Black-backed jackal: Difference between revisions

Black-backed jackal; Temporal range: Pliocene – recent
	L. m. schmidti in Masai Mara, Kenya
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Canidae
Subfamily:	Caninae
Tribe:	Canini
Subtribe:	Canina
Genus:	Lupulella
Species:	L. mesomelas
Binomial name
	Lupulella mesomelas; (Schreber, 1775)
Subspecies
	2 subspecies, see text
	Black-backed jackal range, with L. m. mesomelas in blue and L. m. schmidti in red
Synonyms
	Canis mesomelas

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The black-backed jackal (Lupulella mesomelas),^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6] also called the silver-backed jackal, is a medium-sized canine native to eastern and southern Africa. These regions are separated by roughly 900 kilometers.

One region includes the southernmost tip of the continent, including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. The other area is along the eastern coastline, including Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea, and Ethiopia.^[7] It is listed by the IUCN as least concern, due to its widespread range and adaptability, although it is still persecuted as a livestock predator and rabies vector.^[1]

Compared to members of the genus Canis, the black-backed jackal is a very ancient species, and has changed little since the Pleistocene,^[8] being the most basal wolf-like canine, alongside the closely related side-striped jackal.^[9] It is a fox-like animal^[10] with a reddish brown to tan coat and a black saddle that extends from the shoulders to the base of the tail.^[11] It is a monogamous animal, whose young may remain with the family to help raise new generations of pups.^[12] The black-backed jackal has a wide array of food sources, feeding on small to medium-sized animals, as well as plant matter and human refuse.^[13]

Etymology

The Latin mesomelas is a compound consisting of meso (middle) and melas (black).^[11]

Local and indigenous names

Indigenous names^[11]^[13]
Linguistic group or area	Indigenous name
ǀXam	g!ui-ten
!Xóõ	!ào-sè
Afrikaans	rooijakkals
Amharic	ቲኩር ጀርባ ቀበሮ (tikur-jerba kebero)
Ateso	ekwee
Herero	ombánji
Karamojong	kwee
kiGogo	nhyewe
kiHehe	nchewe
isiNdebele	ikhanka
kiKinga	ngewe
Tigrinya	ቡኳርያ} (bukharya)^[7]
Kinyaturu	mola
Sagara	kewe
kiSwahili	bweha nyakundu bweha shaba
Taita	muzozo
Nama	girib gireb
Sanye	gedala
Tsonga	impungutshe
Shona	hungubwe gava
Somali	dawaco dacawo
Sotho	phokobje phokojoe
Siswati	mpungutje
Tswana	phokoje
Venda	phungubwe
Zulu	impungushe ikhanka

Taxonomy and evolution

Phylogenetic tree of the wolf-like canids with timing in millions of years^[a]

Caninae 3.5 Ma

3.0

2.5

2.0

0.96

0.6

0.38

	Domestic dog

	Gray wolf

2.6

	Side-striped jackal

	Black-backed jackal

Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber named Canis mesomelas in 1775.^[14] It was later proposed as the genus Lupulella Hilzheimer 1906.^[15]

The black-backed jackal has occupied eastern and southern Africa for at least 2–3 million years, as shown by fossil deposits in Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa. Specimens from fossil sites in Transvaal are almost identical to their modern counterparts, but have slightly different nasal bones.^[11] As no fossils have been found north of Ethiopia, the species likely has always been sub-Saharan in distribution.^[13] The black-backed jackal is relatively unspecialised, and can thrive in a wide variety of habitats, including deserts, as its kidneys are well adapted for water deprivation. It is, however, more adapted to a carnivorous diet than the other jackals, as shown by its well-developed carnassial shear and the longer cutting blade of the premolars.^[10]

Juliet Clutton-Brock classed the black-backed jackal as being closely related to the side-striped jackal, based on cranial and dental characters.^[16] Studies on allozyme divergence within the Canidae indicate that the black-backed jackal and other members of the genus Canis are separated by a considerable degree of genetic distance.^[17] Further studies show a large difference in mitochondrial DNA sequences between black-backed jackals and other sympatric "jackal" species, consistent with divergence 2.3–4.5 million years ago.^[18]

A mitochondrial DNA (mDNA) sequence alignment for the wolf-like canids gave a phylogenetic tree with the side-striped jackal and the black-backed jackal being the most basal members of this clade, which means that this tree is indicating an African origin for the clade.^[9]^[19]

Because of this deep divergence between the black-backed jackal and the rest of the "wolf-like" canids, one author has proposed to change the species' generic name from Canis to Lupulella.^[20]

In 2017, jackal relationships were further explored, with an mDNA study finding that the two black-backed jackal subspecies had diverged from each other 2.5 million years ago to form the south African and east African populations. The study proposes that due to this long separation, which is longer than the separation of the African golden wolf from the wolf lineage, that the two subspecies might warrant separate species status.^[21]

In 2019, a workshop hosted by the IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group recommends that because DNA evidence shows the side-striped jackal (Canis adustus) and black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas) to form a monophyletic lineage that sits outside of the Canis/Cuon/Lycaon clade, that they should be placed in a distinct genus, Lupulella Hilzheimer, 1906 with the names Lupulella adusta and Lupulella mesomelas.^[4]

The phylogenetic tree for the wolf-like canids may give conflicting positions for the black-backed jackal and the side-striped jackal relative to the genus Canis members depending on whether the genetic markers were based on mitochondrial DNA or nuclear DNA (from the cell's nucleus). The explanation proposed is that mitochondrial DNA introgression occurred from an ancient ancestor of Canis into the lineage that led to the black-backed jackal around 6.2–5.2 million years ago.^[22]

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognised by MSW3.^[2] These subspecies are geographically separated by a gap which extends northwards from Zambia to Tanzania:^[11]

Subspecies	Image	Trinomial authority	Description	Range	Synonyms
Cape black-backed jackal L. m. mesomelas nominate subspecies		Schreber, 1775	See Physical description below.	Cape of Good Hope northward to Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and southern Mozambique.	achrotes (Thomas, 1925) arenarum (Thomas, 1926) variegatoides (A. Smith, 1833)
East African black-backed jackal L. m. schmidti		Noack, 1897	Distinguished from the nominate subspecies by its shorter and wider skull, longer and narrower carnassials, and smaller upper and lower molar grinding areas.	Southern Ethiopia, South Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, and northern Tanzania.	elgonae (Heller, 1914) mcmillani (Heller, 1914)

Description

The black-backed jackal is a fox-like canid^[10] with a slender body, long legs, and large ears.^[11] It is similar to the closely related side-striped jackal and more distantly related to the golden jackal, though its skull and dentition are more robust and the incisors much sharper.^[10] It weighs 6–13 kg (13–29 lb),^[10] stands 38–48 cm (15–19 in) at the shoulder, and measures 67.3–81.2 cm (26.5–32.0 in) in body length.^[11]

The base colour is reddish brown to tan, which is particularly pronounced on the flanks and legs. A black saddle intermixed with silvery hair extends from the shoulders to the base of the tail.^[11] A long, black stripe extending along the flanks separates the saddle from the rest of the body, and can be used to differentiate individuals.^[10] The tail is bushy and tipped with black. The lips, throat, chest, and inner surface of the limbs are white.^[11] The winter coat is a much deeper reddish brown.^[10] Albino specimens occasionally occur.^[10] The hair of the face measures 10–15 mm in length, and lengthens to 30–40 mm on the rump. The guard hairs of the back are 60 mm on the shoulder, decreasing to 40 mm at the base of the tail. The hairs of the tail are the longest, measuring 70 mm in length.^[13]

Behaviour

Social and territorial behaviours

Scent marking

The black-backed jackal is a monogamous and territorial animal, whose social organisation greatly resembles that of the golden jackal. However, the assistance of elder offspring in helping raise the pups of their parents has a greater bearing on pup survival rates than in the latter species.^[12] The basic social unit is a monogamous mated pair which defends its territory through laying faeces and urine on range boundaries. Scent marking is usually done in tandem, and the pair aggressively expels intruders. Such encounters are normally prevented, as the pair vocalises to advertise its presence in a given area. It is a highly vocal species, particularly in Southern Africa.^[10] Sounds made by the species include yelling, yelping, woofing, whining, growling, and cackling.^[12] It communicates with group members and advertises its presence by a high-pitched, whining howl, and expresses alarm through an explosive cry followed by shorter, high-pitched yelps. This sound is particularly frantic when mobbing a leopard. In areas where the black-backed jackal is sympatric with the African golden wolf, the species does not howl, instead relying more on yelps. In contrast, black-backed jackals in Southern Africa howl much like golden jackals.^[10] When trapped, it cackles like a fox.^[12]

