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The African golden wolf (Canis anthus),[3] also known as the Egyptian jackal or grey jackal,[4] is a canid native to north and northeastern Africa. The species is the descendant of a genetically admixed canid of 72% grey wolf and 28% Ethiopian wolf ancestry.[5] The species is common in northwest and northeast Africa, occurring from Senegal to Egypt in the east, in a range including Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya in the north to Nigeria, Chad and Tanzania in the south.[6] It is a desert-adapted canid, and is common in plains and steppe areas, including ones lacking abundant water.[7] In the Atlas Mountains, the species has been sighted in elevations as high as 1,800 metres.[8] It is primarily a predator, targeting invertebrates and mammals as large as gazelle fawns, though larger animals are sometimes taken. Other foodstuffs include animal carcasses, human refuse, and fruit. The African golden wolf is a monogamous and territorial animal, whose social structure includes yearling offspring remaining with the family to assist in raising their parents' younger pups.[7]

African golden wolf
Temporal range: Middle Pleistocene – Recent 0.6-0 Ma
Golden wolf small.jpg
Canis anthus bea in Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Canidae
Genus: Canis
C. anthus
Binomial name
Canis anthus
Canis lupaster range.png

It was previously classified as an African variant of the golden jackal, with at least one subspecies (Canis anthus lupaster) having been classified as a grey wolf. In 2015, a series of analyses on the species' mitochondrial DNA and nuclear genome demonstrated that it was in fact distinct from both the golden jackal and the grey wolf, and more closely related to grey wolves and coyotes.[9][10] It is nonetheless still close enough to the golden jackal to produce hybrid offspring, as indicated through genetic tests on jackals in Israel[9] and a 19th-century captive crossbreeding experiment.[11] The IUCN has assessed the African golden wolf's conservation status as Least Concern.[1]

It plays a prominent role in some African cultures; in North African folklore, it is viewed as an untrustworthy animal whose body parts can be used for medicinal or ritualistic purposes,[12][13][14] while it is held in high esteem in Senegal's Serer religion as being the first creature to be created by the god Roog.[15]

Local and indigenous namesEdit

Physical descriptionEdit

Various C. anthus phenotypes, ranging from gracile jackal-like morphs to more robust wolf-like ones.

The African golden wolf is intermediate in size between the African jackals (C. mesomelas and C. adustus) and the small subspecies of grey wolves,[21] with both sexes weighing 7–15 kg (15–33 lb), and standing 40 cm in height.[7] There is however a high degree of size variation geographically, with Western and Northern African specimens being larger than their East African cousins.[21] It has a relatively long snout and ears, while the tail is comparatively short, measuring 20 cm in length. Fur colour varies individually, seasonally and geographically, though the typical colouration is yellowish to silvery grey, with slightly reddish limbs and black speckling on the tail and shoulders. The throat, abdomen and facial markings are usually white, and the eyes are amber coloured. Females bear two to four pairs of teats.[7] Although superficially similar to the Golden jackal (particularly in East Africa), the African golden wolf has a more pointed muzzle and sharper, more robust teeth.[9] The ears are longer in the African golden wolf, and the skull has a more elevated forehead.[22]

Taxonomic historyEdit

Early writingsEdit

Skull of African wolf (left) and golden jackal (right). Note the former's more elevated forehead[22] and narrower muzzle.[9]

Aristotle wrote of wolves living in Egypt, mentioning that they were smaller than the Greek kind. Georg Ebers wrote of the wolf being among the sacred animals of Egypt, describing it as a "smaller variety" of wolf to those of Europe, and noting how the name Lykopolis, the Ancient Egyptian city dedicated to Anubis, means "city of the wolf".[23][24]

The African golden wolf was first recognised as being a separate species from the golden jackal by Frédéric Cuvier in 1820, who described it as being a more elegant animal, with a more melodic voice and a less strong odour. The binomial name he chose for it was derived from the Arcadian Anthus family described by Pliny the Elder in his Natural History, whose members would draw lots to become werewolves.[2] Eduard Rüppell proposed that the animal was the ancestor of Egyptian sighthounds, and named it Wolf's-hund (wolf dog),[25] while Charles Hamilton Smith named it "thoa" or "thous dog".[26] An attempt was also made in 1821 to hybridise the two species in captivity, resulting in the birth of five pups, three of which died before weaning. The two survivors were noted to never play with each other and had completely contrasting temperaments; one inherited the golden jackal's shyness, while the other was affectionate toward its human captors.[11] English biologist St. George Jackson Mivart emphasised the differences between the African wolf and the golden jackal in his writings:

