Evolutionary Background

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Subphylum: Vertebrata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Carnivora

Family: Canidae

Genus: Lycaon

Species: Lycaon pictus

http://wooferhouse.net/Links/MolecularEvolutionOfTheDogFamily

African Wild Dogs are in the Carnivora order, which originated 40-60 million years ago and includes the dog, cat, hyena, civet, mongoose, seal, weasel, and bear families. About 50-60 million years ago, the Canidae deviated from other families in the Carnivora order. The Canidae family includes the wolf-like canids, red fox-like canids, the South American canids and others, which departed from one another approximately 7-10 million years ago. The African wild dog is considered a wolf-like canid, however it’s genus, Lycaon, is separate from the wolf and jackel genus, Canis. The African wild dog is said to be more social than its close relative, the gray wolf. The gray wolf is also closely related to the domestic dog, jackel, and coyote. The African wild dog and gray wolf’s most common ancestor is the Fennec fox.

http://wooferhouse.net/Links/MolecularEvolutionOfTheDogFamily

There are African wild dogs in both the southern and eastern regions and the classification of these populations is oftentimes debated. Girman et al. (1993) first believed that there was enough evidence to classify the southern and eastern wild dogs into two different subspecies. However, new evidence has been uncovered and Girman and Wayne (1997) now argue that wild dogs in the two regions should not be divided into subspecies. Certain wild dog populations have been found with segments of genotypes that can be found in both southern and eastern wild dogs. This evidence suggests that the ancestors of the animals in the two separate areas have shared genes before. 

The unique lineage of the African wild dog is oftentimes an argument for why there should be more effort in conserving this endangered species. (Stay tuned for a later post on the endangerment and conservation efforts of the African wild dog.)

Girman, D.J., Kat, P.W., Mills, M.G., Ginsberg, J.R., Borner, M., Wislon, V.,

Fanshawe, J.H., Fitzgibbon, C., Lau, L.M., &  Wayne, R.K. (1997). Molecular genetic and morphological analyses of the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus). Journal of Heredity, 84, 45.

            http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7903676

Girman, D.J., & Wayne, R.K. (1997). Genetic perspectives on

wild dog conservation. The IUCN/SSC CAnid Specialist Group, Chapter 2.

http://www.canids.org/PUBLICAT/AWDACTPL/2genetic.htm#Taxonomy

http://academic.reed.edu/biology/professors/srenn/pages/teaching/web_2010/ERGsite/phylogeny.html

http://wooferhouse.net/Links/MolecularEvolutionOfTheDogFamily 

Puppies!

On average the pack size of African wild dogs includes 10 to 20 members. Only the alpha male and female mate, but the entire pack is needed to help care for the vulnerable pups. These wild dogs prepare the dens for their pups before they begin mating in February. The dens are used year after year and are frequently made from warthog or aardvark shelters. Females reproduce for about 8 years total.

The alpha female’s pregnancy lasts about 72 days and she can give birth to up to 19 pups, but more often the litter size is 7-10 pups. The litter size depends on the size of the female. The mother stays with the blind, naked pups constantly and is the only one to nurse them. She is fed regurgitated meat by the rest of the pack. At 3 weeks, the pups’ eyes open and they start eating regurgitated meat. The pups’ fur, which is black and white at birth changes to black, white, and tan.

As they mature, the pups are brought by the pack to the killed prey. They are allowed to eat first until they turn 1, at which time the hierarchy is reorganized. When the female pups have reached adulthood, they leave the pack to find a different one or to create one of their own. The male pups upon reaching adulthood, generally stay with the pack that they were born into. However, if there are more than 3 male pups in a litter, it is possible that they will leave the pack, too. Once the sisters find a new pack, the hierarchy is reorganized again.

The survival rate of African wild pups is only 44 %. The causes of death include disease, vehicles, and lion, hyena, and other wild dog attacks. There are many organizations working to increase the survival rate of African wild dogs, but this will be discussed in a later post on conservation efforts.

Picture from http://www.zooborns.com/.a/6a010535647bf3970b0148c7d35169970c-popup

Other references:

http://www.animalinfo.org/species/carnivor/lycapict.htm#Mortality

http://www.honoluluzoo.org/african_hunting_dog.htm

http://www.kalahari-predator-conservation.com/en/predators/african-wild-dogs

https://www.eriezoo.org/PDFS/Animal%20Fact%20Sheets%20for%20Website/African%20Wild%20Dog.pdf

Hunting Tactics of the African wild dog

The sun beats upon thorns protruding from the branches of spare few acacia trees. The dry morning air of the savanna fills with excited chirps and twitters. The high pitched chatter climaxes in a greeting ceremony. Nostrils flare and tails wag as the African Wild Dogs kiss one another; running shoulder to shoulder before pausing to leap over and dive under each other. A frenzy begins to overcome the entire pack until all the dogs are jumping and play fighting with each other, increasing their energy as they prepare to go on the morning hunt!

The African wild dogs are one of the most successful hunters in all of Africa, catching prey 70 to 90 percent of the time. For a contrast, lions are only marginally successful catching their prey around 30 to 40 percent of the time. The dogs' diet may consist of Thomson's gazelles, impalas, and puku antelope as well as smaller prey such as wildebeest calves, rats and birds.

The dogs' hunt in a relay form, taking turns running after the prey. In this way the lead dog may change several times as the gazelle makes cuts where the following dogs may than move diagonally to close the distance. In addition the dogs have high endurance and are capable of running up to 37 miles per hour for up to 3 miles.

During the hunt the pack communicates by making high-pitched vocalizations or squeaks. Various inflections have specific referents allowing the pack to coordinate their hunt more effectively. In addition they can also signal their pack mates by moving their very large ears to show what direction to go or what to do.

Prey is dispatched in a particularly ravenous way. The dogs' disembowel their prey and tear it apart while it remains alive. Note that this is a highly effective method of killing the prey as pack size has been documented upwards of 100 members. That many mouths, snapping and rending makes quick work of anything unfortunate enough to be weeded from the herd.

Reference: 

http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-wild_dog.html

http://www.predatorconservation.com/wild%20dog.htm

http://www.awf.org/content/wildlife/detail/africanwilddog