Reproduction and development

The mating season takes place from late May to August, with a gestation period of 60 days. Pups are born from July to October. Summer births are thought to be timed to coincide with population peaks of vlei rats and four-striped grass mice, while winter births are timed for ungulate calving seasons.^[13] Litters consist of one to nine pups, which are born blind. For the first three weeks of their lives, the pups are kept under constant surveillance by their dam, while the sire and elder offspring provide food.^[12] The pups open their eyes after 8–10 days and emerge from the den at the age of 3 weeks. They are weaned at 8–9 weeks, and can hunt by themselves at the age of 6 months. Sexual maturity is attained at 11 months, though few black-backed jackals reproduce in their first year.^[10] Unlike golden jackals, which have comparatively amicable intrapack relationships, black-backed jackal pups become increasingly quarrelsome as they age, and establish more rigid dominance hierarchies. Dominant pups appropriate food, and become independent at an earlier age.^[12] The grown pups may disperse at one year of age, though some remain in their natal territories to assist their parents in raising the next generation of pups. The average lifespan in the wild is 7 years, though captive specimens can live twice as long.^[10]

Ecology

Habitat

The species generally shows a preference for open areas with little dense vegetation, though it occupies a wide range of habitats, from arid coastal deserts to areas with more than 2000 mm of rainfall. It also occurs in farmlands, savannas, open savanna mosaics, and alpine areas.^[10]

Diet

East Africa black-backed jackal (C. m. schmidti) hunting impala calf, Masai Mara, Kenya

Cape black-backed jackal (C. m. mesomelas) feeding on a brown fur seal pup, Namibia

Cape black-backed jackal (C. m. mesomelas) feeding on a springbok carcass in Etosha National Park, Namibia

Black-backed jackals are omnivores. Their diet includes invertebrates, such as beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, termites, millipedes, spiders, and scorpions. Mammals are eaten such as rodents, hares, and young antelopes up to the size of topi calves. They also feed on carrion, birds, bird eggs, lizards and snakes.^[11] In coastal areas, they feed on beached marine mammals, seals, fish, and mussels.^[13] They also consume occasionally fruits and berries.^[12]

In South Africa, black-backed jackals frequently prey on antelopes (primarily impala and springbok and occasionally duiker, reedbuck, and steenbok), carrion, hares, hoofed livestock, insects, and rodents. They also prey on small carnivores, such as mongooses, polecats, and wildcats.^[11] On the coastline of the Namib Desert, jackals feed primarily on marine birds (mainly Cape and white-breasted cormorants and jackass penguins), marine mammals (including Cape fur seals^[23]), fish, and insects.^[11] In East Africa, during the dry season, they hunt the young of gazelles, impalas, topi, tsessebe, and warthogs.^[12] In Serengeti woodlands, they feed heavily on African grass rats.

A single jackal is capable of killing a healthy adult impala.^[24] Adult dik-diks and Thomson's gazelles seem to be the upper limit of their killing capacity, though they target larger species if those are sick, with one pair having been observed to harass a crippled bull rhinoceros. A pair of black-backed jackals in the Kalahari desert was observed to kill a kori bustard, and on a separate occasion, a black mamba by prolonged harassment of the snake and crushing of the snake's head.^[25] They typically kill tall prey by biting at the legs and loins, and frequently go for the throat.^[10] Like most canids, the black-backed jackal caches surplus food.^[12]

The jackals sniff out the ripe melon fruits of the ǃnaras, a leafless, spined drought resilient plant using their jaws to bite through their tough skins. "The chewing molars of canids make them ideal agents for endozoochorous dispersal of large seeds."^[26] Such disperal is long-distance, the size of their home ranges (7–15.9 km). The jackals urinate on buried fruits and later return to them; it is suggested either to mark ownership or mask their smell from rival jackals. Seeds from their droppings germinate better than those extracted directly from ripe fruit. While other carnivores eat other fruits, this seems to be the first case where they might be a plant's primary dispersers.^[26]

Enemies and competitors

In areas where the black-backed jackal is sympatric with the larger side-striped jackal, the former species aggressively drives out the latter from grassland habitats into woodlands. This is unique among carnivores, as larger species commonly displace smaller ones.^[27] Black-backed jackal pups are vulnerable to African wolf,^[13] honey badger, spotted hyena and brown hyena. Adults have few natural predators, save for leopards and African wild dogs.^[10] Though there are some reports that martial eagles prey on both juveniles and adults.^[28]^[29]

Diseases and parasites

Black-backed jackals can carry diseases such as rabies, canine parvovirus, canine distemper, canine adenovirus, Ehrlichia canis, and African horse sickness. Jackals in Etosha National Park may carry anthrax. Black-backed jackals are major rabies vectors, and have been associated with epidemics, which appear to cycle every 4–8 years. Jackals in Zimbabwe are able to maintain rabies independently of other species. Although oral vaccinations are effective in jackals, the long-term control of rabies continues to be a problem in areas where stray dogs are not given the same immunisation.^[11]

Jackals may also carry trematodes such as Athesmia, cestodes such as Dipylidium caninum, Echinococcus granulosus, Joyeuxialla echinorhyncoides, J. pasqualei, Mesocestoides lineatus, Taenia erythraea, T. hydatigena, T. jackhalsi, T. multiceps, T. pungutchui, and T. serialis. Nematodes carried by black-backed jackals include Ancylostoma braziliense, A. caninum, A. martinaglia, A. somaliense, A. tubaeforme, and Physaloptera praeputialis, and protozoans such as Babesia canis, Ehrlichia canis, Hepatozoon canis, Rickettsia canis, Sarcocytis spp., Toxoplasma gondii, and Trypanosoma congolense. Mites may cause sarcoptic mange. Tick species include Amblyomma hebraeum, A. marmoreum, A. nymphs, A. variegatum, Boophilus decoloratus, Haemaphysalis leachii, H. silacea, H. spinulosa, Hyelomma spp., Ixodes pilosus, I. rubicundus, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, R. evertsi, R. sanguineus, and R. simus. Flea species include Ctenocephalides cornatus, Echidnophaga gallinacea, and Synosternus caffer.^[11]

Relationships with humans

In folklore

Black-backed jackals feature prominently in the folklore of the Khoikhoi, where it is often paired with the lion, whom it frequently outsmarts or betrays with its superior intelligence. One story explains that the black-backed jackal gained its dark saddle when it offered to carry the Sun on its back.^[30] An alternative account comes from the ǃKung people, whose folklore tells that the jackal received the burn on its back as a punishment for its scavenging habits.^[31] According to an ancient Ethiopian folktale, jackals and man first became enemies shortly before the Great Flood, when Noah initially refused to allow jackals into Noah's Ark, thinking they were unworthy of being saved, until being commanded by God to do so.^[32]

Livestock predation

Black-backed jackals occasionally hunt domestic animals, including dogs, cats, pigs, goats, sheep, and poultry, with sheep tending to predominate. They rarely target cattle, though cows giving birth may be attacked. Jackals can be a serious problem for sheep farmers, particularly during the lambing season. Sheep losses to black-backed jackals in a 440 km² study area in KwaZulu-Natal consisted of 0.05% of the sheep population. Of 395 sheep killed in a sheep farming area in KwaZulu-Natal, 13% were killed by jackals. Jackals usually kill sheep with a throat bite, and begin feeding by opening the flank and consuming the flesh and skin of the flank, heart, liver, some ribs, haunch of hind leg, and sometimes the stomach and its contents. In older lambs, the main portions eaten are usually heart and liver. Usually, only one lamb per night is killed in any one place, but sometimes two and occasionally three may be killed.^[11] The oral history of the Khoikhoi indicates they have been a nuisance to pastoralists long before European settlement. South Africa has been using fencing systems to protect sheep from jackals since the 1890s, though such measures have mixed success, as the best fencing is expensive, and jackals can easily infiltrate cheap wire fences.^[33]

Hunting

Due to livestock losses to jackals, many hunting clubs were opened in South Africa in the 1850s. Black-backed jackals have never been successfully eradicated in hunting areas, despite strenuous attempts to do so with dogs, poison, and gas.^[13] Black-backed jackal coursing was first introduced to the Cape Colony in the 1820s by Lord Charles Somerset, who as an avid fox hunter, sought a more effective method of managing jackal populations, as shooting proved ineffective.^[33] Coursing jackals also became a popular pastime in the Boer Republics.^[34] In the western Cape in the early 20th century, dogs bred by crossing foxhounds, lurchers, and borzoi were used.^[33]

