Side-striped Jackal

Taxobox
name = Side-striped JackalMSW3 Wozencraft | id=14000697]
status = LC
trend = stable
status_system = iucn2.3
status_ref = IUCN2006|assessors=Atkinson & Loveridge|year=2004|id=3753|title=Canis adustus|downloaded=11 May 2006 Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern]


image_caption = 19th century drawing
image_width = 240px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = Carnivora
familia = Canidae
genus = "Canis"
species = "C. adustus"
binomial = "Canis adustus"
binomial_authority = Sundevall, 1847

The Side-striped jackal ("Canis adustus") is a member of the family Canidae, native to central and southern Africa.

Description

The Side-striped Jackal is a greyish brown to tan with a white stripe from the front legs to the hips and has a dark tail that has a white tip. The Side-striped Jackal can weigh from 14 to 30 lb. Males tend to be larger than the females. It is social within small family groups, communciating via yips, "screams" and a soft owl like hooting call. It is nocturnal, and rarely active during the day.

Habitat and diet

The Side-striped Jackal lives in the damp woodland areas along with grassland, bush and marshes. The Side-striped Jackal eats fruit, insects, and small mammals such as rats, hares and birds. It will go for the young of animals such as warthogs and gazelles. It will often follow big cats to scavenge their kills, but has never been observed taking down larger prey on its own.

Reproduction

The breeding season for this species depends on where they live; in southern Africa breeding starts in June and ends in November. The Side-striped Jackal has a gestation period of 57 to 70 days with average litter of 3 to 6 young. The young reach sexual maturity at 6 to 8 months old and typically begin to leave when 11 months old. The Side-striped Jackal is among the few mammal species that mate for life, forming monogamous pairs.

ubspecies

There are six recognized subspecies of this jackal:
*"Canis adustus adustus"
*"Canis adustus bweha"
*"Canis adustus grayi"
*"Canis adustus kaffensis"
*"Canis adustus lateralis"
*"Canis adustus notatus"

References