Post by Atheron on Jan 11, 2012 7:12:02 GMT -5
Golden Jackal
Information from Wikipedia
The Golden Jackal (Canis aureus), also called the Asiatic, Oriental or Common Jackal or as it is known in Hungary, Austro-Hungarian wolf or Reed wolf, is a mammal of the order carnivora native to North and East Africa, Southeastern Europe and South Asia to Burma. It is the largest of the jackals, and the only species to occur outside Africa, with 12 different subspecies being recognized.
Physical characteristics
The golden jackal's short, coarse fur is usually yellow to pale gold and brown-tipped, though the color can vary with season and region. On the Serengeti Plain in Northern Tanzania for example, golden jackals are brown-grizzled yellow in the wet season (December-January), changing to pale gold in the dry season (September-October). Jackals living in mountainous regions may have a greyer shade of fur.
The golden jackal is generally 28-42 inches in length, with a tail length of about 10 inches. It's standing height is approximately 16-20 inches at the shoulder. Average weight is 15-33 pounds with males tending to be 15% heavier than the females.The form of the skull bares more similarities to that of the coyote and the grey wolf than it does with other jackal species. In all their ranges, golden jackals display a great deal of diversity in appearance. Golden jackals living in north Africa tend to be larger and have longer carnassials than those living in the Middle East.Moroccan golden jackals are paler and have more pointed snouts than Egyptian golden jackals.
Courtship and Reproduction
Jackals are a strictly monogamous species. In most jackal families, there are one or two adult members who act as "helpers". Helpers are jackals who have reached sexual maturity, yet remain with their parents without breeding, in order to help take care of the next litter.
The time of births vary according to region. In East Africa, births occur mainly in January-February, in Southeastern Europe in April-May, but take place non-seasonally in tropical Asia. Golden jackals of the Serengeti court at the end of the dry season and produce pups during the rainy season. Young are born in a den within the parents' marked territory after a 63 day gestation period. Litters usually contain 2-4 pups which are weaned after 50 to 90 days. Cubs at birth weigh 200-250 grams, and open their eyes after about ten days. The young are milked, then fed by regurgitation when they begin to take solid food at about three months. Sexual maturity comes at eleven months.
Diet and Hunting
The golden jackal is an opportunistic feeder with a diet which consists of 54% animal food and 46% plant food. They are very capable hunters of small to medium sized prey such as rabbits, rodents, birds, insects, fish and monkeys. Golden jackals use their highly acute hearing to identify small prey hiding in vegetation.They have been observed to hunt ungulates 4-5 times their body weight, though they will more commonly target young specimens. In the Serengeti, golden jackals are major predators of gazelle fawns, while in India, they often kill blackbuck calves. Although it is common for jackals to hunt alone, they do occasionally do so in small groups, usually consisting of 2-5 individuals. Working in a pack greatly increases the chances of making a successful kill. During the harvest season in India, the jackal feeds predominantly on fruits.
Golden jackals will scavenge given the opportunity, and will steal from the kills of other carnivores such as lions and tigers, usually waiting for the larger predators to leave before feeding themselves. Groups of 5-18 jackals have been seen frequenting large ungulate carcasses. Jackals living in some parts of India and Bangladesh will subside primarily on carrion and garbage.
Information from Wikipedia
The Golden Jackal (Canis aureus), also called the Asiatic, Oriental or Common Jackal or as it is known in Hungary, Austro-Hungarian wolf or Reed wolf, is a mammal of the order carnivora native to North and East Africa, Southeastern Europe and South Asia to Burma. It is the largest of the jackals, and the only species to occur outside Africa, with 12 different subspecies being recognized.
Physical characteristics
The golden jackal's short, coarse fur is usually yellow to pale gold and brown-tipped, though the color can vary with season and region. On the Serengeti Plain in Northern Tanzania for example, golden jackals are brown-grizzled yellow in the wet season (December-January), changing to pale gold in the dry season (September-October). Jackals living in mountainous regions may have a greyer shade of fur.
The golden jackal is generally 28-42 inches in length, with a tail length of about 10 inches. It's standing height is approximately 16-20 inches at the shoulder. Average weight is 15-33 pounds with males tending to be 15% heavier than the females.The form of the skull bares more similarities to that of the coyote and the grey wolf than it does with other jackal species. In all their ranges, golden jackals display a great deal of diversity in appearance. Golden jackals living in north Africa tend to be larger and have longer carnassials than those living in the Middle East.Moroccan golden jackals are paler and have more pointed snouts than Egyptian golden jackals.
Courtship and Reproduction
Jackals are a strictly monogamous species. In most jackal families, there are one or two adult members who act as "helpers". Helpers are jackals who have reached sexual maturity, yet remain with their parents without breeding, in order to help take care of the next litter.
The time of births vary according to region. In East Africa, births occur mainly in January-February, in Southeastern Europe in April-May, but take place non-seasonally in tropical Asia. Golden jackals of the Serengeti court at the end of the dry season and produce pups during the rainy season. Young are born in a den within the parents' marked territory after a 63 day gestation period. Litters usually contain 2-4 pups which are weaned after 50 to 90 days. Cubs at birth weigh 200-250 grams, and open their eyes after about ten days. The young are milked, then fed by regurgitation when they begin to take solid food at about three months. Sexual maturity comes at eleven months.
Diet and Hunting
The golden jackal is an opportunistic feeder with a diet which consists of 54% animal food and 46% plant food. They are very capable hunters of small to medium sized prey such as rabbits, rodents, birds, insects, fish and monkeys. Golden jackals use their highly acute hearing to identify small prey hiding in vegetation.They have been observed to hunt ungulates 4-5 times their body weight, though they will more commonly target young specimens. In the Serengeti, golden jackals are major predators of gazelle fawns, while in India, they often kill blackbuck calves. Although it is common for jackals to hunt alone, they do occasionally do so in small groups, usually consisting of 2-5 individuals. Working in a pack greatly increases the chances of making a successful kill. During the harvest season in India, the jackal feeds predominantly on fruits.
Golden jackals will scavenge given the opportunity, and will steal from the kills of other carnivores such as lions and tigers, usually waiting for the larger predators to leave before feeding themselves. Groups of 5-18 jackals have been seen frequenting large ungulate carcasses. Jackals living in some parts of India and Bangladesh will subside primarily on carrion and garbage.