Spring traps with metal jaws were also effective, though poisoning by strychnine became more common by the late 19th century. Strychnine poisoning was initially problematic, as the solution had a bitter taste, and could only work if swallowed. Consequently, many jackals learned to regurgitate poisoned baits, thus inciting wildlife managers to use the less detectable crystal strychnine rather than liquid. The poison was usually placed within sheep carcasses or in balls of fat, with great care being taken to avoid leaving any human scent on them. Black-backed jackals were not a popular quarry in the 19th century, and are rarely mentioned in hunter's literature. By the turn of the century, jackals became increasingly popular quarry as they encroached upon human habitations after sheep farming and veld burning diminished their natural food sources. Although poisoning had been effective in the late 19th century, its success rate in eliminating jackals waned in the 20th century, as jackals seemed to be learning to distinguish poisoned foods.^[33]

The Tswana people often made hats and cloaks out of black-backed jackal skins. Between 1914 and 1917, 282,134 jackal pelts (nearly 50,000 a year) were produced in South Africa. Demand for pelts grew during the First World War, and were primarily sold in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. Jackals in their winter fur were in great demand, though animals killed by poison were less valued, as their fur would shed.^[33]

Notes

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

References

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^ ^a ^b Shikesho, S. D.; Midgley, J. J.; Marais, E.; Johnson, S. D. (2024). "Frugivory by carnivores: Black-backed jackals are key dispersers of seeds of the scented !nara melon in the Namib Desert". Journal of Zoology. 322 (4): 309–317. doi:10.1111/jzo.13153. ISSN 0952-8369.
^ Loveridge, A. J. & Macdonald, D. W. (2002). "Habitat ecology of two sympatric species of jackals in Zimbabwe". Journal of Mammalogy. 83 (2): 599–607. doi:10.1644/1545-1542(2002)083<0599:heotss>2.0.co;2. JSTOR 1383588.
^ Boshoff, A.F.; Palmer, N.G. & Avery, G. (1990). "Regional variation in the diet of martial eagles in the Cape Province, South Africa". South African Journal of Wildlife Research. 20: 57–68.
^ Steyn, P. (1983). Birds of prey of southern Africa: Their identification and life histories. Croom Helm, Beckenham (UK).
^ Bleek, W. H. I. (1864). "Sun and Moon Fables". Reynard the fox in South Africa: or, Hottentot fables and tales. Trübner and Co. pp. 67–68.
^ Biesele, M. (1972). "The black-backed jackal and the brown hyena : a !Kung Bushman folktale". Botswana Notes and Records. 4: 133–134.
^ Motta, F. (1957). Nel Mondo della Natura: Enciclopedia Motta di Scienze Naturali, Zoologia (in Italian). Vol. V.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Beinart, W. (2003), The rise of conservation in South Africa: settlers, livestock, and the environment 1770–1950, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-926151-2
^ Cornish, C. J. et al. (1902), (The living animals of the world; a popular natural history with one thousand illustrations Volume 1: Mammals, New York, Dodd, Mead and Company, pp. 92

External links

Media related to Black-Backed Jackals (Canis mesomelas) at Wikimedia Commons

[mtdna_seq_desc-14] For a full set of supporting references refer to the note (a) in the phylotree at Evolution of the wolf#Wolf-like canids

[iucn-1] Hoffmann, M. (2014). "Canis mesomelas". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T3755A46122476. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T3755A46122476.en. Retrieved 14 March 2022.

[Wozencraft2005-2] Wozencraft, C. W. (2005). "Order Carnivora". In Wilson, D. E.; Reader, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Vol. 1 (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 577. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0.

[MDD-3] "Mammal Diversity Database". American Society of Mammalogists. Retrieved 28 December 2020.

[Alvares2019-4] Alvares, Francisco; Bogdanowicz, Wieslaw; Campbell, Liz A.D.; Godinho, Rachel; Hatlauf, Jennifer; Jhala, Yadvendradev V.; Kitchener, Andrew C.; Koepfli, Klaus-Peter; Krofel, Miha; Moehlman, Patricia D.; Senn, Helen; Sillero-Zubiri, Claudio; Viranta, Suvi; Werhahn, Geraldine (2019). "Old World Canis spp. with taxonomic ambiguity: Workshop conclusions and recommendations. CIBIO. Vairão, Portugal, 28th – 30th May 2019" (PDF). IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group. Retrieved 6 March 2020.

[Perri2021-5] Perri, Angela R.; Mitchell, Kieren J.; Mouton, Alice; Álvarez-Carretero, Sandra; Hulme-Beaman, Ardern; Haile, James; Jamieson, Alexandra; Meachen, Julie; Lin, Audrey T.; Schubert, Blaine W.; Ameen, Carly; Antipina, Ekaterina E.; Bover, Pere; Brace, Selina; Carmagnini, Alberto; Carøe, Christian; Samaniego Castruita, Jose A.; Chatters, James C.; Dobney, Keith; Dos Reis, Mario; Evin, Allowen; Gaubert, Philippe; Gopalakrishnan, Shyam; Gower, Graham; Heiniger, Holly; Helgen, Kristofer M.; Kapp, Josh; Kosintsev, Pavel A.; Linderholm, Anna; Ozga, Andrew T.; Presslee, Samantha; Salis, Alexander T.; Saremi, Nedda F.; Shew, Colin; Skerry, Katherine; Taranenko, Dmitry E.; Thompson, Mary; Sablin, Mikhail V.; Kuzmin, Yaroslav V.; Collins, Matthew J.; Sinding, Mikkel-Holger S.; Gilbert, M. Thomas P.; Stone, Anne C.; Shapiro, Beth; Van Valkenburgh, Blaire; Wayne, Robert K.; Larson, Greger; Cooper, Alan; Frantz, Laurent A. F. (2021). "Dire wolves were the last of an ancient New World canid lineage". Nature. 591 (7848): 87–91. Bibcode:2021Natur.591...87P. doi:10.1038/s41586-020-03082-x. PMID 33442059. S2CID 231604957. This finding is consistent with previously proposed designations of the genera Lupulella for the African jackals

[Castello2018-6] Castelló, José R. (2018). "Ch2-Wolf-like Canids". Canids of the World: Wolves, Wild Dogs, Foxes, Jackals, Coyotes, and Their Relatives (Princeton Field Guides). Princeton University Press. pp. 155–159. ISBN 978-0691176857.

[Aerts2019-7] Aerts, Raf (2019). Forest and woodland vegetation in the highlands of Dogu'a Tembien. In: Nyssen J., Jacob, M., Frankl, A. (Eds.). Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains – The Dogu'a Tembien District. SpringerNature. ISBN 978-3-030-04954-6. Retrieved 18 June 2019.

[kingdon1977-8] Kingdon, J. (1977), East African Mammals: An Atlas of Evolution in Africa, Volume 3, Part A: Carnivores, University of Chicago Press, p. 31

[lindblad2005-9] Lindblad-Toh, K.; Wade, C. M.; Mikkelsen, T. S.; Karlsson, E. K.; Jaffe, D. B.; Kamal, M.; Clamp, M.; Chang, J. L.; Kulbokas, E. J.; Zody, M. C.; Mauceli, E.; Xie, X.; Breen, M.; Wayne, R. K.; Ostrander, E. A.; Ponting, C. P.; Galibert, F.; Smith, D. R.; Dejong, P. J.; Kirkness, E.; Alvarez, P.; Biagi, T.; Brockman, W.; Butler, J.; Chin, C. W.; Cook, A.; Cuff, J.; Daly, M. J.; Decaprio, D.; et al. (2005). "Genome sequence, comparative analysis and haplotype structure of the domestic dog". Nature. 438 (7069): 803–819. Bibcode:2005Natur.438..803L. doi:10.1038/nature04338. PMID 16341006.

[kingdon2013-10] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o Kingdon, J. & Hoffman, M. (2013), Mammals of Africa Volume V, Bloomsbury : London, pp. 39–45, ISBN 1408189968

[walton2003-11] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o Walton, L. R. & Joly, D. O. (2003). "Canis mesomelas" (PDF). Mammalian Species (715): 1–9. doi:10.1644/715. S2CID 198128530.

[estes1992-12] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Estes, R. (1992). The behavior guide to African mammals: including hoofed mammals, carnivores, primates. University of California Press. pp. 404–408. ISBN 0-520-08085-8.

[loveridge2004.1-13] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Loveridge, A.J. & Nel, J.A.J. (2004). "Black-backed jackal Canis mesomelas". In Sillero-Zubiri, C., Hoffman, M. & MacDonald, D. W., ed., Canids: Foxes, Wolves, Jackals and Dogs – 2004 Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan, pp. 161–166. IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group, ISBN 2-8317-0786-2

[15] von Schreber, Die Säugethiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Beschreibungen 2 (14); Verlag Wolfgang Walther; 1775 ["The Mammals"]

[16] Hilzheimer, M. (1906). "Die geographische Verbreitung der Afrikanischen Grauschakale". Zoologischer Beobachter. 47: 363–373.

