Pictures and facts about the Black-backed jackal

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Black-backed jackal

Order : Carnivora
Family : Canidae
Species : Canis mesomelas

The Black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas), also known as the Silver-backed jackal lives in two distinct regions in Africa. One region is South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and the other Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia. The Black-backed jackal lives in scrubland, open woodlands, savanna, and bush. They live in pairs most of their lives and are very territorial. Black-backed jackals can team up together when hunting for antelopes or impala.

A Black-backed jackal weighs on the average about 5 to 10 kgs. They have black hair, from which their name is derived, found from the nape all the way to its tail's area. Their chest and underparts are white. The rest of their fur can go from red-brown to ginger shade. Its head is very much like a dog's, possessing a pronounced muzzle and ears that are high-pointed. The female Black-backed jackal's color is usually less pronounced.

They are mainly nocturnal, but jackals can be active both in nighttime and daytime. If it is living near the borders of human settlement, it only comes out at night. When they go after a prey, its ears are pricked. Their senses of smell and hearing are very well-developed. This particular kind of jackal is cautious when it comes to human beings, and against bigger animals, they are not aggressive, unless threatened.

Their diet can consist, besides impala, fur seal cubs, gazelle, guinea fowl, of insects, reptiles, birds, grass, fruits, snakes and they could even go through trash dumps just to look for something. Black-backed jackals are not endangered, and one major reason is their resourcefulness.

Interesting fact: Because of their speed, the black-backed jackal can snatch a bite or two from under a lion's, hyena's, or leopard's nose.

Picture of the black-backed jackal by Hans Hillewaert, licensed under Attribution ShareAlike 2.5

Facts about the black-backed jackal

htm African Wildlife Foundation: Wildlives The black-backed jackal is easily recognized by the mantle of blackhair on the back that contrasts with the rust-colored body.

The black-backed jackal is more slender and upstanding than the golden and side-striped jackals and has more noticable ears.

Behavior Black-backed jackals are active both diurnally and nocturnally, but near the outskirts of urbanization they are mainly nocturnal (Fox 1971). (Full text)

The habitat of the black-backed jackal is quite variable ranging from small cities and the suburbs of large cities to the Namib desert (Ginsberg 1990). (Full text)

The black-backed jackal is easily recognized by the mantle of black hair on the back that contrasts with the rust-colored body. (Full text)

Conservation status Black-backed jackals are prevalent and not threatened. (Full text)

How to Recognize Black-backed jackals are common to see. (Full text)

to the base of the tail, the Black-Backed Jackal is a nocturnal scavenger, although they also kill for themselves and prey on small mammals and (Full text)

Canis mesomelas, is quick to exploit the opportunities of a lion kill, in this case an eland. (Full text)

Habits: Black-backed jackals are like other small wolves and foxes in their foraging. (Full text)

The Black-backed Jackal, Canis mesomelas, is another of the dog family that pairs for life. (Full text)

Black backed jackals are monogamous and territorial animals. (Full text)

Introduction - Although the black-backed jackal is an efficient hunter it relies heavily on scavenging for its food supply. (Full text)

Black-Backed Jackals are only found on the African continent. (Full text)

The Black-backed jackal is an African canine with a fox-like appearance, tan fur, and a thick stripe of black and silver running down its back. (Full text)

Food: Black-backed jackals are omnivorous and eat bulbs, berries and fruits in season as well as invertebrates, small birds, reptiles and small gazelles. (Full text)

Black-backed jackals are the kind most frequently seen by tourists. (Full text)

Black-backed jackals are active both diurnally and nocturnally. (Full text)

The habitat of the black-backed jackal is quite variable ranging from small cities and the suburbs of large cities to the Namib desert. (Full text)

Conservation Black-backed jackals are protected in areas such as Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park and (Full text)

The black-backed jackal is known for its habit of trailing lions and other carnivores when a kill is made: up to 10 jackals will keep a distance until the big predators have (Full text)