What kind of animal is the African wild dog, a member of the canine family that hunts in packs? We will explain in detail about its characteristics, ecology, and habitat. It is the largest dog found in Africa and has a very sturdy overall appearance, which gives it a very scary impression. However, it is designated as an endangered species.
What is Lycaon? About basic status
Lycaon is a carnivorous animal classified in the genus Lycaon, order Carnivora, family Canidae, class Mammalia. This species alone constitutes the genus Lycaon. The scientific name is Lycaon pictus. The body length is 76-112cm and the weight is 17-36kg. Males are larger than females. The genus name Lycaon means “wolf”. Shoulder height: 60-78cm, tail length: 30-41cm. Below is a list of basic information.
| Japanese（和名） | リカオン |
| English（英名） | African hunting dog/African wild dog/Lycaon/Cape hunting dog |
| scientific name(学名) | Lycaon pictus |
| classification（分類） | Mammalia、 Carnivora、Canidae、Lycaon 哺乳綱、食肉目、イヌ科、リカオン属 |
| IUCN Status(保全状況) | ENDANGERED |
| Length（体長） | 76 – 112cm |
| Weight（体重） | 17 – 36kg |
About classification
Lycaon is the only species that constitutes the genus Lycaon.
分類学（Taxonomy）
- 界（Kingdom）: 動物界 (Animalia)
- 門（Phylum）: 脊索動物門 (Chordata)
- 綱（Class）: 哺乳綱 (Mammalia)
- 目（Order）: 食肉目 (Carnivora)
- 科（Family）: イヌ科 (Canidae)
- 属（Genus）: リカオン属 (Lycaon)
- 種（Species）: アフリカオオカミ/リカオン (Lycaon pictus)
About habitat
The Lycaon is the largest dog found in Africa. It mainly lives in South Africa.
- Geographic Distribution
Mainly found in sub-Saharan Africa
Especially found in the following regions:
East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania
Southern Africa: Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa
Found in parts of West Africa, but populations are small
- Habitat
Savanna
Populates in open grasslands and shrublands
Dry grasslands and semi-desert areas
Moves only within areas where water sources and prey are available
Tends to avoid forests and jungles
Open terrain allows for better visibility and more efficient hunting
- Habitat Characteristics
Moves over wide areas in packs
May travel 10–30 km per day in search of prey and water
Cooperative behavior within packs and maintaining territory are essential for survival
Due to habitat loss, it is now limited to scattered areas
feature is? What kind of creature is it?
Lycaon’s ears are rounded and large. The auricle has the effect of regulating body temperature. The canine teeth and fourth molars are developed into knife-like shapes and are specialized for eating meat. The body hair is short and coarse, and the coat color is white, black, gray, or brown. Lycaons mainly live in open areas such as grasslands and savannahs, and are mainly active during the day. They form groups of about 7 to 15 individuals called packs to capture prey.
- Physical Characteristics
Body Size
Body Length: Approximately 75-110 cm (excluding tail)
Tail Length: Approximately 25-40 cm
Weight: Approximately 20-30 kg
Coat Color/Pattern
White, black, and brown mottled patterns across the body
Patterns vary from individual to individual, making them easy to identify
Face, Ears, and Legs
Elongated face with large, rounded ears
Elongated feet adapted for long-distance running
The fifth toe on the front feet is degenerate, allowing them to run using only four toes
- Behavioral Characteristics
Pack Life
Hunts cooperatively in packs
Highly coordinated behavior within the pack
Hunting
Tracking and capturing medium- to large-sized herbivores over long distances
High hunting success rate, even among canines
Calls/Communication
Communicates with a high-pitched “keek-keek” sound
Uses vocalizations for cooperation and warning within the pack
- Personality and Behavior
Highly Social
They cooperate within their groups, raising their young, and sharing food.
Vigilance and Agility
They are highly wary of predators and humans, and quickly escape.
Play and Communication
They have developed play habits with their young and within their groups, which fosters socialization.
What is your personality like?
Lycaons are very social animals and excel at teamwork. Because they are cooperative, there is a strong sense of camaraderie. It is an animal that is thought to have a very strong bond with them.
- Physical Characteristics
Body Size
Body Length: Approximately 75-110 cm (excluding tail)
Tail Length: Approximately 25-40 cm
Weight: Approximately 20-30 kg
Coat Color/Pattern
White, black, and brown mottled patterns across the body
Patterns vary from individual to individual, making them easy to identify
Face, Ears, and Legs
Elongated face with large, rounded ears
Elongated feet adapted for long-distance running
The fifth toe on the front feet is degenerate, allowing them to run using only four toes
- Behavioral Characteristics
Pack Life
Hunts cooperatively in packs
Highly coordinated behavior within the pack
Hunting
Tracking and capturing medium- to large-sized herbivores over long distances
High hunting success rate, even among canines
Calls/Communication
Communicates with a high-pitched “keek-keek” sound
Uses vocalizations for cooperation and warning within the pack
- Personality and Behavior
Highly Social
They cooperate within their groups, raising their young, and sharing food.
Vigilance and Agility
They are highly wary of predators and humans, and quickly escape.
