The pups are exclusively nursed by the mother for the first three to four weeks of life.īy 4-5 weeks, they begin to eat solid food and begin to wean as early as 5 or 6 weeks. The pups (average litter size is 9) are usually born inside the den. The expectant Alpha females give birth to pups after a gestation period of almost two and a half months. How Long do African Wild Dogs Stay With Their Moms?
Their unique pelage, coupled with their large Mickey Mouse-like ears is another distinctive feature. The premolars are specially adapted and different from other canid members, to enable the rapid shredding of carcasses, quite often when the prey is still alive. Wild Dog has only 40 teeth, whereas other canids have 42. Most Canids have dewclaw aka the fifth “thumb” toe on each paw whereas the African Wild Dog lacks it. How do African Wild Dogs Differ From Other Canids? Hence, they cannot mate or interbreed with domestic dogs or any other Canis member. Wild dogs are not in the genus Canis, to which domestic dog belongs. Instead, they are a distinct species on a unique evolutionary lineage. Though members of the Canidae family, African Wild Dogs are neither dogs nor wolves. Can African Wild Dogs Mate (or breed) With Domestic Dogs? Some of the places to see African Wild Dogs are: Laikipia, Kenya Luangwa Valley, Zambia Kruger National Park, South Africa Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe Okavango Delta, Botswana Liuwa Plains, Zambia and Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa. Their habitat also includes semi-desert and mountainous regions of southern and eastern Africa. They are nomadic and found in the savannas, grasslands, and open woodlands across the African plains. Occasional urine marking is seen in the alpha male and female, but it is not related to territorial marking. Unlike most Canid species, wild dogs are not territorial animals. READ: Can Squirrels Eat Almonds? (And Almond Butter) In a study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, researchers found that wild dogs sneeze to vote on hunting and group decisions. They are Africa’s most effective predators – 80% of their hunts end successfully, compared to, say lions at 30%. African Wild Dogs are pure poetry in motion when on a hunt. The same goes for hunting, with up to 20 working together to bring down their prey. Living in packs, African wild dogs are extremely social and known the help the pack when weak or ill. Funnily though, the painted wolves are often confused for hyenas. Moreover, their phylogeny (evolutionary development) to behavior, makes them ‘wolves’. Since the wild dog belongs to the Lycaon genus, they are more closely related to wolves than dogs. 
The Latin name, Lycaon pictus, means “painted wolf” – a direct reference to its mottled caramel and brown fur. The African wild dog is a fierce predator found in the grasslands to dense forests and deserts of sub-Saharan Africa. COMMON NAMES: Cape Hunting Dog, African Hunting Dog, Hunting Dog, Wild Dog, Hyena Dog, Painted Dog, Painted Hunting Dog, Painted Wolf, Ornate Wolf.
Do African Wild Dog Babies Have a Special Name?. How Big are African Wild Dogs When They are Born?. How Many Babies do African Wild Dogs Have?. 
How Often Are Babies Born to African Wild Dogs?.How Long do African Wild Dogs Stay With Their Moms?.How do African Wild Dogs Differ From Other Canids?.Can African Wild Dogs Mate (or breed) With Domestic Dogs?.
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