 – 112 centimeters long (2.6 – 3.7 ft) and weigh up to 36 kilos (80 pounds). They inhabit prairies and savannas in 25 countries from Sudan to South Africa. The closest relatives to the African wild dog are domesticated dogs and wolves. Dogs were the first creatures to be tamed by the human, which shows the high intellect of these animals and African Wild Dogs are a great example of how cooperation provides benefits for every member of the pack.

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African Wild Dogs | African Wild Dogs Hunting Pictures

African Wild Dog goes by many names. Its aliases include Lycaon pictus, Mbwa mwitu, Ornate Wolf, Painted Wolf, Painted Dog and many others. What is interesting about this species is that they are one of the most efficient hunters in Africa. They succeed 70 – 90 percent of the time, while the accuracy of lions is only about 30 percent.

African Wild Dog pack sharing a meal

The Painted Dogs usually hunt twice a day and almost all the pack takes part. If there are pups to take care of, then both the bitches and the male dogs take turns in baby-sitting. Usually the pack is up to 20 dogs, but packs of 90 dogs have been observed. When Mbwa Mwitu hunt, they recklessly charge their victims and kill them instantly. There usually is one hunting leader and as the patches on the fur are different for every specimen, the dogs easily recognize each other. Another advantage from the patches is that the pack looks bigger than it is and the prey gets confused. After killing the prey that usually is a Thomson gazelle or an impala, the Wild Dogs usually eat as much as they can.

When they get back to the baby-sitting Painted Dogs, the baby-sitters appear to “kiss” the hunters, licking and poking at the corners of each other’s mouths. But this is really a food-begging behavior that plays an important role in social bonding within the pack. Then the dogs that have ate as much as they could, regurgitate (throw up) the food for the pack members. This way not only the hunters have a chance to feed.

Although many think of Ornate Wolves as of violent and mean creatures they are actually very caring. There is always an alpha pair in the pack and the alpha female can have up to 21 pups in one litter, which is more than any other dog species. The whole pack helps with raising the pups, defends them and greets the pups with a friendly lick when the mother first shows them to the pack members. Interestingly the ‘baby-sitters’ are usually males. When the pups are old enough to come along to hunt, the elder members let the pups eat first.

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african wild dogs pictures & life info

Lycaon pictus" is derived from the Greek for "wolf" and the Latin for "painted". It is the only canid species to lack dewclaws on the forelimbs. a head and body length averaging about 100 centimetres (39 in) long with a tail of 30 to 45 centimetres (12 to 18 in). Animals in southern Africa are generally larger than those in eastern or western Africa. The premolars are relatively large compared with those of other canids, allowing it to consume a large quantity of bone, much like hyenas. The copulatory tie characteristic of mating in most canids has been reported to be absent or very brief (less than one minute) in the African Wild Dog, possibly an adaptation to the prevalence of larger predators in its environment. Litters can contain 2-19 pups, though ~10 is the most common. Litters can contain 2-19 pups, though ~10 is the most common. 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.not in citation give Pups are usually born in dens dug and abandoned by other animals, such as the Aardvark. 80% of all wild dog hunts end in a kill; for comparison, the success rate of lions, often viewed as ultimate predators, is only 30%. Schaller found that 9 of 10 wild dog hunts in the Serengeti ended in kills. 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. Wild dogs frequently kill larger prey via disemboweling, a technique that is rapid but has caused this species to have a negative, ferocious reputation. In the Serengeti, the average range has been estimated at 1,500 square kilometres (580 square miles), although individual ranges overlap extensively.
An African Wild Dog in a captive breeding program at Monarto Zoo, South Australia.There were once approximately 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 fewer than 25 countries, or perhaps only 14 countries. They are 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. 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.

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