[cluttonbrock1976-17] Clutton-Brock, J.; Corbet, G.G.; Hills, M. (1976). "A review of the family Canidae, with a classification by numerical methods". Bull. Br. Mus. (Nat. Hist.). 29: 148. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2024.

[wayne1987-18] Wayne, R. K.; O'Brien, S. J. (1987). "Allozyme Divergence Within the Canidae". Systematic Zoology. 36 (4): 339. doi:10.2307/2413399. JSTOR 2413399.

[wayne1989-19] Wayne, R. K.; Van Valkenburgh, B; Kat, P. W.; Fuller, T. K.; Johnson, W. E.; O'Brien, S. J. (1989). "Genetic and morphological divergence among sympatric canids". The Journal of Heredity. 80 (6): 447–54. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.jhered.a110896. PMID 2559120.

[20] Juliane Kaminski & Sarah Marshall-Pescini (2014). "Chapter 1 – The Social Dog:History and Evolution". The Social Dog:Behavior and Cognition. Elsevier. p. 4. ISBN 9780124079311.

[21] Dinets, V (2015). "The Canis tangle: a systematics overview and taxonomic recommendations". Vavilovskii Zhurnal Genetiki I Selektsii – Vavilov Journal of Genetics and Breeding. 19 (3): 286–291. doi:10.18699/vj15.036.

[22] Atickem, Anagaw; Stenseth, Nils Chr; Drouilly, Marine; Bock, Steffen; Roos, Christian; Zinner, Dietmar (2018). "Deep divergence among mitochondrial lineages in African jackals". Zoologica Scripta. 47: 1–8. doi:10.1111/zsc.12257. S2CID 90152896.

[Hassanin2021-23] Hassanin, Alexandre; Veron, Géraldine; Ropiquet, Anne; Jansen Van Vuuren, Bettine; Lécu, Alexis; Goodman, Steven M.; Haider, Jibran; Nguyen, Trung Thanh (2021). "Evolutionary history of Carnivora (Mammalia, Laurasiatheria) inferred from mitochondrial genomes". PLOS ONE. 16 (2): e0240770. Bibcode:2021PLoSO..1640770H. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0240770. PMC 7886153. PMID 33591975.

[24] "The Cape Cross Seal Reserve in Namibia, October 2017". Independent Travellers. independent-travellers.com. Retrieved 27 January 2018.

[25] Kamler, J. F.; Foght, J. L.; Collins, K. (2009). "Single black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas) kills adult impala (Aepyceros melampus)". African Journal of Ecology. 48 (3): 847–848. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2028.2009.01173.x.

[26] Owens, M. & Owens, D. (1984), Cry of the Kalahari, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, pp. 54–5, 62–3

[Shikesho_Midgley_Marais_Johnson_2024_p.-27] Shikesho, S. D.; Midgley, J. J.; Marais, E.; Johnson, S. D. (2024). "Frugivory by carnivores: Black-backed jackals are key dispersers of seeds of the scented !nara melon in the Namib Desert". Journal of Zoology. 322 (4): 309–317. doi:10.1111/jzo.13153. ISSN 0952-8369.

[28] Loveridge, A. J. & Macdonald, D. W. (2002). "Habitat ecology of two sympatric species of jackals in Zimbabwe". Journal of Mammalogy. 83 (2): 599–607. doi:10.1644/1545-1542(2002)083<0599:heotss>2.0.co;2. JSTOR 1383588.

[29] Boshoff, A.F.; Palmer, N.G. & Avery, G. (1990). "Regional variation in the diet of martial eagles in the Cape Province, South Africa". South African Journal of Wildlife Research. 20: 57–68.

[30] Steyn, P. (1983). Birds of prey of southern Africa: Their identification and life histories. Croom Helm, Beckenham (UK).

[31] Bleek, W. H. I. (1864). "Sun and Moon Fables". Reynard the fox in South Africa: or, Hottentot fables and tales. Trübner and Co. pp. 67–68.

[32] Biesele, M. (1972). "The black-backed jackal and the brown hyena : a !Kung Bushman folktale". Botswana Notes and Records. 4: 133–134.

[33] Motta, F. (1957). Nel Mondo della Natura: Enciclopedia Motta di Scienze Naturali, Zoologia (in Italian). Vol. V.

[beinart2003-34] Beinart, W. (2003), The rise of conservation in South Africa: settlers, livestock, and the environment 1770–1950, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-926151-2

[living-35] Cornish, C. J. et al. (1902), (The living animals of the world; a popular natural history with one thousand illustrations Volume 1: Mammals, New York, Dodd, Mead and Company, pp. 92

