🐕
🏷️
Classification
Mammal
🍽️
Diet
Carnivore
⏱️
Lifespan
10–12 years
⚖️
Weight
17–36 kg
Population Trend
📉Decreasing
Description
The African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus) is a mammal indigenous to Botswana. It inhabits savannas, grasslands, and woodland areas with sufficient prey.
Habitat
🌿 savannas🌿 grasslands🌿 and woodland areas with sufficient prey
Extended Data
Taxonomy
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Canidae
Genus
Lycaon
Fun Facts
1
African wild dogs have the highest hunting success rate of any large carnivore — approximately 80% of their hunts are successful
2
Their scientific name Lycaon pictus means 'painted wolf,' referring to each dog's unique coat pattern — no two are alike
3
With only about 6,600 adults remaining in the wild, they are one of Africa's most endangered carnivores
4
Botswana is one of the last strongholds for African wild dogs, with significant populations in the Okavango Delta and Chobe regions
5
They are the most social of all canids, sharing food with sick or injured pack members and regurgitating for pups