Illustration of golden jackal-African wolf hybrids bred in captivity (1821).

 it is a nice question whether the Common Jackal of North Africa should or should not be regarded as of the same species [as the golden jackal]... Certainly the differences of coloration which exist between these forms is not nearly so great as those which are to be found to occur between the different local varieties of C. lupus. We are nevertheless inclined... to keep the North-African and Indian Jackals distinct... The reasons why we prefer to keep them provisionally distinct is that though the difference between the two forms (African and Indian) is slight as regards coloration, yet it appears to be a very constant one. Out of seventeen skins of the Indian form, we have only found one which is wanting in the main characteristic as to difference of hue. The ears also are relatively shorter than in the North-African form. But there is another character to which we attach greater weight. However much the different races of Wolves differ in size, we have not succeeded in finding any constant distinctive characters in the form of the skull or the proportions of the lobes of any of the teeth. So far as we have been able to observe, such differences do exist between the Indian and North-African Jackals.

— Mivart (1890)[27]
Comparative illustration of C. aureus (top) and C. anthus (bottom).

The canids present in Egypt in particular were noted to be so much more grey wolf-like than populations elsewhere in Africa that

Hemprich and Ehrenberg gave them the binomial name Canis lupaster in 1832. Likewise, Thomas Henry Huxley, upon noting the similarities between the skulls of lupaster and Indian wolves, classed the animal as a subspecies of the grey wolf. However, the animal was subsequently synonymised with the golden jackal by Ernst Schwarz in 1926.

In 1965, the Finnish paleontologist Björn Kurtén wrote:

The taxonomy of the Jackals in the Near East is still a matter of dispute. On the basis of skeletal material, however, it can be stated that the Wolf Jackal is specifically distinct from the much smaller Golden Jackal.[28]

In 1981, zoologist Walter Ferguson argued in favour of lupaster being a subspecies of the grey wolf based on cranial measurements, stating that the classing of the animal as a jackal was based solely on the animal's small size, and predated the discovery of C. l. arabs, which is intermediate in size between C. l. lupus and lupaster.[24]

21st-century discoveriesEdit

Phylogenetic tree of the extant wolf-like canids with timing in millions of years[a]
Caninae 3.5 Ma

Domestic dog  

Holarctic grey wolf  

Late Pleistocene wolf 

Indian plains wolf  

Himalayan wolf/Tibetan wolf  



African golden wolf northwestern Africa 

African golden wolf eastern Africa 

Golden jackal  

Ethiopian wolf  


African wild dog  


Side-striped jackal  

Black-backed jackal  

Blue shading represents the species Canis lupus

Further doubts over its being conspecific with the golden jackal of Eurasia arose in December 2002, when a canid was sighted in Eritrea's Danakil Desert whose appearance did not correspond to that of the golden jackal or the six other recognised species of the area, but strongly resembled that of the grey wolf. The area had previously been largely unexplored because of its harsh climate and embroilment in the Eritrean War of Independence and subsequent Eritrean–Ethiopian War, though local Afar tribesmen knew of the animal, and referred to it as wucharia (wolf).[16]

The animal's wolf-like qualities were confirmed in 2011, when several golden "jackal" populations in Egypt and the Horn of Africa classed as Canis aureus lupaster[21] were found to have mtDNA sequences more closely resembling those found in grey wolves than those of golden jackals.[23] These wolf-like mtDNA sequences were found to occur over a 6,000 km wide area, encompassing Algeria, Mali and Senegal. Furthermore, the sampled African specimens displayed much more nucleotide and haplotype diversity than that present in Indian and Himalayan wolves, thus indicating a larger ancestral population, and an effective extant population of around 80,000 females. Both these studies proposed reclassifying Canis aureus lupaster as a subspecies of the grey wolf.[29]