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@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 }}
-The '''black-backed jackal''' ('''''Lupulella mesomelas'''),''<ref name=MDD/><ref name=Alvares2019/><ref name=Perri2021/><ref name=Castello2018/> also called the '''silver-backed jackal''', is a medium-sized [[Caninae|canine]] native to [[East Africa|eastern]] and [[southern Africa]]. These regions are separated by roughly 900&nbsp;kilometers.
+The '''black-backed jackal''' ('''''Lupulella mesomelas'''''),<ref name=MDD/><ref name=Alvares2019/><ref name=Perri2021/><ref name=Castello2018/> also called the '''silver-backed jackal''', is a medium-sized [[Caninae|canine]] native to [[East Africa|eastern]] and [[southern Africa]]. These regions are separated by roughly 900&nbsp;kilometers.
 One region includes the southernmost tip of the continent, including [[South Africa]], [[Namibia]], [[Botswana]], and [[Zimbabwe]]. The other area is along the eastern coastline, including [[Kenya]], [[Somalia]], [[Djibouti]], [[Eritrea]], and [[Ethiopia]].<ref name= "Aerts2019">{{cite book |last1=Aerts |first1=Raf |title=Forest and woodland vegetation in the highlands of Dogu'a Tembien. In: Nyssen J., Jacob, M., Frankl, A. (Eds.). Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains – The Dogu'a Tembien District |date=2019 |publisher=SpringerNature |isbn=978-3-030-04954-6 |url=https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546 |access-date=18 June 2019}}</ref> It is listed by the [[IUCN]] as [[least concern]], due to its widespread range and adaptability, although it is still persecuted as a livestock [[predator]] and [[rabies]] [[Vector (epidemiology)|vector]].<ref name=iucn/>
-Compared to members of the [[genus]] ''[[Canis]]'', the black-backed jackal is a very ancient species, and has changed little since the [[Pleistocene]],<ref name="kingdon1977">Kingdon, J. (1977), ''East African Mammals: An Atlas of Evolution in Africa'', Volume 3, Part A: Carnivores, University of Chicago Press, p. 31</ref> being the most [[Basal (phylogenetics)|basal]] [[wolf]]-like canine, alongside the closely related [[side-striped jackal]].<ref name=lindblad2005/> It is a [[Vulpes|fox]]-like animal<ref name="kingdon2013">Kingdon, J. & Hoffman, M. (2013), ''Mammals of Africa'' Volume V, Bloomsbury : London, pp. 39–45, {{ISBN|1408189968}}</ref> with a reddish brown to tan coat and a black saddle that extends from the shoulders to the base of the tail.<ref name="walton2003">{{cite journal|author=Walton, L. R. & Joly, D. O. |year=2003|url=https://academic.oup.com/mspecies/article-pdf/doi/10.1644/0.715.1/8071641/715-1.pdf |title=''Canis mesomelas''|journal=Mammalian Species|issue= 715|pages= 1–9|doi=10.1644/715|s2cid=198128530}}</ref> It is a [[Monogamy|monogamous]] animal, whose young may remain with the family to help raise new generations of pups.<ref name="estes1992">Estes, R. (1992). ''The behavior guide to African mammals: including hoofed mammals, carnivores, primates''. University of California Press. pp. 404–408. {{ISBN|0-520-08085-8}}.</ref> The black-backed jackal has a wide array of food sources, feeding on small to medium-sized animals, as well as plant matter and human refuse.<ref name="loveridge2004.1">Loveridge, A.J. & Nel, J.A.J. (2004). "Black-backed jackal ''Canis mesomelas''". In Sillero-Zubiri, C., Hoffman, M. & MacDonald, D. W., ed., ''Canids: Foxes, Wolves, Jackals and Dogs – 2004 Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan'', pp. 161–166. IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group, {{ISBN|2-8317-0786-2}}</ref>
+Compared to members of the [[genus]] ''[[Canis]]'', the black-backed jackal is a very ancient species, and has changed little since the [[Pleistocene]],<ref name="kingdon1977">Kingdon, J. (1977), ''East African Mammals: An Atlas of Evolution in Africa'', Volume 3, Part A: Carnivores, University of Chicago Press, p. [https://archive.org/details/eastafricanmamma003Aking/page/31 31]</ref> being the most [[Basal (phylogenetics)|basal]] [[wolf]]-like canine, alongside the closely related [[side-striped jackal]].<ref name=lindblad2005/> It is a [[Vulpes|fox]]-like animal<ref name="kingdon2013">Kingdon, J. & Hoffman, M. (2013), ''Mammals of Africa'' Volume V, Bloomsbury : London, pp. 39–45, {{ISBN|1408189968}}</ref> with a reddish brown to tan coat and a black saddle that extends from the shoulders to the base of the tail.<ref name="walton2003">{{Cite journal |last1=Walton |first1=L. R. |last2=Joly |first2=D. O. |name-list-style=amp |year=2003 |title=''Canis mesomelas'' |url=https://academic.oup.com/mspecies/article-pdf/doi/10.1644/0.715.1/8071641/715-1.pdf |journal=Mammalian Species |issue=715 |pages=1–9 |doi=10.1644/715 |s2cid=198128530}}</ref> It is a [[Monogamy in animals|monogamous]] animal, whose young may remain with the family to help raise new generations of pups.<ref name="estes1992">Estes, R. (1992). ''The behavior guide to African mammals: including hoofed mammals, carnivores, primates''. University of California Press. pp. 404–408. {{ISBN|0-520-08085-8}}.</ref> The black-backed jackal has a wide array of food sources, feeding on small to medium-sized animals, as well as plant matter and human refuse.<ref name="loveridge2004.1">Loveridge, A.J. & Nel, J.A.J. (2004). "Black-backed jackal ''Canis mesomelas''". In Sillero-Zubiri, C., Hoffman, M. & MacDonald, D. W., ed., ''[https://www.carnivoreconservation.org/files/actionplans/canids.pdf Canids: Foxes, Wolves, Jackals and Dogs – 2004 Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan]'', pp. 161–166. IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group, {{ISBN|2-8317-0786-2}}</ref>
 ==Etymology==
@@ Line 65: / Line 65: @@
 | <small>[[Kinga language|kiKinga]]</small> || <small>''{{lang|zga|ngewe}}''</small>
 |-
-| <small>[[Tigrinya]]</small> || <small>{{lang|ti|ቡኳርያ}}} (''bukharya'')</small><ref name= "Aerts2019"/>
+| <small>[[Tigrinya language|Tigrinya]]</small> || <small>{{lang|ti|ቡኳርያ}}} (''bukharya'')</small><ref name= "Aerts2019"/>
 |-
 | <small>[[Turu language|Kinyaturu]]</small> || <small>''{{lang|rim|mola}}''</small>
@@ Line 75: / Line 75: @@
 | <small>[[Taita language|Taita]]</small> || <small>''{{lang|dav|muzozo}}''</small>
 |-
-| <small>[[Khoekhoe language|Nama]]</small> || <small>''{{lang|naq|girib}}''<br>''{{lang|naq|gireb}}''</small>
+| <small>[[Khoekhoe language|Nama]]</small> || <small>''{{lang|naq|girib}}''<br />''{{lang|naq|gireb}}''</small>
 |-
 |<small>[[Aweer language|Sanye]]</small> || <small>''{{lang|bob|gedala}}''</small>
@@ Line 83: / Line 83: @@
 | <small>[[Shona language|Shona]]</small> || <small>''{{lang|sn|hungubwe}}''<br/>''gava''</small>
 |-
-| <small>[[Sotho language|Sotho]]</small> || <small>''{{lang|st|phokobje}}''<br>''{{lang|st|phokojoe}}''</small>
+| <small>[[Somali language|Somali]]</small> || <small>''{{lang|sn|dawaco}}''<br/>''dacawo''</small>
+|-
+| <small>[[Sotho language|Sotho]]</small> || <small>''{{lang|st|phokobje}}''<br />''{{lang|st|phokojoe}}''</small>
 |-
 | <small>[[Swazi language|Siswati]]</small> || <small>''{{lang|ss|mpungutje}}''</small>
@@ Line 115: / Line 117: @@
          |1={{clade
           |1={{clade
-           |1=[[Dog|Domestic dog]] [[File:Tibetan mastiff (white background).jpg|50 px]]
+           |1=[[Dog|Domestic dog]] <span style="{{MirrorH}}">[[File:202104 Dog.svg|50 px]]</span>
            |2=[[Wolf|Gray wolf]] [[File:Dogs, jackals, wolves, and foxes (Plate I).jpg|50 px]]
 }}
@@ Line 134: / Line 136: @@
    |1={{clade
     |1=[[Side-striped jackal]] [[File:Dogs, jackals, wolves, and foxes (Plate XIII).jpg|50 px]]
-    |2=Black-backed jackal [[File:Dogs, jackals, wolves, and foxes (Plate XII).jpg|50 px]]
+    |2='''Black-backed jackal''' [[File:Dogs, jackals, wolves, and foxes (Plate XII).jpg|50 px]]
 }}
     |label1=2.6
@@ Line 142: / Line 144: @@
 }}
-[[Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber]] named ''Canis mesomelas'' in 1775.<ref>von Schreber, Die Säugethiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Beschreibungen 2 (14); Verlag Wolfgang Walther; 1775 ["The Mammals"]</ref> It was later proposed as the genus ''Lupulella'' Hilzheimer 1906.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Hilzheimer, M. |year=1906|title= Die geographische Verbreitung der Afrikanischen Grauschakale|journal= Zoologischer Beobachter|volume= 47|pages=363–373}}</ref>
+[[Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber]] named ''Canis mesomelas'' in 1775.<ref>von Schreber, Die Säugethiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Beschreibungen 2 (14); Verlag Wolfgang Walther; 1775 ["The Mammals"]</ref> It was later proposed as the genus ''Lupulella'' Hilzheimer 1906.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hilzheimer |first=M. |year=1906 |title=Die geographische Verbreitung der Afrikanischen Grauschakale |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/57592649 |journal=Zoologischer Beobachter |volume=47 |pages=363–373}}</ref>
