Ethiopian jackal - description, habitat, lifestyle

By the Ethiopian jackal is meant a medium-sized individual belonging to the dog family. According to their external data, these individuals are somewhat similar to stray dogs. They are distinguished by their habits, duration of existence, reproduction and some features of distribution. In today's article we will study everything that affects animals, so that you can make your own opinion.

Description

1. The animal has elongated limbs, the muzzle in the format of the wedge is also quite long. External data is characteristic of the rest of the family. By pigmentation of the body, the animals are red, brownish or gray-beige. There may be a whitish mark in the neck area, on the inner parts of the limbs and the sternum.
2. However, some individuals of the genus are characterized by the presence of marks on other sections of the body. It all depends on the individual characteristics of a particular individual.The tail in the upper region is pigmented with black. The same tone on the back of the ears.
3. Individuals by their weight criteria do not exceed 16 kg., Females are even smaller, their weight varies between 12-13 kg. The height at withers is about half a meter. Molting of animals takes place twice a year. It falls on the spring and autumn. New wool cover is replaced completely in a few weeks.

Lifestyle

1. These individuals are characterized by wakefulness during the daytime. Each individual relies plot of the individual type. The family occupies a much larger area. Some females with cubs can join in groups, securing a certain area. To date, the way of life of the represented individuals has not been studied thoroughly. However, it is known that they are incredulous about people.
2. The sedentary image of life is peculiar to animals, but some flocks can move from place to place in search of food supply. However, seasonal migrations are absent. Some members of the family move away from home to start the hunt.They attack cattle, eat carrion, can attack individuals much larger than themselves.
3. Animals are called horse hunters for one simple reason. They can accompany a pregnant cow or mare for a very long time until she gives birth. Then the mammals regale on the placenta. According to its affiliation this species is monogamous. As for the young, the younger generation gets together in packs of 8 individuals, after which they live and hunt together. From the parental house, the females leave earlier.

Habitat

1. Jackals of the subspecies prefer to live near the Ethiopian rift. The entire area is divided into 7 parts. Some individuals travel to the south, being near Ethiopia.
2. These individuals like open areas with small plantings. They can rise up to 3 thousand meters in height and even more, while feeling great.
3. Often, family members are noticed alongside agricultural holdings. Animals hunt livestock, so farmers do not like them. Some grab for a gun, others set traps.

Lifespan

It is noteworthy that the considered individuals in the wild can live for about 12 years.This concerns precisely striped representatives. As for ordinary jackals, they live to be 14 years old. The average life expectancy of such animals, depending on the species, is from 10 to 14 years. Accordingly, if you keep wild animals in captivity, their life expectancy will increase significantly.

Breeding

1. Interestingly, the mating period for such individuals may occur at different times due to the geographical location of the habitat of animals. For the rest, after mating, the female continues to bear future offspring for about 2 months. Most often, the birth of babies falls on the rainy season. Up to 4 puppies are born.
2. It is curious that the individuals in question often set up their dwellings in old burrows of aard dwells or abandoned termitaries. It often happens that the female is not able to find a ready shelter. She does not despair and independently begins to pull out his hole. As soon as the offspring is born, the male brings food for the female.
3. The head of the family protects his family and constantly brings prey. At this time, the female can not leave the lair, as she nurses the babies with milk. The duration of the lactation period lasts about 2 weeks.Then the female begins to go hunting with the male. Then they feed the younger generation together.
4. The considered individuals are monogamous and prefer to live in pairs. Therefore, in such animals, a pair is formed only once in a lifetime. It is interesting that the males greatly help the female to equip the home. Parents together are engaged in raising brood. Most often, the female begins estrus at the end of winter or early spring.
5. It is during the mating season that the jackals begin to howl loudly. This indicates that the mating season has begun. As a result, puppies are born in late spring or early summer. It is noteworthy that the female tries to choose their shelter almost in an inaccessible place.
6. Juveniles continue to be fed by milk until approximately 3 months of age. However, at the age of 3 weeks, the female begins to gradually offer solid food. More precisely, she belches her. Already with the onset of the first days of autumn, the offspring begins to live an independent life.
7. They already hunt one by one. Sometimes jackals create small groups. Females reach sexual maturity at about 1 year, males a year later.It is noteworthy that when the puppies grow up, the whole pack begins to protect and feed them.
8. Interestingly, an offspring in a flock can have an exclusively dominant pair. She is represented by the leader of the pack and his mature adult. Juveniles can fully connect to the pack when they are six months old. They become fully mature at about 2 years. In this case, individuals can create their own groups.

Natural enemies

1. Regardless of the type of species in question, there are many natural enemies. Such animals do not have large size and impressive strength; therefore, a larger predator is dangerous for them. If the habitat of jackals intersects with wolves, the first will be in serious danger.
2. Even if the presented animals will live near the settlements, large yard dogs can tear them up. In addition, the population of such animals is rapidly declining due to hunting for them. Fur jackals valued for its thickness and softness. In Africa, the skin of jackals used for the manufacture of carpets.

Jackals are quite unremarkable animals that live in the wild.Currently, there are many subspecies. Considered individuals are on the verge of extinction. Their population is extremely small. The problem is that such individuals continue to hunt people, in addition to natural predators. The fur of the Ethiopian jackals is quite valuable. Therefore, in Africa, animals are constantly exterminated for the sake of the skins.