LYCAON: CHARACTERISTICS, HABITAT, FEEDING, REPRODUCTION, BEHAVIOR - BIOLOGY - 2025

The African wild dog or African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is a placental mammal that is part of the family Canidae. The members of this genus differ from the clade Canis because they have specialized teeth for a hyper carnivorous diet, their legs have four fingers and, in addition, they lack claws.

Its body is slim and the limbs are long. As for its ears, they are rounded and large, compared to its head. The tail can measure 41 centimeters and ends in a white plume.

Lichen or African wild dog. Source: Charles J Sharp

Lycaon pictus is currently distributed in some regions of central Africa and the northeast of that continent. Their preferred habitats are grasslands, African plains, and semi-desert areas, avoiding jungles and dense forests.

This species has disappeared from a large part of its original range, so it is in serious danger of extinction. This population decrease is mainly due to the fragmentation of its natural environment.

characteristics

Size

In this species, there is very little difference between the size of the female and that of the male. As for the length of the body, it ranges between 71 and 112 centimeters, not counting the tail. This usually measures 29 to 41 centimeters. The weight of an adult is 18 to 36 kilograms.

The body dimensions of the dog vary according to the geographical region where it lives. Thus, those living in East Africa weigh approximately 20 to 25 kilograms, while those in southern Africa, the female weighs 24.5 kilograms and the male 32.7 kilograms.

Teeth

The teeth of the Lycaon pictus are characterized by the degeneration of the last molar of the lower jaw, the large size of the premolars, and by having narrow canines.

In addition, the lower carnassial tooth has a single cusp, which is blade-shaped. This improves the effectiveness of the feed cut, which increases the speed at which the animal can consume the prey.

Fur

The African wild dog has a short coat, which gradually fades as the animal ages. Thus, when the canid is old, the blackish skin is visible, due to the little hair it has.

The color variations are extreme and are associated with the habitat where it resides. In this sense, the Northeast African species are predominantly black, with small yellow and white spots. In contrast, those from southern Africa have brighter tones, with a mixture of white, black and brown coats.

Coloration

In general, in subspecies there are few changes in facial markings. Thus, they have a black muzzle, turning brown towards the forehead and towards the cheeks. Also, a black stripe stands out on the face, extending to the forehead and then turning blackish brown at the back of the ears.

The neck and back of the head are yellow or brown. Occasionally, the Lycaon pictus may have a white patch on the back of the forelegs, while others have completely white limbs, throat, and chest.

In relation to the tail, it usually has a white tip, in the middle it is black and its base is brown. In a very particular way, these patterns on the coat are asymmetrical. Thus, the left side of the body has different markings than the right area.

Extremities

The African wild dog hunts its prey by chasing it until it is exhausted. In addition, it is extremely nomadic, being able to travel up to 50 kilometers daily. These behaviors demand high performance from the muscles of the hind limbs.

Experts point out that the muscles of the hind legs of the dog are very similar to those of the rest of the canids, including the domestic dog. However, there are some differences. Among these is the increase in the thickness and strength of the connective tissue that reverses the muscles of the lower extremities.

The set of muscular configurations allows the disengagement of the flexor elements of the hip and the extensors of the knee. Thus, the rectus femoris muscle flexes the hip and the vastus muscle extends the knee.

These adaptations can contribute to the necessary energy conservation required during prolonged locomotion.

Adaptations

The African wild dog has specialized adaptations for fur, feeding, and running. In this sense, the front legs lack the first toe, which increases their stride and speed while running.

These particularities allow them to chase their prey across open plains, running up to 2 kilometers at 60 km / h.

Regarding the dentition, the premolars have a large size, in relation to the dimensions of the body. The lower first molars are blade-shaped and the postcarnasal molars may be reduced or absent in the mandible. These characteristics make the dog an efficient and fast eater of meat.