-The black-backed jackal has occupied eastern and southern Africa for at least 2–3 million years, as shown by fossil deposits in Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa. Specimens from fossil sites in Transvaal are almost identical to their modern counterparts, but have slightly different nasal bones.<ref name="walton2003"/> As no fossils have been found north of Ethiopia, the species likely has always been [[Sub-Saharan Africa|sub-Saharan]] in distribution.<ref name="loveridge2004.1"/> The black-backed jackal is relatively [[Generalist and specialist species|unspecialised]], and can thrive in a wide variety of habitats, including deserts, as its [[kidney]]s are well adapted for water deprivation. It is, however, more adapted to a carnivorous diet than the other jackals, as shown by its well-developed [[carnassial]] shear and the longer cutting blade of the [[premolar]]s.<ref name="kingdon2013"/>
+The black-backed jackal has occupied eastern and southern Africa for at least 2–3&nbsp;million years, as shown by fossil deposits in Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa. Specimens from fossil sites in Transvaal are almost identical to their modern counterparts, but have slightly different nasal bones.<ref name="walton2003"/> As no fossils have been found north of Ethiopia, the species likely has always been [[Sub-Saharan Africa|sub-Saharan]] in distribution.<ref name="loveridge2004.1"/> The black-backed jackal is relatively [[Generalist and specialist species|unspecialised]], and can thrive in a wide variety of habitats, including deserts, as its [[kidney]]s are well adapted for water deprivation. It is, however, more adapted to a carnivorous diet than the other jackals, as shown by its well-developed [[carnassial]] shear and the longer cutting blade of the [[premolar]]s.<ref name="kingdon2013"/>
-[[Juliet Clutton-Brock]] classed the black-backed jackal as being closely related to the [[side-striped jackal]], based on cranial and dental characters.<ref name="cluttonbrock1976">{{cite journal|author1=Clutton-Brock, J.|author2=Corbet, G.G.|author3=Hills, M.|year=1976|url=http://biostor.org/reference/65860|title=A review of the family Canidae, with a classification by numerical methods|journal=Bull. Br. Mus. (Nat. Hist.)|volume=29|pages=148|access-date=24 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217052727/http://biostor.org/reference/65860|archive-date=17 December 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Studies on [[allozyme]] divergence within the Canidae indicate that the black-backed jackal and other members of the genus ''Canis'' are separated by a considerable degree of [[genetic distance]].<ref name="wayne1987">{{Cite journal | doi = 10.2307/2413399| jstor = 2413399| title = Allozyme Divergence Within the Canidae| journal = Systematic Zoology| volume = 36| issue = 4| pages = 339| year = 1987| last1 = Wayne | first1 = R. K. | last2 = O'Brien | first2 = S. J. | url = https://zenodo.org/record/1235117}}</ref> Further studies show a large difference in [[mitochondrial DNA]] sequences between black-backed jackals and other sympatric "jackal" species, consistent with divergence 2.3–4.5 million years ago.<ref name="wayne1989">{{Cite journal
+[[Juliet Clutton-Brock]] classed the black-backed jackal as being closely related to the [[side-striped jackal]], based on cranial and dental characters.<ref name="cluttonbrock1976">{{Cite journal |last1=Clutton-Brock |first1=J. |last2=Corbet |first2=G.G. |last3=Hills |first3=M. |year=1976 |title=A review of the family Canidae, with a classification by numerical methods |url=http://biostor.org/reference/65860 |url-status=live |journal=Bull. Br. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) |volume=29 |pages=148 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217052727/http://biostor.org/reference/65860 |archive-date=17 December 2013 |access-date=2024-03-16}}</ref> Studies on [[allozyme]] divergence within the Canidae indicate that the black-backed jackal and other members of the genus ''Canis'' are separated by a considerable degree of [[genetic distance]].<ref name="wayne1987">{{Cite journal | doi = 10.2307/2413399| jstor = 2413399| title = Allozyme Divergence Within the Canidae| journal = Systematic Zoology| volume = 36| issue = 4| pages = 339| year = 1987| last1 = Wayne | first1 = R. K. | last2 = O'Brien | first2 = S. J. | url = https://zenodo.org/record/1235117}}</ref> Further studies show a large difference in [[mitochondrial DNA]] sequences between black-backed jackals and other sympatric "jackal" species, consistent with divergence 2.3–4.5&nbsp;million years ago.<ref name="wayne1989">{{Cite journal
  | pmid = 2559120| year = 1989| last1 = Wayne| first1 = R. K.| title = Genetic and morphological divergence among sympatric canids| journal = The Journal of Heredity| volume = 80| issue = 6| pages = 447–54| last2 = Van Valkenburgh| first2 = B| last3 = Kat| first3 = P. W.| last4 = Fuller| first4 = T. K.| last5 = Johnson| first5 = W. E.| last6 = O'Brien| first6 = S. J.| doi=10.1093/oxfordjournals.jhered.a110896}}</ref>
 A [[mitochondrial DNA]] (mDNA) sequence alignment for the wolf-like canids gave a phylogenetic tree with the [[side-striped jackal]] and the black-backed jackal being the most [[Basal (phylogenetics)|basal]] members of this clade, which means that this tree is indicating an African origin for the clade.<ref name=lindblad2005>{{Cite journal | last1 = Lindblad-Toh | first1 = K. | last2 = Wade | first2 = C. M. | last3 = Mikkelsen | first3 = T. S. | last4 = Karlsson | first4 = E. K. | last5 = Jaffe | first5 = D. B. | last6 = Kamal | first6 = M. | last7 = Clamp | first7 = M. | last8 = Chang | first8 = J. L. | last9 = Kulbokas | first9 = E. J. | last10 = Zody | doi = 10.1038/nature04338 | first10 = M. C. | last11 = Mauceli | first11 = E. | last12 = Xie | first12 = X. | last13 = Breen | first13 = M. | last14 = Wayne | first14 = R. K. | last15 = Ostrander | first15 = E. A. | last16 = Ponting | first16 = C. P. | last17 = Galibert | first17 = F. | last18 = Smith | first18 = D. R. | last19 = Dejong | first19 = P. J. | last20 = Kirkness | first20 = E. | last21 = Alvarez | first21 = P. | last22 = Biagi | first22 = T. | last23 = Brockman | first23 = W. | last24 = Butler | first24 = J. | last25 = Chin | first25 = C. W. | last26 = Cook | first26 = A. | last27 = Cuff | first27 = J. | last28 = Daly | first28 = M. J. | last29 = Decaprio | first29 = D. | last30 = Gnerre | first30 = S. | title = Genome sequence, comparative analysis and haplotype structure of the domestic dog | journal = Nature | volume = 438 | issue = 7069 | pages = 803–819 | year = 2005 | pmid = 16341006| bibcode = 2005Natur.438..803L | display-authors = 29 | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Social Dog:Behavior and Cognition|author=Juliane Kaminski|author2=Sarah Marshall-Pescini|name-list-style=amp|publisher=Elsevier|year=2014|chapter=Chapter 1 – The Social Dog:History and Evolution|page=4|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=THRAAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA4|isbn=9780124079311}}</ref>
-Because of this deep divergence between the black-backed jackal and the rest of the "wolf-like" canids, one author has proposed to change the species' generic name from ''Canis'' to ''Lupulella''.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Dinets | first1 = V | year = 2015 | title = The Canis tangle: a systematics overview and taxonomic recommendations. Vavilovskii Zhurnal Genetiki i Selektsii – | journal = Vavilov Journal of Genetics and Breeding | volume = 19 | issue = 3| pages = 286–291 | doi=10.18699/vj15.036| doi-access = free }}</ref>
+Because of this deep divergence between the black-backed jackal and the rest of the "wolf-like" canids, one author has proposed to change the species' generic name from ''Canis'' to ''Lupulella''.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Dinets |first=V |year=2015 |title=The Canis tangle: a systematics overview and taxonomic recommendations.  |journal=Vavilovskii Zhurnal Genetiki I Selektsii – Vavilov Journal of Genetics and Breeding |volume=19 |issue=3 |pages=286–291 |doi=10.18699/vj15.036 |doi-access=free}}</ref>
-In 2017, jackal relationships were further explored, with an mDNA study finding that the two black-backed jackal subspecies had diverged from each other 2.5 million years ago to form the south African and east African populations. The study proposes that due to this long separation, which is longer than the separation of the African golden wolf from the wolf lineage, that the two subspecies might warrant separate species status.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1111/zsc.12257|title=Deep divergence among mitochondrial lineages in African jackals|journal=Zoologica Scripta|year=2018|last1=Atickem|first1=Anagaw|last2=Stenseth|first2=Nils Chr|last3=Drouilly|first3=Marine|last4=Bock|first4=Steffen|last5=Roos|first5=Christian|last6=Zinner|first6=Dietmar|volume=47|pages=1–8|s2cid=90152896}}</ref>
+In 2017, jackal relationships were further explored, with an mDNA study finding that the two black-backed jackal subspecies had diverged from each other 2.5&nbsp;million years ago to form the south African and east African populations. The study proposes that due to this long separation, which is longer than the separation of the African golden wolf from the wolf lineage, that the two subspecies might warrant separate species status.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1111/zsc.12257|title=Deep divergence among mitochondrial lineages in African jackals|journal=Zoologica Scripta|year=2018|last1=Atickem|first1=Anagaw|last2=Stenseth|first2=Nils Chr|last3=Drouilly|first3=Marine|last4=Bock|first4=Steffen|last5=Roos|first5=Christian|last6=Zinner|first6=Dietmar|volume=47|pages=1–8|s2cid=90152896}}</ref>
