African Wild Dog

Sprinkling an extra dose of confusion to an already confused state was the discovery of fossil remains of Canis Africanus (early Pleistocene wolf) which led researchers to conclude that the African Wild Dod was a genuine member of the Canidae. It is now widely accepted and acknowledged that the evolution of the Wild Dog diverged from that of the rest of the Canidae some 3 million years ago.

Although the Wild Dog has retained the overall body pattern of the canid it has developed some unique attributes on par with its divergent evolutionary progression, such as the complete loss of the fifth toe (dewclaw) found in most canids. Another interesting feature particular to the African Wild Dog is its exceptionally large ears and unusually long legs. In spite of its divergent evolutionary path some 3 million years ago, the Wild Dog still possesses the same number of chromosomes as the domestic dog (Canis familiaris) though its myoglobin structure differs by a single amino acid.

African Wild Dog Features

Height 65 – 75 cm

Weight 18 – 28 kg

The Wild Dog displays what is known as a variegated coat which is just a fancy way of saying a multi-patterned coat. In actual fact the scientific name of the African Wild Dog Lycaon pictus literally means “the painted wolf” in obvious reference to its multi-colored multi-patterned coat of black, white and brown. The coat of the Wild Dog is typically sparse being more so in older individuals than younger. In old dogs the coat practically borders on hairlessness, especially around and on the head of such older dogs.

The coat pattern in the African Wild Dog varies considerably from individual to individual within the confines of the typical colors of white, brown and black. The one place where there is little variation is around the faces of the dogs where the color of the muzzle is usually black tapering to brown found across the cheeks and the forehead. Intriguingly enough, the color white never features anywhere on the head of the Wild Dog though it commonly occurs in other parts of the animal’s body such as behind its forelegs. Usually the tail of the wild dog is comprised of all three colors with the tip typically being white but not always so.

As previously noted, the African Wild Dog unlike true canids only has four toes having lost the dewclaw or fifth toe somewhere during its divergent evolution. Reflecting its regular and rather large consumption of bone matter, the Wild Dog has exceptionally large premolars relative to its body mass which in the carnivore world of big cats, dogs and wolves are second only to those of the Hyena in power and strength.

to be continued

Article on African Wild Dog written by Kayye Nynne