Regarding the coat, this species exhibits one of the most varied colorations among mammals. Thus, you can have black, white, yellow, brown hairs, which are spread evenly or in patches. This diversity of tones and patterns could be associated with communication, camouflage or temperature regulation.

Taxonomy and classification

-Animal Kingdom.

-Subreino: Bilateria.

-Filum: Cordate.

-Subfilum: Vertebrate.

-Infrafilum: Gnathostomata.

-Superclass: Tetrapoda

-Class: Mammalia.

-Subclass: Theria.

-Infraclass: Eutheria.

-Order: Carnivora.

-Suborder: Caniformia.

-Family: Canidae.

-Gender: Lycaon.

-Species: Lycaon pictus.

Subspecies:

- Lycaon pictus lupines.

Habitat and distribution

Distribution

Historically, African wild dogs were distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from high mountains to the desert. They were probably absent in the driest deserts and lowland rainforest.

However, it has now disappeared from a large part of that range. In this way, it is almost extinct in western and northern Africa and there are only a few populations in northeast Africa and central Africa.

As for the regions with the highest population density, they are in the south of Africa, especially west of Zimbabwe, north of Botswana, west of Zambia and east of Namibia. Also, it is abundant in the southern part of East Africa, north of Mozambique and in Tanzania.

Habitat

The Lycaon pictus is widely distributed in African savannas, grasslands, open forests, and plains. In addition, it is found from the semi-desert areas to the mountainous areas of the Sahara desert. Generally, this species avoids jungle and forested regions.

Preferences for open areas could be related to the hunting methods of this animal, since these habitats do not obstruct visibility or prevent free movement, which allows to catch the prey more easily.

However, it could travel between bushes, mountainous areas and forests, in search of its food. Such is the case of some populations of the African wild dog that live in the Harenna forest. This is a humid montane forest located in the Bale Mountains, in Ethiopia.

Regarding the height of the regions, this canid can live in territories at 1,800 meters above sea level, as occurs in Zimbabwe. It also lives in higher areas of Ethiopia, covering areas between 1,900 and 2,800 meters above sea level.

State of conservation

The populations of the dog are declining rapidly in much of the geographic range where it lives. Previously, this species was distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa, but today it is restricted to the east and south of the African continent.

This canid lives in very low densities, however, the pieces of land that it currently occupies are probably not enough for African wild dog communities to live in them.

In addition, the herds often move away from the borders of the reserves, so, although they are protected, they are exposed to various threats. Due to this situation, the IUCN has included this species within the group of animals in serious danger of extinction.

Threats

The main threat to the Lycaon pictus is the fragmentation of its natural habitat. This increases their contact with areas inhabited by man, which causes conflicts because the canid attacks domestic animals. In addition, you are exposed to the contagion of infectious diseases transmitted by livestock or other livestock species.

As ecosystems are degraded to convert their lands into agricultural and urban areas, the number of human populations increases around the borders of the reserves. This increases the likelihood that African wild dogs will venture outside the protected area.

Even in well-guarded reserves or in stable populations that are not under protection, as in northern Botswana, this species lives in low population densities. For example, the Selous Game Reserve, which has an area of ​​43,000 km², shelters around 800 African wild dogs.

These small populations are highly vulnerable to extinction, since their recovery from events, such as major droughts or outbreaks of epidemic diseases, is very difficult.

Actions

The priority in the conservation of the African wild dog is to promote and maintain the contiguity of the natural areas where it lives.

In this sense, all the African regions where this species inhabits have developed strategies for its conservation. Although each regional action plan was developed independently, they have common objectives.

These include reducing human-animal conflicts and avoiding the construction of infrastructure, such as roads, which contribute to fragmenting the environment.

Also, these strategies contemplate the establishment of effective techniques to prevent the displacement of the wild dog out of the reserve areas or its natural populations.

Feeding

The Lycaon pictus is a carnivorous animal that tends to hunt mammals that are almost twice its weight. However, it also eats smaller animals and may occasionally ingest small amounts of herbs.

