Jackal

Quick Take

• Jackal packs have their own unique "language," and there is a specific reason why that matters when multiple families share the same territory. Explore jackal communication →
• A small group of jackals can stand their ground against a leopard, but a lone jackal behaves in the opposite way entirely. See jackal predator behavior →
• Jackals trace their origins to a specific place that fossil evidence only recently confirmed, a finding that reshapes what scientists thought they knew about the species. Discover fossil evidence →
• A jackal mother uses a deceptively simple tactic to protect her pups from predators, one that works by exploiting a key weakness predators rely on. See how pups are protected →

Jackals are animals that make their home in different parts of Africa, as well as in European countries such as Greece, Romania, Italy, and Bulgaria, along with others. They are omnivores, eating both plants and meat. Jackals communicate with members of their pack using howls, growls, yipping, and even hooting sounds.

A male and female jackal are monogamous, meaning they stay together throughout their lives and the pair raises their pups together. These canines can live up to 10 to 12 years in the wild.

5 Incredible Jackal Facts

• Jackals in captivity can live as long as 16 years.
• Jackals are animals that hunt in pairs instead of looking for prey alone.
• A group of jackals is sometimes called a pack or a tribe.
• Jackals usually have from two to four pups in a litter.
• These creatures are canines with relatives that include coyotes, foxes, and wolves.

Evolution and Origins

The origin of the Jackal can be traced back 5 million years to the West Coast of South Africa. In fact, a discovery of fossils from a new species found on the West Coast of South Africa has unearthed the African origins of the jackal. This means scientists can trace its history on the continent back 5 million years.

Classification and Scientific Name

The scientific name of a common jackal is Canis aureus. The word Canis is Latin for dog, and aureus means golden. So, it makes sense that another name for the common jackal is the golden jackal. Its family is Canidae and its class is Mammalia.

Along with the common jackal, there are two other species, including the side-striped jackal and the black-backed jackal. The main differences between these three species are the color of their coat and the specific habitat they prefer to live in.

Appearance and Behavior

The common jackal has a coat that is a mixture of yellow, brown, and gold. The appearance of a jackal’s coat can become darker or lighter with the change of seasons. If you have a dog, you may notice that its coat gets thicker or changes color a little bit with the seasons. A similar process happens with these animals.

The jackal has a long, slim nose, large ears, and even a bushy tail that makes it look very similar to a fox. Remember, foxes and jackals are close relatives. Jackals have four slender legs, trim bodies, and dark eyes that are always keeping watch on their surroundings.

A jackal measures around 18 to 20 inches tall from its shoulder and weighs from 18 to 24 pounds. If you put two number two pencils on top of one another, then you are looking at about the height of a common jackal. For comparison, a 26-pound jackal weighs about the same as an average-sized dachshund.

These canines are fast runners, with the fastest speed for a jackal being 40 mph. They can run in short bursts of tremendous speed or for longer periods of time at a lower rate of speed. This speed helps them catch their prey and can keep them safe from some predators.

The color of their coat helps them to blend in with their territory. Just think of how easily a common jackal would disappear into the light brown grass on the African savanna. This camouflaging helps to protect it if predators are in the area.

A jackal that is walking alone is likely to run away from a threat, while a large group of jackals may stand their ground against a predator. A pack of jackals may even be able to overwhelm a leopard or a hyena. At the very least, a large pack may be able to chase the predator away.

These canines defend their territory using their sharp teeth and claws to drive intruders away. A jackal’s fierce protection of its territory is a characteristic it shares with its wolf, fox, and coyote cousins. Not only is it protecting its home, but it’s also protecting any pups in the area.

Jackals typically hunt alone or in pairs, though they may occasionally gather in small packs of up to 12 individuals. These groups are called packs or tribes. These animals are normally shy and try to stay out of sight by taking cover in tall grass, in crevices of rocks, or behind trees. The only time they show aggression is when their territory is threatened by an intruder.

