The Serengeti National Park is the only place in Africa where three distinct jackal species can be found, although rarely together. The side-striped jackal is more solitary and has a much smaller population than the other two species. The golden jackal is largely found on the open plains; whereas, the black-backed jackal prefers the woodlands.
The [I 008 / jackal] looks like a combination of well recognized animals.
It has the triangular ears, well proportioned body and expressive eyes of a domestic dog, the long narrow muzzle of a fox and the behavior of a wolf. The side-striped jackal is distinguished by a thin, light band on the sides of it reddish-gray coat and a white tip on its tail. Weighing 25 pounds, it is slightly larger than the golden jackal.
The golden, also called the common jackal, weighs about 22 pounds and is 20 inches tall. Its coat is solid reddish-yellow in color. The black-backed jackal has a sliver-streaked black saddle or top coat which extends from the back of the head to the tail. The rest of its coat is a yellowish-rust color. Adults may grow to 18 inches and weigh about 22 pounds.
The jackal is adaptable and opportunistic, being both scavenger and predator. The majority of its food supply comes from [G 07 / carrion]; however, they also eat placentas from [G 45 / ungulate] births and hunt small animals. Newborn Thomson's gazelles are a favorite prey of the jackal. Usually hunting in pairs, one distracts the mother while the other disables the newborn.
Like the wolf, the jackal is territorial by nature. It uses urine markings to delineate a two- to three-square-mile territory. It acts aggressively towards intruders but rarely engages in serious combat in defending its territory. Jackals are unusual in that they are one of the few mammals that mate for life, a behavior also shared by the wolf. The male is responsible for providing food while the female protects the den. The male feeds the female by regurgitating digested food. The female chews a portion of the regurgitated food into smaller pieces for the pups.
Jackal pups leave the den when they are about three and a half months old and by six months begin hunting with their parents. At eight months they are self-sufficient but remain with the group until they are about a year old. Like the wild dog, some of the mature pups stay with their parents and help with the next litter by regurgitating food and guarding the den.