The African wild dog can be scavengers, appropriating the carcasses of leopards, hyenas, and cheetahs, among others.

Their diet is made up of the zebra (genus Equus), the wildebeest (genus Connochaetes) and small antelopes, such as the bush duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia) and the impala (Aepyceros melampus). It also tends to hunt the greater kudu, wild boar, Thomson's gazelle, African buffalo calves, and Grant's gazelle. Small mammals include hares and cane rats.

In the case of large species, such as kudu and wildebeest, the African wild dog may prefer to attack the young. However, some herds specialize in hunting adult zebras, which can weigh up to 240 kilograms.

Hunting methods

The Lycaon is a hunter that silently approaches its prey, then chases it at speeds of 66 km / h. The race can last between 10 and 60 minutes, reaching a maximum distance of 2 kilometers.

In pursuit, if the prey is large, it will repeatedly bite it on the rump, legs or belly until it stops running or falls exhausted. In the case that it is small, he throws it to the ground and tears it.

Reproduction

The African wild dog reaches sexual maturity between 12 and 18 months of age, although they usually do not mate until a long time later. In this sense, the female can reproduce for the first time at 22 months.

Each herd is made up of a dominant breeding pair, who tend to be monogamous for life. Generally, they are the only ones in the group to mate, preventing any of the herd's subordinates from reproducing. When the alpha female tries to interfere with another female to copulate, she may engage in aggressive behaviors.

Regarding the mating season, there is no specific season in the Lycaon pictus. However, reproduction could increase during the last months of the rainy season.

Gestation lasts about 10 weeks. At the time of delivery, the female goes to the burrow. These can be underground or covered with grass and are generally lairs that other animals have left. In relation to the size of the litter, it ranges from 2 to 20 puppies.

In this video you can see how two specimens mate:

The babies

Newborns stay with the mother for 3 to 4 weeks, then emerge from the burrow and join the herd. The cubs are suckled for 10 months by their mother or by the other mothers in the pack.

When the cub is 11 months old, it is capable of hunting small prey and at 14 months it can defend itself against predators.

Behavior

The Lycaon pictus has very strong social ties, so hunting and living alone is very rare. The herds where they are grouped are permanent and consist of a reproductive alpha pair and their dependencies. Males and females establish their dominance hierarchies separately. In both cases, the leadership falls on the oldest.

In this species the males remain in the maternal herd, while the females move away and disperse. These join other groups, being able to evict some females that are there.

In this way, inbreeding is avoided, while stimulating the expelled females to find a herd where they have more opportunity to reproduce.

Within the pack, African wild dogs cooperate in caring for puppies, as well as the sick or injured. When they return from the hunt, they are fed regurgitated food.

Another peculiarity is that there are no aggressive behaviors among these canids. However, these can occur between the dominant and the subordinate female, for the right to reproduce. In this video you can see how a hyena interacts with an African wild dog:

References

1. Wikipedia (2019). African wild dog. Recovered from en.wikipedia.org.
2. Jennifer N. Langan, Gwen Jankowski (2019). Overview of African Wild Dog Medicine. Recovered from sciencedirect.com.
3. Woodroffe, R., Sillero-Zubiri, C. (2012). Lycaon pictus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2012. Recovered from iucnredlist.org.
4. ITIS (2019). Lycaon pictus. Recovered from it is.gov.
5. Mulheisen, M.; C. Allen and C. Allen (2002). Lycaon pictus. Animal Diversity Web. Recovered from animaldiversity.org.
6. Wade Wright, Heather F. Smith, Aryeh Grossman (2019). Hindlimb anatomy of the African painted dog (Lycaon pictus). Recovered from phasebj.org.
7. Rosie Woodroffe and Joshua R. Ginsberg (1999). Conserving the African wild dog Lycaon pictus. I. Diagnosing and treating causes of decline. Recovered from cambridge.org.