Play and Communication
They have developed play habits with their young and within their groups, which fosters socialization.
What is the ecology like?
Lycaon hunts and eats antelopes such as kazel and impala. They also catch and eat black-tailed wildebeest. They usually hunt in groups. The success rate of hunting is said to be high, at over 60%. Breeding occurs from April to July, and the gestation period is 60 to 80 days. They reach sexual maturity in one to one and a half years, and have a lifespan of about 11 years before leaving the nest.
- Lifestyle
Diurnal/Crepuscular
Active mainly during the day, evening, and early morning
Live in open grasslands and savannas
Pack Living
Travel in packs and cooperate in hunting and raising their young
Pack sizes are typically around 10-20 individuals, but can exceed 30
- Diet
Obligate carnivores
Main prey: Medium-sized herbivores such as baby zebras, gazelles, impalas, and wildebeest
Hunting Characteristics
Work together as a pack to drive and capture prey, covering long distances
Hunting success rate is higher than that of other canids (approximately 60-70%)
Food Sharing
If a hunt is successful, food is shared based on the pack’s rank and level of cooperation
- Reproduction
Breeding Pattern
Breeding is near-monogamy and occurs within the group.
Gestation Period
Approximately 70 days
Birth
2-12 cubs (average 6) per birth
Baby calves are protected by the group, and they also practice hunting with the group.
- Movement and Range
Nomadic Movement
They often travel 10-30 km per day in search of prey and water.
Territory
Each group has its own territory, and maintains boundaries with other groups through vocalizations and scent.
- Group and Defense
Protects the group from predators (lions, leopards, hyenas)
When danger is detected, the entire group moves quickly.
Cooperative behavior within the group is key to survival.
Are there any natural enemies?
Lycaon has no particular natural enemies. Even against lions, multiple lions may jump at you. Together, we will take action and defeat wild carnivores such as hyenas and cheetahs. In social life, the members of each individual cooperate with each other.
About young African wild dogs
- Lifestyle
Diurnal/Crepuscular
Active mainly during the day, evening, and early morning
Live in open grasslands and savannas
Pack Living
Travel in packs and cooperate in hunting and raising their young
Pack sizes are typically around 10-20 individuals, but can exceed 30
- Diet
Obligate carnivores
Main prey: Medium-sized herbivores such as baby zebras, gazelles, impalas, and wildebeest
Hunting Characteristics
Work together as a pack to drive and capture prey, covering long distances
Hunting success rate is higher than that of other canids (approximately 60-70%)
Food Sharing
If a hunt is successful, food is shared based on the pack’s rank and level of cooperation
- Reproduction
Breeding Pattern
Breeding is near-monogamy and occurs within the group.
Gestation Period
Approximately 70 days
Birth
2-12 cubs (average 6) per birth
Baby calves are protected by the group, and they also practice hunting with the group.
- Movement and Range
Nomadic Movement
They often travel 10-30 km per day in search of prey and water.
Territory
Each group has its own territory, and maintains boundaries with other groups through vocalizations and scent.
- Group and Defense
Protects the group from predators (lions, leopards, hyenas)
When danger is detected, the entire group moves quickly.
Cooperative behavior within the group is key to survival.
Is Lycaon an endangered species?
African wild dogs are designated as an endangered species. They used to be widely distributed in sub-Saharan Africa, excluding deserts and dense forests, but their distribution has narrowed considerably. They are already extinct in most of North and West Africa. Their lives are tougher than you might imagine, and more and more of them are being raised in institutions.
exterminated as a pest
Because African wild dogs attack livestock, farmers have retaliated against them, and many of them have been killed. They are also being exterminated through traffic accidents, shooting, trapping, and poisoning. Their population is also declining significantly in Central and Northeast Africa. They often die of illness and other factors before their young have a chance to grow up.
Can Lycaons be bred?
African wild dogs are not suitable for keeping as pets. They attack livestock, so it is extremely difficult for ordinary people to keep them as pets. It is preferable to see them at zoos. Although this animal has never been heard of in Japan, it is now possible to see them at Yokohama Zoo Zoorasia and Fuji Safari Park. They are very fast, and humans cannot keep up with them.
- Current Status of Captivity
They are often kept in zoos and safari parks around the world.
In Japan, they are exhibited at Tama Zoological Park and Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens.
Captivity of wild individuals is prohibited, and captive individuals are kept for conservation and breeding purposes.
- Difficulties of Captivity
They require ample space for exercise.
They are animals that live cooperatively in groups.
Without sufficient exercise space, stress and health problems can occur.
Social behavior in groups.
Keeping them alone is extremely stressful.
Cooperative behavior within the group is essential for survival and mental well-being.
Dietary management is difficult.
They are obligate carnivores, pursuing and capturing medium-sized herbivores over long distances.
In captivity, they require a supply of meat and a nutritionally balanced diet.
Health Management and Safety Measures
Due to the risk of fighting and aggression among individuals within the group, facility design is important.
Regular veterinary care and infection control measures are required.
- Laws and Regulations
Listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
A permit is required for international trade.
Even within Japan, animals must comply with the Animal Welfare Act and regulations regarding specific animals.
コメント