In 2015, a more thorough comparative study of mitochondrial and nuclear genomes on a larger sample of wolf-like African canids from north, east and west Africa showed that they were in fact all distinct from the golden jackal, with a genetic divergence of around 6.7%,[9][30][31] which is greater than that between grey wolves and coyotes (4%) and that between grey wolves and domestic dogs (0.2%).[32] Furthermore, the study showed that these African wolf-like canids (renamed Canis anthus, or African golden wolves) were more closely related to grey wolves and coyotes than to golden jackals,[9][33] and that C. a. lupaster merely represents a distinct phenotype of African wolf rather than an actual grey wolf. The phylogenetic tree below is based on nuclear sequences:[9]

It was estimated that the African golden wolf diverged from the wolf–coyote clade 1.0–1.7 million years ago, during the Pleistocene, and therefore its superficial similarity to the golden jackal (particularly in East Africa, where African golden wolves are similar in size to golden jackals) would be a case of parallel evolution. Considering its phylogenetic position and the canid fossil record, it is likely that the African golden wolf evolved from larger ancestors that became progressively more jackal-like in size upon populating Africa on account of interspecific competition with both larger and smaller indigenous carnivores. Traces of African golden wolf DNA were identified in golden jackals in Israel, which adjoins Egypt, thus indicating the presence of a hybrid zone.[9] The study's findings were corroborated that same year by Spanish, Mexican and Moroccan scientists analysing the mtDNA of wolves in Morocco, who found that the specimens analysed were distinct from both golden jackals and grey wolves but bore a closer relationship to the latter.[10] Studies on RAD sequences found instances of African golden wolves hybridizing with both feral dogs and Ethiopian wolves.[34]

In 2017, it was proposed by scientists at the Oslo and Helsinki Universities that the binomial name C. anthus was a nomen dubium, on account of the fact that Cuvier's 1820 description of the holotype, a female collected from Senegal, seems to be describing the side-striped jackal rather than the actual African golden wolf, and does not match the appearance of a male specimen described by Cuvier in his later writings. This ambiguity, coupled with the disappearance of the holotype's remains, led to the scientists proposing giving priority to Hemprich and Ehrenberg's name C. lupaster, due to the type specimen having a more detailed and consistent description, and its remains being still examinable at the Museum für Naturkunde.[21] The following year, a major genetic study of Canis species also referred to the African golden wolf as Canis lupaster.[5]

Admixture with other Canis speciesEdit

In 2018, whole genome sequencing was used to compare members of the genus Canis. The study supports the African golden wolf being distinct from the golden jackal, and with the Ethiopian wolf being genetically basal to both. There are two genetically distinct African golden wolf populations that exist in northwestern and eastern Africa. This suggests that Ethiopian wolves – or a close and extinct relative – once had a much larger range within Africa to admix with other canids. There is evidence of gene flow between the eastern population and the Ethiopian wolf, which has led to the eastern population being distinct from the northwestern population. The common ancestor of both African golden wolf populations was a genetically admixed canid of 72% grey wolf and 28% Ethiopian wolf ancestry. There is evidence of gene flow between African golden wolves, golden jackals, and grey wolves. One African golden wolf from the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula showed high admixture with the Middle Eastern grey wolves and dogs, highlighting the role of the land bridge between the African and continents in canid evolution. African golden wolves form a sister clade to Middle Eastern grey wolves based on mitochondrial DNA, but to coyotes and grey wolves based on nuclear DNA.[5]

Relationship to the Himalayan wolfEdit

Between 2011 and 2015, two mDNA studies found that the Himalayan wolf and Indian wolf were closer to the African golden wolf than they were to the Holarctic grey wolf.[23][9] In 2017, a study of mitochondrial DNA, X-chromosome (maternal lineage) markers and Y-chromosome (male lineage) markers found that the Himalayan wolf is genetically basal to the Holarctic grey wolf. The Himalayan wolf shares a maternal lineage with the African golden wolf, and possesses a unique paternal lineage that falls between the grey wolf and the African golden wolf.[35]


Although in the past several attempts have been made to synonymise many of the proposed names, the taxonomic position of West African wolves, in particular, is too confused to come to any precise conclusion, as the collected study materials are few. Prior to 1840, six of the 10 supposed West African subspecies were named or classed almost entirely because of their fur colour.[36]

The species' display of high individual variation, coupled with the scarcity of samples and the lack of physical barriers on the continent preventing gene flow, brings into question the validity of some of the West African forms.[36]


