African wild dogs, also known as painted dogs, are distinctive for their mottled coats, which feature a unique pattern of white, brown, black, red, and yellow blotches. These animals, roughly the size of medium to large dogs, weigh between 40 and 80 pounds and stand 30 to 43 inches tall at the shoulders.
what special skills or features does your animal have that helps it survive?
The pack stays on the move, rarely staying in one place for more than a day or two. African wild dogs live in an organized pack similar to wolves. A typical pack will have between 6 and 20 dogs, but some larger packs do exist. The pack hunts together and offers protection from predators. They have been known to help each other out, sharing food and taking care of weaker members. The pack is lead by a dominant male and female pair of dogs.
food
Wild dogs hunt in packs and can bring down some large mammals. They will eat most any mammal that they can catch and kill including antelopes, impala, wildebeest calves, gazelles, and even large birds like ostriches.
Status
Is your animal endangered? Vulnerable?
African wild dogs are an endangered species. There were once nearly 500,000 of them living in Africa, but today there are only between 3,000 and 5,000 living in the wild.
Class
Is your animal a mammal? Reptile?
Wild Dogs are mammals
predators
what animals hunt your animal?
they are often killed by farmers to
Protect livestock
Appearance
colour
their most unique feature is their coat. It is mottled with blotches of different colors including white, brown, black, red, and yellow. They are often called the painted dog due to their coats. Each wild dog has a unique pattern.
size
African wild dogs grow to about the size of a medium to large dog. Fully grown they weigh between 40 and 80 pounds and grow to between 30 and 43 inches tall at the shoulders