ETHIOPIAN WOLF Canis Simensis Plate 42 DINGO Canis Lupus Dingo

Copyrighted Material ETHIOPIAN WOLF Canis simensis Plate 42

Simien Jackal, Abyssinian Wolf, Simien Fox occur where prey availability is low. Males rarely disperse, so HB f 84.1–96cm, m 93–101.2cm; T 27–39.6cm; packs contain up to eight related adult males, as well as 1–3 SH 53–62cm; W f 11.2–14.2kg, m 14.2–19.3kg adult females that may or may not be related; some females Rich tawny-rufous with white underparts and bright white remain in their natal pack, while others disperse for markings on the lower face, throat, chest and lower legs. breeding opportunities. Average territory size from 6km2 in Tail has a white base, darkening to a chocolate-brown tip. productive habitat to 13.4km2 in poor habitat. Estimated Hybrids with domestic dogs have a stockier build and densities include 0.1–0.25 wolves/km2 in poor habitat or lighter, duller coat. Despite its confusing array of common unprotected areas, to 1–1.2/km2 in optimum protected names, the species is most closely related to Coyote and habitat. Reproduction and Demography Seasonal. Grey Wolf. Distribution and Habitat Restricted to seven Mating August–November; births October–January. isolated populations at 3000–4500m in Ethiopia. Inhabits Gestation 60–62 days. Litter size 2–6. Reproduction is Pack at den open highland habitats, especially montane grassland, heath largely by the pack’s alpha pair, but the dominant female and shrubland. Avoids agricultural areas, which reach also mates with visiting males from neighbouring packs. All 3500–3800m in parts of its range. Feeding Ecology Feeds pack members provision pups at the den, and subordinate almost exclusively on small diurnal mammals, especially females sometimes assist in suckling (it is unclear if extra- mole rats, rats and Starck’s Hare. Infrequent prey includes nursing females are pseudo-pregnant or absorb/abandon Rock Hyrax, juvenile Grey Duiker, Reedbuck and their own litters). Pups weaned from 10 weeks, and Mountain Nyala, as well as birds including Blue-winged accompany the pack from 6 months. Sexual maturity at Goose goslings, francolins and eggs. Foraging largely 18–24 months. MORTALITY Most mortality is anthropo­ diurnal and solitary, with most kills made by individual genic and natural factors are poorly known; predation has wolves stalking rodents or digging them from burrows. not been observed, but may occur on pups by Spotted Small packs of 2–4 sometimes cooperatively pursue prey, Hyena, Golden Jackal and large eagles. LIFESPAN 12 years in especially hares and young antelopes. Rarely kills sheep the wild. Status and Threats Endangered, with lambs; does not kill cattle calves, and often forages among approximately 500 adults remaining in seven disjunct herds, which may assist hunting by flushing rodents and populations. Extreme pressure on habitat for agriculture providing cover. Appropriates kills from raptors and and livestock is the chief threat, combined with exotic scavenges, including from livestock carcasses. Caches disease from domestic dogs; rabies epizootics reduce surplus food in shallow holes. Social and Spatial populations by up to 75%, e.g. in Bale. Roadkills, Behaviour Forms packs of 2–13 adults that defend small persecution and hybridization with dogs are lesser stable territories from other packs. Pairs or small packs threats. Red List EN. ETHIOPIAN DINGO Canis lupus dingo WOLF

HB f 70.3–101cm, m 750–111cm; T 20–37cm; Territorial, but often shares important resources such as W f 8–17 kg, m 7–22kg waterholes with neighbouring packs. Under persecution Usually tawny-ginger; pale sandy, pure white (not albino) (most of its Australian range), social structure is fractured so and black-and-tan variants occur. ‘Sable’ (Alsatian-like), that packs are smaller and less stable. Individuals associate in brindled and piebald colouration indicates hybridization loose ‘tribes’, sharing a range that is not defended and with dogs. Dingoes arose from Asian wolves in SE Asia some tending to forage alone. In stable packs, breeding is usually 6000–10,000 years ago, probably via domestication by restricted to the alpha pair, and other pack members help humans; they colonized Australia with humans starting raise pups by provisioning and guarding. Size of pack 3500–4000 years ago. Distribution and Habitat Australia territories from 4–55km2 (moist cool forest) and 32–126km2 (the only place where Dingoes live wild), SE Asia and New (Simpson Desert), to over 300km2 in SW Australian desert. Guinea (only associated with humans). Inhabits desert, Reproduction and Demography Breeding generally grassland, woodland savannah, wetland, alpine moorland seasonal, most strongly in arid C Australia. Mating Black and forest. Occurs in rural habitats, but avoids intensive April–June; births June–August (births outside this period form agriculture. Feeding Ecology Very broad diet; 177 prey are attributed to the presence of hybrids). Gestation 61–69 species recorded from Australia, with mammals comprising days. Litter size 1–10, averaging 5. Females first breed at Typical around 75%. At least one macropod (especially Red around 24 months; males sexually mature at 12 months, but form Kangaroo, Euro, and Swamp, Agile and Red-necked breeding is limited by social dynamics. MORTALITY Most Wallabies) features prominently in the diet across its range. mortality is anthropogenic, including from introduced Other important prey includes wombats, brushtail possums, disease (especially distemper) and parasites (especially introduced European Rabbit and Magpie Goose. Other heartworm). Occasionally killed by Water Buffalo, Red birds and reptiles form a small proportion of the diet. Kills Kangaroo and Wedge-tailed Eagle (pups). LIFESPAN 10 years sheep and cattle calves. Foraging mainly nocturno­ in the wild, 13 in captivity. Status and Threats Widespread crepuscular, but diurnal where it is free from persecution. in Australia, but intense persecution in concert with DINGO Forages alone or socially; large prey such as kangaroos is hybridization from domestic dogs threatens the species. Pure usually hunted cooperatively in packs, which increases Dingoes are most common in C and N Australia, hunting success, e.g. from 5.5% (alone) to 19% (packs) rare/possibly extinct in S and NE Australia, and probably Pale when hunting Red Kangaroos. Scavenges, including from extinct in SE and SW areas. Protected in national parks, form livestock carcasses and human refuse. Social and Spatial World Heritage areas and Aboriginal reserves, but legally Behaviour Free from persecution, lives in stable packs of regarded as pests elsewhere. Without intensive conservation 2–12 adults and their pups in enduring home ranges. effort, the pure Dingo is unlikely to persist. Red List VU.

98 CANIDAE