Social and reproductive behavioursEdit

The African golden wolf's social organisation is extremely flexible, varying according to the availability and distribution of food. The basic social unit is a breeding pair, followed by its current offspring, or offspring from previous litters staying as "helpers".[17] Large groups are rare, and have only been recorded to occur in areas with abundant human waste. Family relationships among African golden wolves are comparatively peaceful compared to those of the black-backed jackal; although the sexual and territorial behaviour of grown pups is suppressed by the breeding pair, they are not actively driven off once they attain adulthood. African golden wolves also lie together and groom each other much more frequently than black-backed jackals. In the Serengeti, pairs defend permanent territories encompassing 2–4 km², and will vacate their territories only to drink or when lured by a large carcass.[7] The pair patrols and marks its territory in tandem. Both partners and helpers will react aggressively towards intruders, though the greatest aggression is reserved for intruders of the same sex; pair members do not assist each other in repelling intruders of the opposite sex.[7]

Threat postures in C. a. lupaster (left) and C. a. anthus (right)

The African golden wolf's courtship rituals are remarkably long, during which the breeding pair remains almost constantly together. Prior to mating, the pair patrols and scent marks its territory. Copulation is preceded by the female holding her tail out and angled in such a way that her genitalia are exposed. The two approach each other, whimpering, lifting their tails and bristling their fur, displaying varying intensities of offensive and defensive behaviour. The female sniffs and licks the male's genitals, whilst the male nuzzles the female's fur. They may circle each other and fight briefly. The copulatory tie lasts roughly four minutes. Towards the end of estrus, the pair drifts apart, with the female often approaching the male in a comparatively more submissive manner. In anticipation of the role he will take in raising pups, the male regurgitates or surrenders any food he has to the female. In the Serengeti, pups are born in December–January, and begin eating solid food after a month. Weaning starts at the age of two months, and ends at four months. At this stage, the pups are semi-independent, venturing up to 50 metres from the den, even sleeping in the open. Their playing behaviour becomes increasingly more aggressive, with the pups competing for rank, which is established after six months. The female feeds the pups more frequently than the male or helpers do, though the presence of the latter allows the breeding pair to leave the den and hunt without leaving the litter unprotected.[7]

The African golden wolf's life centres around a home burrow, which usually consists of an abandoned and modified aardvark or warthog earth. The interior structure of this burrow is poorly understood, though it is thought to consist of a single central chamber with 2–3 escape routes. The home burrow can be located in both secluded areas or surprisingly near the dens of other predators.[39]


African golden wolves frequently groom one another, particularly during courtship, during which it can last up to 30 minutes.[citation needed] Nibbling of the face and neck is observed during greeting ceremonies. When fighting, the African golden wolf slams its opponents with its hips, and bites and shakes the shoulder. The species' postures are typically canine, and it has more facial mobility than the black-backed and side-striped jackals, being able to expose its canine teeth like a dog.[7]

The vocabulary of the African golden wolf is similar to that of the domestic dog, with seven sounds having been recorded.[19] The African golden wolf's vocalisations include howls, barks, growls, whines and cackles.[7] Subspecies can be recognised by differences in their howls.[19] One of the most commonly heard sounds is a high, keening wail, of which there are three varieties; a long single toned continuous howl, a wail that rises and falls, and a series of short, staccato howls. These howls are used to repel intruders and attract family members. Howling in chorus is thought to reinforce family bonds, as well as establish territorial status.[7] A comparative analysis of African golden wolf and some grey wolf subspecies' howls demonstrated that the former's howls bear similarities to those of the Indian wolf, being high pitched and of relatively short duration.[40]

Hunting behaviourEdit

A Serengeti wolf (C. a. bea) navigating through a herd of blue wildebeest in the Ngorongoro National Park, Tanzania

The African golden wolf rarely catches hares, due to their speed. Gazelle mothers (often working in groups of two or three) are formidable when defending their young against single wolves, which are much more successful in hunting gazelle fawns when working in pairs. A pair of wolves will methodically search for concealed gazelle fawns within herds, tall grass, bushes and other likely hiding places.[7]