 In 2019, a workshop hosted by the [[IUCN]]/SSC Canid Specialist Group recommends that because DNA evidence shows the side-striped jackal (''Canis adustus'') and black-backed jackal (''Canis mesomelas'') to form a monophyletic lineage that sits outside of the Canis/Cuon/Lycaon clade, that they should be placed in a distinct genus, ''Lupulella'' Hilzheimer, 1906 with the names ''Lupulella adusta'' and ''Lupulella mesomelas''.<ref name=Alvares2019/>
-The phylogenetic tree for the wolf-like canids may give conflicting positions for the black-backed jackal and the side-striped jackal relative to the genus ''Canis'' members depending on whether the genetic markers were based on [[mitochondrial DNA]] or [[nuclear DNA]] (from the cell's nucleus).  The explanation proposed is that mitochondrial DNA [[introgression]] occurred from an ancient ancestor of ''Canis'' into the lineage that led to the black-backed jackal around 6.2–5.2 million years ago.<ref name=Hassanin2021/>
+The phylogenetic tree for the wolf-like canids may give conflicting positions for the black-backed jackal and the side-striped jackal relative to the genus ''Canis'' members depending on whether the genetic markers were based on [[mitochondrial DNA]] or [[nuclear DNA]] (from the cell's nucleus).  The explanation proposed is that mitochondrial DNA [[introgression]] occurred from an ancient ancestor of ''Canis'' into the lineage that led to the black-backed jackal around 6.2–5.2&nbsp;million years ago.<ref name=Hassanin2021/>
 ===Subspecies===
@@ Line 171: / Line 173: @@
 !Synonyms
 |-
-|'''Cape black-backed jackal'''<br/>''L. m. mesomelas''<br>[[nominate subspecies]]
+|'''Cape black-backed jackal'''<br/>''L. m. mesomelas''<br />[[nominate subspecies]]
-|[[File:Black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas mesomelas).jpg|150px]]
+|[[File:Black-backed Jackal (Lupulella mesomelas) (51995687394), crop.jpg|150px]]
 |Schreber, 1775
 |See [[Black-backed jackal#Description|Physical description]] below.
 |[[Cape of Good Hope]] northward to [[Angola]], [[Namibia]], [[Zimbabwe]], and southern [[Mozambique]].
-|<small>''achrotes'' (Thomas, 1925)<br>''arenarum'' (Thomas, 1926)<br>''variegatoides'' (A. Smith, 1833)</small>
+|<small>''achrotes'' (Thomas, 1925)<br />''arenarum'' (Thomas, 1926)<br />''variegatoides'' (A. Smith, 1833)</small>
 |-
-|'''East African black-backed jackal'''<br/>''L. m. schmidti''<br>
+|'''East African black-backed jackal'''<br/>''L. m. schmidti''<br />
 |[[File:Black Backed Jackal Masaai Mara April 2008.JPG|150px]]
 |Noack, 1897
@@ Line 197: / Line 199: @@
 {{CSS image crop
 |Image = Kenya_August_2010_444_(4939520158).jpg
-|bSize = 600
+|bSize = 700
 |cWidth = 220
 |cHeight = 150
-|oTop = 140
+|oTop = 170
-|oLeft = 140
+|oLeft = 170
+|Description=[[Scent marking]]
-|Location = right
-|Description = Scent marking
 }}
-The black-backed jackal is a [[monogamous]] and [[territory (animal)|territorial animal]], whose [[Canid#Social behavior|social organisation]] greatly resembles that of the golden jackal. However, the assistance of elder offspring in helping raise the pups of their parents has a greater bearing on pup survival rates than in the latter species.<ref name="estes1992" /> The basic social unit is a monogamous mated pair which defends its territory through laying faeces and urine on range boundaries. [[Scent marking]] is usually done in tandem, and the pair aggressively expels intruders. Such encounters are normally prevented, as the pair vocalises to advertise its presence in a given area. It is a highly vocal species, particularly in Southern Africa.<ref name="kingdon2013" /> Sounds made by the species include yelling, yelping, woofing, whining, growling, and cackling.<ref name="estes1992" /> It communicates with group members and advertises its presence by a high-pitched, whining howl, and expresses alarm through an explosive cry followed by shorter, high-pitched yelps. This sound is particularly frantic when mobbing a leopard. In areas where the black-backed jackal is sympatric with the [[African golden wolf]], the species does not howl, instead relying more on yelps. In contrast, black-backed jackals in Southern Africa howl much like golden jackals.<ref name="kingdon2013" /> When trapped, it cackles like a fox.<ref name="estes1992" />
+The black-backed jackal is a [[Monogamy in animals|monogamous]] and [[territory (animal)|territorial animal]], whose [[Canid#Social behavior|social organisation]] greatly resembles that of the golden jackal. However, the assistance of elder offspring in helping raise the pups of their parents has a greater bearing on pup survival rates than in the latter species.<ref name="estes1992" /> The basic social unit is a monogamous mated pair which defends its territory through laying faeces and urine on range boundaries. [[Scent marking]] is usually done in tandem, and the pair aggressively expels intruders. Such encounters are normally prevented, as the pair vocalises to advertise its presence in a given area. It is a highly vocal species, particularly in Southern Africa.<ref name="kingdon2013" /> Sounds made by the species include yelling, yelping, woofing, whining, growling, and cackling.<ref name="estes1992" /> It communicates with group members and advertises its presence by a high-pitched, whining howl, and expresses alarm through an explosive cry followed by shorter, high-pitched yelps. This sound is particularly frantic when mobbing a leopard. In areas where the black-backed jackal is sympatric with the [[African golden wolf]], the species does not howl, instead relying more on yelps. In contrast, black-backed jackals in Southern Africa howl much like golden jackals.<ref name="kingdon2013" /> When trapped, it cackles like a fox.<ref name="estes1992" />
 ===Reproduction and development===
-[[File:Black-backed Jackal Canis mesomelas in Tanzania 3514 Nevit.jpg|thumb|East African black-backed jackal (''C. m. schmidti'') pups, Tanzania]]The [[mating season]] takes place from late May to August, with a [[gestation period]] of 60 days. Pups are born from July to October. Summer births are thought to be timed to coincide with population peaks of [[Otomys irroratus|vlei rat]]s and [[four-striped grass mouse|four-striped grass mice]], while winter births are timed for ungulate calving seasons.<ref name="loveridge2004.1"/> Litters consist of one to 9 pups, which are born blind. For the first three weeks of their lives, the pups are kept under constant surveillance by their dam, while the sire and elder offspring provide food.<ref name="estes1992"/> The pups open their eyes after 8–10 days and emerge from the den at the age of 3 weeks. They are weaned at 8–9 weeks, and can hunt by themselves at the age of 6 months. [[Sexual maturity]] is attained at 11 months, though few black-backed jackals reproduce in their first year.<ref name="kingdon2013"/> Unlike golden jackals, which have comparatively amicable intrapack relationships, black-backed jackal pups become increasingly quarrelsome as they age, and establish more rigid dominance hierarchies. Dominant pups appropriate food, and become independent at an earlier age.<ref name="estes1992"/> The grown pups may disperse at one year of age, though some remain in their natal territories to assist their parents in raising the next generation of pups. The average lifespan in the wild is 7 years, though captive specimens can live twice as long.<ref name="kingdon2013"/>
+[[File:Black-backed Jackal Canis mesomelas in Tanzania 3514 Nevit.jpg|thumb|East African black-backed jackal (''C.&nbsp;m. schmidti'') pups, Tanzania]]The [[mating season]] takes place from late May to August, with a [[gestation period]] of 60 days. Pups are born from July to October. Summer births are thought to be timed to coincide with population peaks of [[Otomys irroratus|vlei rat]]s and [[four-striped grass mouse|four-striped grass mice]], while winter births are timed for ungulate calving seasons.<ref name="loveridge2004.1"/> Litters consist of one to nine pups, which are born blind. For the first three weeks of their lives, the pups are kept under constant surveillance by their dam, while the sire and elder offspring provide food.<ref name="estes1992"/> The pups open their eyes after 8–10 days and emerge from the den at the age of 3 weeks. They are weaned at 8–9 weeks, and can hunt by themselves at the age of 6 months. [[Sexual maturity]] is attained at 11 months, though few black-backed jackals reproduce in their first year.<ref name="kingdon2013"/> Unlike golden jackals, which have comparatively amicable intrapack relationships, black-backed jackal pups become increasingly quarrelsome as they age, and establish more rigid dominance hierarchies. Dominant pups appropriate food, and become independent at an earlier age.<ref name="estes1992"/> The grown pups may disperse at one year of age, though some remain in their natal territories to assist their parents in raising the next generation of pups. The average lifespan in the wild is 7 years, though captive specimens can live twice as long.<ref name="kingdon2013"/>
