Description

The African hunting dog stands about 2 feet at the shoulder, is about 4 feet long, and weighs ~40-80 pounds. Like most other dogs, it has large, round ears. Unlike other dogs, however, it only has four toes on each foot (other dogs have five). The coat is mottled with black, yellow and white, with each individual dog having its own color pattern. Males and females are similar in both color and size.

Distribution and Habitat

Once found in a variety of habitats throughout Africa, the African hunting dog is now "confined" to open savannah and grassland areas south of the Sahara to South Africa.

Habits and Behaviors

African hunting dogs are very social animals, living in packs of 4 to 60 individuals (with the average being about a dozen). Packs generally consist of one dominant male/female pair, along with juveniles and pups. There are usually more males than females, because females almost always leave their natal packs to join packs without adult females. About half of the juvenile males will stay with their father's pack, while the rest leave to form new packs.

Interactions between individual pack members are almost always harmonious. Pack members cooperate in hunting, as well as in the rearing of pups. Although there are