Simien jackal, Abyssinian wolf, Simien fox, Ethiopian jackal
The Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis) is a canine native to the Ethiopian Highlands. In southeastern Ethiopia, it is also known as the Horse jackal. Unlike most large canids, which are widespread, generalist feeders, the Ethiopian wolf is a highly specialized feeder of Afroalpine rodents with very specific habitat requirements. It is one of the world's rarest canids, and Africa's most endangered carnivore.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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ScavengerScavengers are animals that consume dead organisms that have died from causes other than predation or have been killed by other predators. While sc...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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CursorialA cursorial organism is one that is adapted specifically to run. An animal can be considered cursorial if it has the ability to run fast (e.g. chee...
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TerritorialA territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima...
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ViviparousAmong animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
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BurrowingA burrow is a hole or tunnel excavated into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct ...
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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Dominance hierarchyA dominance hierarchy (formerly and colloquially called a pecking order) is a type of social hierarchy that arises when members of animal social gr...
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withEthiopian wolves are slender, long-limbed canids. Their coats are reddish, with white marks on their legs, tail, belly, face, and chin. The border between the white and red fur is quite distinct. On the face are white markings, which include, below the eyes, a characteristic white crescent, and on the cheeks a white spot. The chin and the throat are also white. Their tails are marked with an undefined black stripe along the length, tipped with bushy black hairs. The ears are wide but pointed, and the muzzle, gums, and palate are colored black. Females are usually paler in color and smaller overall. The feet have five toes at the front and four on the back feet.
The Ethiopian wolf inhabits a very narrow range and is found in only half a dozen mountain ranges in Ethiopia, including the Bale and Arssi mountains in southeast Ethiopia (the largest population being in the Bale Mountains National Park) Simien mountains, Gojjam, Mt. Guna and northeast Shoa. It lives in afro-alpine heathlands and grasslands which are most abundant along flat or gently sloping areas with poor drainage and deep soils. Prime wolf habitat in the Bale Mountains consists of short Alchemilla herbs and grasses, with low vegetation cover. Other favorable habitats consist of tussock grasslands, high-altitude scrubs, and short grasslands growing in shallow soils.
Although they primarily hunt alone, Ethiopian wolves are social animals, forming packs of usually 6 members, though there may be 3-13. It is diurnal and at night it sleeps in the open, alone, or in groups. The packs are territorial. The wolves gather for greetings and border patrols during dawn, midday, and evening. They forage on their own throughout the day. Packs maintain their territorial boundaries through scent and vocalization. The pack structure is hierarchical, defined clearly by dominant and submissive behavior. Both sexes have a dominance ranking, with shifts occurring occasionally for males but not females. Play-fighting among pups during their first few weeks serves to establish rank for siblings.
Ethiopian wolves are carnivorous animals and they mainly eat the rodents that are plentiful within their range. They hunt and eat hares, common grass rats, and giant mole rats. They also eat goslings, eggs, and young ungulates and sometimes scavenge on carcasses.
Ethiopian wolves are monogamous, which means that one male mates with one female exclusively. Mating takes place between August and November. The pack’s dominant female is the only one that will breed, and she gives birth only once a year. After a gestation period of approximately 60-62 days, she gives birth to 2-6 pups. Pups are born in a den, which their mother digs in open ground under a boulder or in a rocky crevice. The development of pups occurs in three stages. Weeks 1-4 are when the pups are totally dependent on their mother’s milk. Weeks 5-10 is when the pups' diet is supplemented by food regurgitated by all pack members. From week 10 until about the age of 6 months, the pups consume solid food almost solely, provided by the adults of the pack. Pups are ready to breed during their second year of life.
Ethiopian wolves are among the most endangered canine species. They are threatened by the destruction of their habitat by humans for farmland, roads, and livestock grazing. This forces them into closer contact with humans, bringing another threat, as these wolves can catch rabies and also sometimes canine distemper from domestic dogs.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total Ethiopian wolf population size is around 366 individuals; 197 of which are mature individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Endangered (EN), and its numbers today are decreasing.
Ethiopian wolves are key predators in the ecosystems they inhabit, controlling the populations of prey items they consume.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...