One of the most interesting things about jackals is their communication. Not all howls, growls, and yips are alike in the world of jackals. The members of a pack or tribe have unique sounds they make to deliver a message to the rest of their family. Each pack has its own distinct sounds, so nearby families don’t receive mixed messages.

One howling sound may mean that a jackal has killed prey and wants everyone in the family to eat. A yipping sound may warn other members of a pack that there’s a predator in the area. The side-striped jackal is said to make a hooting sound similar to an owl. This unique sound has earned it the nickname “o loo” in Uganda.

Habitat

These animals live in Africa and some European countries. In Africa, they’re found in the western and central parts of the continent in Senegal, Nigeria, and South Sudan. They also live further south in Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The specific type of habitat a jackal lives in differs depending on which of the three species you’re looking at. Common or golden jackals live in savannas and deserts, while side-striped jackals prefer wetter habitats such as marshes, bushlands, and even mountainous areas. The black-backed jackal lives in woodlands and savannas. Though the regions are different, all three species can be found in Africa.

The long legs and sturdy feet of these canines allow them to easily travel the lengthy stretches of land while hunting. Their paws can withstand heat as well as rough, dry ground. They use their sense of hearing and smell more than their vision to find prey.

They are active mostly at dusk and dawn. This allows them to avoid the hottest part of the day. Like domesticated dogs, they sleep a lot during the day.

Diet

What do Jackals Eat?

These canines are omnivores, eating birds, berries, plants, rabbits, frogs, fruits, snakes, and small antelopes. Some scientists refer to jackals as opportunistic feeders. This means that they may steal leftover meat from prey killed by another animal. They take the opportunity to eat whenever they find food, even if they didn’t hunt or kill it.

Usually, these canines hunt in pairs. This is so they can work together to trap and take down their prey. Though they have sharp teeth, these creatures are small, so it helps for two jackals to be cooperating as they hunt — especially if they’re going after larger prey.

Predators and Threats

These canines have a few predators, including eagles, leopards, and hyenas. All of these predators have great speed, strength, or both, making it fairly easy to capture a young jackal. It’s not unusual for an eagle to fly down and capture a pup that’s playing outside its den.

Sometimes, when their food sources are scarce, these animals make their way onto a farmer’s property to kill livestock. Some jackals are shot by farmers for this reason. Another human threat to them is the loss of habitat due to land development and construction.

The official conservation status of these animals, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), is Least Concern. In fact, their population is believed to be on the rise.

Reproduction, Babies, and Lifespan

This canine has just one mate throughout its life. The mating season for the golden jackal varies by region, occurring in October in East Africa, December in Southeast Europe, and throughout the year in tropical Asia. The gestation period is approximately 60 to 63 days.

A male and female work together to find or make an underground den where the babies will be born. A female gives live birth to two to four babies, also called pups. Newborn pups are very small, weighing only around 200 to 250 grams (less than a pound). They are born blind and are nursed by their mother, as well as consuming small amounts of soft food. At ten days old, the pups’ eyes open, and at two months, they begin to eat solid food.

Because they are so small, pups are vulnerable to attacks from eagles, leopards, and hyenas. In fact, many of these pups do not survive to 14 weeks old. As a way to protect her pups, a mother moves her litter to different underground dens every few weeks. This makes it challenging for a predator to pick up and stay with the scent of the pups.

Both the mother and father care for the pups, teaching them how to hunt when they are about six months old. A pup may leave its parents at 11 months of age to strike out on its own, or it may stay to help care for pups from future litters.

Jackals living in the wild live to be 10 to 12 years old. Wild jackals are vulnerable to many of the same ailments that a dog might face. For instance, they can contract rabies. A jackal that is old or injured is also more likely to be targeted by a predator than a young, healthy animal.

Of course, these well-cared-for canines in a zoo or wildlife preserve can live longer, up to 16 years old.

Population

The population of common jackals in India is more than 80,000. However, scientists are unsure of the population of these animals in Africa.

The population of this species of jackal is believed to be increasing. Its official conservation status is Least Concern.