Although it is known to kill animals up to three times its own weight, the African golden wolf targets mammalian prey much less frequently than the black-backed jackal overall.[7] On capturing large prey, the African golden wolf makes no attempt to kill it; instead it rips open the belly and eats the entrails. Small prey is typically killed by shaking, though snakes may be eaten alive from the tail end. The African golden wolf often carries away more food than it can consume, and caches the surplus, which is generally recovered within 24 hours.[39] When foraging for insects, the African golden wolf turns over dung piles to find dung beetles. During the dry seasons, it excavates dung balls to reach the larvae inside. Grasshoppers and flying termites are caught either by pouncing on them while they are on the ground or are caught in mid-air. It is fiercely intolerant of other scavengers, having been known to dominate vultures on kills – one can hold dozens of vultures at bay by threatening, snapping and lunging at them.[7]


Distribution and habitatEdit

Fossil finds dating back to the Pleistocene indicate that the species' range was not always restricted to Africa, with remains having been found in the Levant and Saudi Arabia.[21] In Tanzania, the African golden wolf is limited to a small area of the north between the western slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro and the centre of the Serengeti. In the latter area, it occurs mostly in the short-grass plains, the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater, and the plains between the Olmoti and Empakai Craters, being relatively rare in Serengeti National Park, Loliondo and the Maswa game reserve. The species also inhabits the Lake Natron area and West Kilimanjaro. It is sometimes found in the northern part of Arusha National Park, and as far south as Manyara. In areas where it is common, such as the short-grass plains of Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater, population densities can range between 0.5-1.5 specimens per km2. A population decrease of 60% has been recorded in the southern plains of Serengeti National Park since the early 1970s, though the reasons are unknown.[41]

The African golden wolf inhabits a number of different habitats; in Algeria it lives in Mediterranean, coastal and hilly areas (including hedged farmlands, scrublands, pinewoods and oak forests), while populations in Senegal inhabit tropical, semi-arid climate zones including Sahelian savannahs. Wolf populations in Mali have been documented in arid Sahelian massifs.[29] In Egypt, the African golden wolf inhabits agricultural areas, wastelands, desert margins, rocky areas, and cliffs. At Lake Nasser, it lives close to the lakeshore.[18] In 2012, African golden wolves were photographed in Morocco's Azilal Province at an elevation of 1,800 metres.[8][42] It apparently does well in areas where human density is high and natural prey populations low, as is the case in the Enderta district in northern Ethiopia.[43] This wolf has been reported in the very dry Danakil Depression desert on the coast of Eritrea, in eastern Africa.[44]


Serengeti wolf (C. a. bea) eating an agama

In West Africa, the African golden wolf mostly confines itself to small prey, such as hares, rats, ground squirrels and cane rats. Other prey items include lizards, snakes, and ground-nesting birds, such as francolins and bustards. It also consumes a large amount of insects, including dung beetles, larvae, termites and grasshoppers. It will also kill young gazelles, duikers and warthogs.[39] In East Africa, it consumes invertebrates and fruit, though 60% of its diet consists of rodents, lizards, snakes, birds, hares and Thomson's gazelles.[17] During the wildebeest calving season, African golden wolves will feed almost exclusively on their afterbirth.[19] In the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, less than 20% of its diet comes from scavenging.[7] In Senegal, where both C. a. anthus and C. a. lupaster coexist, some degree of niche segregation is apparent in their choice of prey; the former is reputed to feed primarily on lambs, whereas the latter attacks larger prey, such as sheep, goats and cattle.[29]

Enemies and competitorsEdit

The African golden wolf generally manages to avoid competing with black-backed and side-striped jackals by occupying a different habitat (grassland, as opposed to the closed and open woodlands favoured by the latter two species) and being more active during the daytime.[45] Nevertheless, the African golden wolf has been known to kill the pups of black-backed jackals,[17] but has in turn been observed to be dominated by adults during disputes over carcasses.[19] It often eats alongside African wild dogs, and will stand its ground if the dogs try to harass it.[7] Encounters with Ethiopian wolves are usually agonistic, with Ethiopian wolves dominating African golden wolves if the latter enter their territories, and vice versa. Although African golden wolves are inefficient rodent hunters and thus not in direct competition with Ethiopian wolves, it is likely that heavy human persecution prevents the former from attaining numbers large enough to completely displace the latter.[46] Nevertheless, there is at least one record of an African golden wolf pack adopting a male Ethiopian wolf.[47]

