The African wild dog (Lycaon pictus)
- Deon Furstenburg
- Jul 4
- 2 min read
Lycaon pictus (the African wild dog) occupies the same ecological niche in Africa that the gray wolf fills in North America. With fewer than 5,000 individuals remaining, it is the continent’s second-most endangered predator and the most imperiled south of the Zambezi River.
The African wild dog adults are relatively small for apex carnivores, weighing 25–35 kg compared to a wolf’s 45–80 kg. They are the sole species in their genus, Lycaon, and bear the specific epithet pictus (“painted”) in reference to their mottled tricolor coat. The genus name derives from the Greek lukaios (“wolf”), reflecting their convergent hunting strategy despite a distinct evolutionary lineage.
The African wild dog forms highly cohesive packs of 3–30 animals. Each pack is led by a dominant alpha female whose offspring receive alloparental care from subordinate females—often at the expense of their own pups. When packs grow too large, subordinate females and dispersing young males break away to found new groups, ensuring genetic flow across the landscape.
Unlike many felid predators, African wild dogs hunt by endurance. They can sustain high-speed chases for tens of kilometers, lacerating prey repeatedly until exhaustion causes collapse. This relentless tactic yields over a 90 percent hunting success rate, making them highly effective but also unwelcome predators on both game and livestock farms.
Their home ranges span 200–500 km², fluctuating with prey availability rather than fixed territorial boundaries. Packs are primarily diurnal hunters but may also hunt by moonlight.
During midday heat, they rest in shaded thickets or beneath trees. Remarkably adept swimmers, wild dogs will ford wide rivers, though crocodile predation poses a significant risk.
African wild dogs face severe threats: their tight social structure makes them vulnerable to disease outbreaks—fungal and bacterial epidemics can decimate entire packs.
Habitat fragmentation and human persecution further imperil them, as they are often killed in retaliation for livestock losses.
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