African wild dog Facts
The African wild dog is an endangered wild canine from sub-Saharan Africa and the largest wild canine on the continent, hunting in packs that wear prey down.
- Class
- Mammal
- Scientific name
- Lycaon pictus
- Conservation status
- Endangered (IUCN)
About the african wild dog
Also called the painted dog or Cape hunting dog, this canine is the only surviving member of the genus Lycaon. Its teeth are specialized for a diet of almost nothing but meat, and unlike the Canis group it has no dewclaws. Packs mostly chase hoofed animals on land, setting out at dawn and dusk, though they can be active in daylight too. Instead of ambushing, they use stamina and teamwork to run prey to exhaustion.
Pack life centers on sharing. Like other canids, wild dogs bring up food for their pups, but they also do it for adult pack members, and the young get first turn at a carcass. Lions kill the dogs when they can, and spotted hyenas often steal their meals. Around 6,600 adults remain, scattered across 39 subpopulations.
Did you know?
- The largest African wild dog subpopulation probably has fewer than 250 animals.
- Of the roughly 6,600 adult wild dogs, only about 1,400 are counted as mature individuals.
- The San people and prehistoric Egypt both held the African wild dog in high regard.
Questions about the african wild dog
Where do African wild dogs live?
They are native to sub-Saharan Africa, where they live in 39 separate subpopulations.
Is the African wild dog endangered?
Yes. The IUCN Red List has rated it endangered since 1990, threatened by habitat fragmentation, persecution by people and disease outbreaks.
Sources
- Wikidata Q173651, checked October 8, 2026
- Wikipedia: African wild dog, checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.