African golden wolves will feed alongside spotted hyenas, though they will be chased if they approach too closely. Spotted hyenas will sometimes follow wolves during the gazelle fawning season, as wolves are effective at tracking and catching young animals. Hyenas do not take to eating wolf flesh readily; four hyenas were reported to take half an hour in eating one. Overall, the two animals typically ignore each other when no food or young is at stake.[48] Wolves will confront a hyena approaching too closely to their dens by taking turns in biting the hyena's hocks until it retreats.[7]

African golden wolves in the Serengeti are known to carry the canine parvovirus, canine herpesvirus, canine coronavirus and canine adenovirus.[17]

In folkloreEdit

Wolf-shaped bronze amulet from Egypt's Ptolemaic Period (711 - 30 BCE).

The wolf was the template of numerous Ancient Egyptian deities, including Anubis, Wepwawet and Duamutef.[49] According to Diodorus Siculus, the Egyptian city of Lykopolis was named in honour of a pack of wolves that repelled an Ethiopian invasion.[50] Arab Egyptian folklore holds that the wolf can cause chickens to faint from fear by simply passing underneath their roosts, and associates its body parts with various forms of folk magic: placing a wolf's tongue in a house is believed to cause the inhabitants to argue, and its meat is thought to be useful in treating insanity and epilepsy. Its heart is believed to protect the bearer from wild animal attacks, while its eye can protect against the evil eye.[12]

Although considered haram in Islamic dietary laws, the wolf is important in Moroccan folk medicine.[13] Edvard Westermarck wrote of several remedies derived from the wolf in Morocco, including the use of its fat as a lotion, the consumption of its meat to treat respiratory ailments, and the burning of its intestines in fumigation rituals meant to increase the fertility of married couples. The wolf's gall bladder was said to have various uses, including curing sexual impotence and serving as a charm for women wishing to divorce their husbands. Westermarck noted, however, that the wolf was also associated with more nefarious qualities: it was said that a child who eats wolf flesh before reaching puberty will be forever cursed with misfortune and that scribes and saintly persons refrain from consuming it even in areas where it is socially acceptable, as doing so would render their charms useless.[14]

The African golden wolf is not common in Neolithic rock art, though it does occasionally appear; a definite portrayal is shown on the Kef Messiouer cave in Algeria's Tébessa Province, where it is shown feeding on a wild boar carcass alongside a lion pride. It plays a role in Berber mythology, particularly that of the Ait Seghrouchen of Morocco, where it plays a similar role in folktales as the red fox does in Medieval European fables, though it is often the victim of the more cunning hedgehog.[51]

The African golden wolf plays a prominent role in the Serer religion's creation myth, where it is viewed as the first living creature created by Roog, the Supreme God and Creator.[15][52] In one aspect, it can be viewed as an Earth-diver sent to Earth by Roog, in another, as a fallen prophet for disobeying the laws of the divine. The wolf was the first intelligent creature on earth, and it is believed that it will remain on earth after human beings have returned to the divine. The Serers believe that, not only does it know in advance who will die, but it traces the tracks in advance of those who will go to funerals. The movements of the wolf are carefully observed, because the animal is viewed as a seer who came from the transcendence and maintains links with it. Although believed to be rejected in the bush by other animals and deprived of its original intelligence, it is still respected because it dared to resist the supreme being who still keeps it alive.[15]


  1. ^ For a full set of supporting references refer to the note (a) in the phylotree at Evolution of the wolf#Wolf-like canids

