Ussuri Dhole

Cuon alpinus alpinus

Ussuri Dhole

“ According to the largest dhole population, dhole packs were bigger—roughly 17 animals—where tigers were rarer and smaller—roughly six individuals—where tigers were more common.  ”

– Eostre

Scientific Taxonomy & Character Information

Domain: Eukaryota

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Clade: Synapsida

Class: Mammalia

Order: Carnivora

Family: Canidae

Genus: Cuon

Species: Cuon alpinus

Subspecies: Cuon alpinus alpinus

Descendants: †Canis majori

Named by: Peter Simon Pallas

Year Published: 1811

Size: 

Lifespan: 10 to 16+ years

Activity: Diurnal ☀️

Type: 

Title: 

Pantheon: Terran/Gaian 🇺🇳

Time Period: Pleistocene–Holocene ~ Chibanian–Meghalayan (200,000–0 years BCE)

Alignment: Reactive

Threat Level: ★★★★

Diet: Omnivorous 🥩🌿

Elements: none

Inflicts: none

Weaknesses: Fire 🔥, water 🌊, rock 🪨, air 🌬️, electric ⚡, leaf 🌿, ice ❄️, metal 🔩, dark 🌑, light 💡, arcane ✨, fae 🧚, sound 🎵

Casualties: 

Based On: itself

Conservation Status: Endangered (EN) – IUCN Red List 

The Cape Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus pictus) is one of the species of dog, a subspecies of African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus) found in Africa as a role of San people and Egyptians in ancient and antique times. 

Etymology

Despite being widely used, conservation groups believe that the term "wild dog" has negative connotations that could harm the species' reputation. One organization advocates for the name "painted wolf," while "painted dog" has been found to be the most effective in reversing negative perceptions.

Physical Appearance

The fur of African wild dogs consists entirely of stiff bristle hairs with no underfur. They gradually lose their fur as they age, and older specimens become almost naked. Fur color varies geographically, with northeastern African specimens tending to be predominantly black with small white and yellow patches, while southern African ones are more brightly colored, sporting a mix of brown, black, and white coats. Their muzzle is usually black, gradually shading into brown on the cheeks and forehead. A black line extends up the forehead, turning blackish-brown on the back of the ears.


A few specimens sport a brown teardrop-shaped mark below the eyes. The back of the head and neck are either brown or yellow. A white patch occasionally occurs behind the forelegs, with some specimens having completely white forelegs, chests, and throats. The tail is usually white at the tip, black in the middle, and brown at the base. Some specimens lack the white tip entirely or may have black fur below it. These coat patterns can be asymmetrical, with the left side of the body often having different markings from that of the right.


At 20–25 kg (44–55 lb), the nominate subspecies is likewise the largest. Although there are geographical differences in coat color even within this single subspecies, it is far more colorful than the East African wild dog. Cape specimens are distinguished by the large amount of orange-yellow fur that overlaps the black, the partially yellow backs of the ears, the mostly yellow underparts, and several whitish hairs on the throat mane. In comparison to the Cape type, those from Mozambique are characterized by having less white fur and about equal growth of black and yellow on the upper and underparts of the body.

Abilities

The species is a specialized diurnal hunter of antelopes, which it catches by chasing them to exhaustion. Its natural enemies are lions and spotted hyenas; the former will kill the dogs where possible, while hyenas are frequent kleptoparasites.


The African wild dogs have strong social bonds, stronger than those of sympatric lions and spotted hyenas; thus, solitary living and hunting are extremely rare in the species. It lives in permanent packs consisting of two to 27 adults and yearling pups. The typical pack size in Kruger National Park and the Maasai Mara is four or five adults, while packs in Moremi and Selous Game Reserves contain eight or nine.


However, larger packs have been observed, and temporary aggregations of hundreds of individuals may have gathered in response to the seasonal migration of vast springbok herds in Southern Africa. Males and females have separate dominance hierarchies, with the latter usually being led by the oldest female. Males may be led by the oldest male, but these can be supplanted by younger specimens; thus, some packs may contain elderly male former pack leaders. The dominant pair typically monopolizes breeding.


Ecology

Nonetheless, there have been reports of larger packs, and the periodic migration of massive springbok herds in Southern Africa may have caused transient groups of hundreds of animals to form. There are distinct dominance hierarchies for males and females, with the oldest female often at the top of the latter. Some packs may contain older males who were once pack leaders since males may be commanded by the eldest male, but younger specimens may replace them. Breeding is usually monopolized by the dominant pair.

Behavior

The African wild dogs have strong social bonds, stronger than those of sympatric lions and spotted hyenas; thus, solitary living and hunting are extremely rare in the species. It lives in permanent packs consisting of two to 27 adults and yearling pups. The typical pack size in Kruger National Park and the Maasai Mara is four or five adults, while packs in Moremi and Selous Game Reserves contain eight or nine.

Behavior

There are pack animals; African wild dogs are fast to defend themselves from any animal that poses a threat. It's recommended to stay away from them even though they don't hunt people and usually approach them out of curiosity rather than hostility.

Distribution and Habitat

The African wild dog occurs foremost in Southern and East Africa. It is rare in North Africa and mostly absent in West Africa, with the only potentially viable population occurring in Senegal's Niokolo-Koba National Park. It is occasionally sighted in other parts of Senegal, Guinea and Mali. Its distribution is patchy in East Africa. It inhabits mostly savannas and arid zones, generally avoiding forested areas. This preference is likely linked to its hunting habits, which require open areas that do not obstruct vision or impede pursuit. It travels through scrubland, woodland and mountain areas in pursuit of prey. A forest-dwelling population has been identified in the Harenna Forest, a wet montane forest up to an elevation of 2,400 m (7,900 ft) in the Bale Mountains of Ethiopia. At least one record exists of a pack being sighted on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.


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