Even if you’ve heard of a jackal, have you ever actually seen one? A trip to East Africa would give you the chance to see these fascinating mammals! Just as its name suggests, the black-backed jackal is characterized by its black back. They are generally reddish-brown in color with a black saddle. There are two subspecies of black-backed jackals, and the one pictured above is the East African black-backed jackal. Upon first inspection, these mammals appear to be a cross between a wolf and a fox, which actually isn’t too far off. These canines are native to eastern and southern Africa and have inhabited this range for 2-3 million years! 

Although they favor dense vegetation in open areas, they occur across a wide range of habitats. This results in a long list of prey species that categorizes them as omnivores. They are known to consume species ranging from seals, fish, and mussels to spiders, snakes, and gazelle. In East Africa, their prey of choice are young gazelles and impalas, tsessebe, and warthogs. In regards to predation, very few predators prey on adult black-backed jackals aside from leopards and African wild dogs. Pups, on the other hand, are hunted by golden wolves, honey badgers, and hyenas. They also tend to avoid humans and have been known to drive out side-striped jackals if found within the same region. 

These mammals are monogamous and territorial. They are highly vocal creatures and make a series of sounds including yelling, yelping, woofing, whining, growling, and cackling in part to keep others away. With an interesting social structure, older black-backed jackals might aid in raising younger pups. Lucky for this fascinating species, they are considered least concern under the IUCN Red List, and it truly is something special when a mammal can range from the marine intertidal to the African savannah!