See alsoEdit


  1. ^ a b Hoffmann, M.; Atickem, A. (2019). "Canis lupaster". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2019-1. International Union for Conservation of Nature.
  2. ^ a b (in French) Cuvier, Frédéric (1824), Histoire naturelle des mammifères, tome 2, A Paris : Chez A. Belin ...
  3. ^ Orrell, T. (20 November 2015). Roskov Y., Abucay L., Orrell T., Nicolson D., Bailly N., Kirk P.M., Bourgoin T., DeWalt R.E., Decock W., De Wever A., Nieukerken E. van, Zarucchi J., Penev L., eds (eds.). "Canis anthus F. Cuvier, 1820 (accepted name)". Catalogue of Life: 2017 Annual Checklist. Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 17 November 2017.CS1 maint: uses editors parameter (link)
  4. ^ (in Italian)Motta, F. (editore), Nel Mondo della Natura: Enciclopedia Motta di Scienze Naturali, Zoologia, Quinto Volume, 1957
  5. ^ a b c Gopalakrishnan, Shyam; Sinding, Mikkel-Holger S.; Ramos-Madrigal, Jazmín; Niemann, Jonas; Samaniego Castruita, Jose A.; Vieira, Filipe G.; Carøe, Christian; Montero, Marc de Manuel; Kuderna, Lukas; Serres, Aitor; González-Basallote, Víctor Manuel; Liu, Yan-Hu; Wang, Guo-Dong; Marques-Bonet, Tomas; Mirarab, Siavash; Fernandes, Carlos; Gaubert, Philippe; Koepfli, Klaus-Peter; Budd, Jane; Rueness, Eli Knispel; Heide-Jørgensen, Mads Peter; Petersen, Bent; Sicheritz-Ponten, Thomas; Bachmann, Lutz; Wiig, Øystein; Hansen, Anders J.; Gilbert, M. Thomas P. (2018). "Interspecific Gene Flow Shaped the Evolution of the Genus Canis". Current Biology. 28 (21): 3441–3449.e5. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2018.08.041. PMC 6224481. PMID 30344120.
  6. ^ Jhala, Y.V. & Moehlman, P.D. (2008). "Canis aureus". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2008: e.T3744A10054631. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T3744A10054631.en. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Estes, Richard (1992). "The behavior guide to African mammals: including hoofed mammals, carnivores, primates". University of California Press. pp. 398–404. ISBN 0-520-08085-8.
  8. ^ a b c d (in French) Rachid Tarik, "Le loup apparaît dans la région d'Azilal"[permanent dead link], Le Matin (April 29, 2013)
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i Koepfli, K.-P.; Pollinger, J.; Godinho, R.; Robinson, J.; Lea, A.; Hendricks, S.; Schweizer, R. M.; Thalmann, O.; Silva, P.; Fan, Z.; Yurchenko, A. A.; Dobrynin, P.; Makunin, A.; Cahill, J. A.; Shapiro, B.; Álvares, F.; Brito, J. C.; Geffen, E.; Leonard, J. A.; Helgen, K. M.; Johnson, W. E.; O'Brien, S. J.; Van Valkenburgh, B.; Wayne, R. K. (2015-08-17). "Genome-wide Evidence Reveals that African and Eurasian Golden Jackals Are Distinct Species". Current Biology. 25 (16): 2158–65. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2015.06.060. PMID 26234211.
  10. ^ a b (in Spanish) Urios, Vicente; Donat-Torres, Maria P.; Ramírez, Carlos; Monroy-Vilchis, Octavio; Hamid Rgribi-Idrissi (2015): El análisis del genoma mitocondrial del cánido estudiado en Marruecos manifiesta que no es ni lobo (Canis lupus) ni chacal euroasiático (Canis aureus). figshare. doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.1524971
  11. ^ a b (in French) Cuvier, Frédéric (1824), Histoire naturelle des mammifères, tome 3, A Paris : Chez A. Belin ...
  12. ^ a b c d Osborn, Dale. J.; Helmy, Ibrahim (1980). "The contemporary land mammals of Egypt (including Sinai)". Field Museum of Natural History, pp. 360-371
  13. ^ a b Bidwell, M. & Bidwell, R. (2005), The Traveller's Companion, Second Edition, Tauris Parke Paperbacks, p. 228, ISBN 1845111079
  14. ^ a b Westermarck, E. (2013), Ritual and Belief in Morocco: Vol. II, Routledge Revivals, ISBN 1317912616
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Further readingEdit

  • Cheryl Lyn Dybas, "A Wolf in Jackal's Clothing", Africa Geographic (July 2012)
  • Cheryl Lyn Dybas, "In the Long Shadow of the Pyramids and Beyond: Glimpse of an African... Wolf?", International Wolf Center (Spring 2015)
  • Hugo van Lawick & Jane Goodall (1971), Innocent Killers, Houghton Mifflin Company Boston

External linksEdit