Species

Adults stand about 38cm at the shoulder and are nearly a meter long in length. The head is dog-like, with a pointed muzzle and high pointed ears. The winter coat of male adults develops a reddish to an almost deep russet red color. Females tend to be less richly colored. Sexual dimorphism does exist; males tend to be larger than females, but this difference is small.

 

Habitat:

The habitat of the black-backed jackal is quite variable ranging from small cities and the suburbs of large cities to the Namib desert. They tend to be more common in dry areas that receive an annual rainfall of between 100-200 cm. These jackals are associated with open terrain and not forest or heavy brush. This species can scavenge in an area where bigger game is hunted and killed or it can feed off the remnants of human handouts. Furthermore, in the open grasslands of today, human development in the form of agriculture provides an additional source of food for this species.

Distribution:

The black-backed jackal can be found only in Africa. The species lives in two discrete areas separated by roughly 900km. One region includes the southern-most tip of the continent including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. The other area is

Size:

The Black-backed Jackal is typically 14-19 inches (32-42 centimeters) high at the shoulder, 45-90 centimeters (18-36 inches) long.

Weight:

15-30 pounds (7-13.5 kilograms) in weight.

Lifespan:

Black-backed jackals live for 12-14 years in captivity.