Black-backed Jackal Canis mesomelas

The Black-backed Jackal has two distinct populations (each a subspecies), one in East Africa and one in southern Africa (southern subspecies shown).

Native to open savannah, the Black-backed Jackal, together with the closely-related woodland-dwelling Side-striped Jackal of East and South Africa, is one of the oldest species of wild canine.

They live in monogamous family groups and are territorial.