 ==Ecology==
@@ Line 216: / Line 217: @@
 ===Diet===
+{{multiple image|direction=vertical
-[[File:Black-backed_jackal_hunting_an_impala_calf.jpg|thumb|East Africa black-backed jackal (''C. m. schmidti'') hunting [[impala]] calf, [[Masai Mara]], Kenya]]
+|image1=Black-backed_jackal_hunting_an_impala_calf.jpg
-[[File:An unwanted visitor (cropped).jpg|thumb|Cape black-backed jackal (''C. m. mesomelas'') feeding on a [[brown fur seal]] pup, Namibia]]
-[[File:2012-bb-jackal-1.jpg|thumb|Cape black-backed jackal (''C. m. mesomelas'') feeding on a [[springbok]] carcass in [[Etosha National Park]], Namibia]]
+|caption1=East Africa black-backed jackal (''C. m. schmidti'') hunting [[impala]] calf, [[Masai Mara]], Kenya
+|image2=An unwanted visitor (cropped).jpg|caption2=Cape black-backed jackal (''C. m. mesomelas'') feeding on a [[brown fur seal]] pup, Namibia
-Black-backed jackals are omnivores, which feed on [[invertebrate]]s, such as [[beetle]]s, [[grasshopper]]s, [[cricket (insect)|cricket]]s, [[termite]]s, [[millipede]]s, [[spider]]s, and [[scorpion]]s. They also feed on mammals, such as [[rodent]]s, [[hare]]s, and young [[antelope]]s up to the size of [[topi]] calves. They also feed on carrion, [[birds]], [[lizard]]s and [[snake]]s.<ref name="walton2003" /> A pair of black-backed jackals in the Kalahari desert was observed to kill a [[kori bustard]], and on a separate occasion, a [[black mamba]] by prolonged harassment of the snake and crushing of the snake's head.<ref>Owens, M. & Owens, D. (1984), ''Cry of the Kalahari'', Boston: Houghton Mifflin, pp. 54–5, 62–3</ref> Black-backed jackals occasionally feed on fruits and berries.<ref name="estes1992" /> It also feeds on eggs of birds. In coastal areas, they feed on beached [[marine mammal]]s, [[Pinniped|seal]]s, fish, and [[mussel]]s.<ref name="loveridge2004.1" /> A single jackal is capable of killing a healthy adult [[impala]].<ref>{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1111/j.1365-2028.2009.01173.x|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230370013| title = Single black-backed jackal (''Canis mesomelas'') kills adult impala (''Aepyceros melampus'')| journal = African Journal of Ecology| year = 2009| last1 = Kamler | first1 = J. F. | last2 = Foght | first2 = J. L. | last3 = Collins | first3 = K. }}</ref> Adult [[dik-dik]]s and [[Thomson's gazelle]]s seem to be the upper limit of their killing capacity, though they target larger species if those are sick, with one pair having been observed to harass a crippled bull [[rhinoceros]]. They typically kill tall prey by biting at the legs and loins, and frequently go for the throat.<ref name="kingdon2013" /> In Serengeti woodlands, they feed heavily on [[African grass rat]]s. In East Africa, during the [[dry season]], they hunt the young of [[gazelle]]s, impalas, topi, [[tsessebe]], and [[warthog]]s.<ref name="estes1992"/> In South Africa, black-backed jackals frequently prey on antelopes (primarily impala and [[springbok]] and occasionally [[duiker]], [[reedbuck]], and [[steenbok]]), carrion, hares, hoofed livestock, insects, and rodents. They also prey on small carnivores, such as [[mongoose]]s, [[striped polecat|polecat]]s, and [[wildcat]]s. On the coastline of the [[Namib Desert]], jackals feed primarily on marine birds (mainly [[Cape cormorant|Cape]] and [[white-breasted cormorant]]s and [[jackass penguin]]s), [[marine mammal]]s (including [[Cape fur seal]]s<ref>{{cite web|title=The Cape Cross Seal Reserve in Namibia, October 2017|url=https://independent-travellers.com/namibia/cape_cross_seal_reserve/index.php#jackal|website=Independent Travellers|publisher=independent-travellers.com|access-date=27 January 2018}}</ref>), fish, and insects.<ref name="walton2003"/> Like most canids, the black-backed jackal caches surplus food.<ref name="estes1992"/>
+|image3=2012-bb-jackal-1.jpg
+|caption3=Cape black-backed jackal (''C. m. mesomelas'') feeding on a [[springbok]] carcass in [[Etosha National Park]], Namibia}}
+Black-backed jackals are omnivores. Their diet includes [[invertebrate]]s, such as [[beetle]]s, [[grasshopper]]s, [[cricket (insect)|cricket]]s, [[termite]]s, [[millipede]]s, [[spider]]s, and [[scorpion]]s. Mammals are eaten such as [[rodent]]s, [[hare]]s, and young [[antelope]]s up to the size of [[topi]] calves. They also feed on carrion, [[birds]], bird eggs, [[lizard]]s and [[snake]]s.<ref name="walton2003" />  In coastal areas, they feed on beached [[marine mammal]]s, [[Pinniped|seal]]s, fish, and [[mussel]]s.<ref name="loveridge2004.1" /> They also consume occasionally fruits and berries.<ref name="estes1992" />
+In South Africa, black-backed jackals frequently prey on antelopes (primarily impala and [[springbok]] and occasionally [[duiker]], [[reedbuck]], and [[steenbok]]), carrion, hares, hoofed livestock, insects, and rodents. They also prey on small carnivores, such as [[mongoose]]s, [[striped polecat|polecat]]s, and [[wildcat]]s.<ref name="walton2003" /> On the coastline of the [[Namib Desert]], jackals feed primarily on marine birds (mainly [[Cape cormorant|Cape]] and [[white-breasted cormorant]]s and [[jackass penguin]]s), [[marine mammal]]s (including [[Cape fur seal]]s<ref>{{cite web|title=The Cape Cross Seal Reserve in Namibia, October 2017|url=https://independent-travellers.com/namibia/cape_cross_seal_reserve/index.php#jackal|website=Independent Travellers|publisher=independent-travellers.com|access-date=27 January 2018}}</ref>), fish, and insects.<ref name="walton2003" /> In East Africa, during the [[dry season]], they hunt the young of [[gazelle]]s, impalas, topi, [[tsessebe]], and [[warthog]]s.<ref name="estes1992" /> In Serengeti woodlands, they feed heavily on [[African grass rat]]s.
+A single jackal is capable of killing a healthy adult [[impala]].<ref>{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1111/j.1365-2028.2009.01173.x|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230370013| title = Single black-backed jackal (''Canis mesomelas'') kills adult impala (''Aepyceros melampus'')| journal = African Journal of Ecology| year = 2009| last1 = Kamler | first1 = J. F. | last2 = Foght | first2 = J. L. | last3 = Collins | first3 = K. |volume=48 |issue=3 |pages=847–848 }}</ref> Adult [[dik-dik]]s and [[Thomson's gazelle]]s seem to be the upper limit of their killing capacity, though they target larger species if those are sick, with one pair having been observed to harass a crippled bull [[rhinoceros]]. A pair of black-backed jackals in the Kalahari desert was observed to kill a [[kori bustard]], and on a separate occasion, a [[black mamba]] by prolonged harassment of the snake and crushing of the snake's head.<ref>Owens, M. & Owens, D. (1984), ''Cry of the Kalahari'', Boston: Houghton Mifflin, pp. 54–5, 62–3</ref> They typically kill tall prey by biting at the legs and loins, and frequently go for the throat.<ref name="kingdon2013" /> Like most canids, the black-backed jackal [[cache (biology)|caches]] surplus food.<ref name="estes1992" />
+The jackals sniff out the ripe melon fruits of the [[Acanthosicyos_horridus|ǃnaras]], a leafless, spined drought resilient plant using their jaws to bite through their tough skins. "The chewing molars of canids make them ideal agents for [[Seed dispersal#Animals: epi- and endozoochory|endozoochorous]] dispersal of large seeds."<ref name="Shikesho Midgley Marais Johnson 2024 p.">{{cite journal |last1=Shikesho |first1=S. D. |last2=Midgley |first2=J. J. |last3=Marais |first3=E. |last4=Johnson |first4=S. D. |date=2024 |title=Frugivory by carnivores: Black-backed jackals are key dispersers of seeds of the scented !nara melon in the Namib Desert |journal=Journal of Zoology |volume=322 |issue=4 |pages=309–317 |doi=10.1111/jzo.13153 |issn=0952-8369}}</ref> Such disperal is long-distance, the size of their home ranges (7–15.9 km). The jackals urinate on buried fruits and later return to them; it is suggested either to mark ownership or mask their smell from rival jackals. Seeds from their [[Feces#Feces of animals|droppings]] germinate better than those extracted directly from ripe fruit. While other carnivores eat other fruits, this seems to be the first case where they might be a plant's primary dispersers.<ref name="Shikesho Midgley Marais Johnson 2024 p.">{{cite journal |last1=Shikesho |first1=S. D. |last2=Midgley |first2=J. J. |last3=Marais |first3=E. |last4=Johnson |first4=S. D. |date=2024 |title=Frugivory by carnivores: Black-backed jackals are key dispersers of seeds of the scented !nara melon in the Namib Desert |journal=Journal of Zoology |volume=322 |issue=4 |pages=309–317 |doi=10.1111/jzo.13153 |issn=0952-8369}}</ref>
 ===Enemies and competitors===
-In areas where the black-backed jackal is sympatric with the larger [[side-striped jackal]], the former species aggressively drives out the latter from grassland habitats into woodlands. This is unique among carnivores, as larger species commonly displace smaller ones.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Loveridge, A. J. |author2=Macdonald, D. W. |name-list-style=amp |year=2002 |title=Habitat ecology of two sympatric species of jackals in Zimbabwe |journal=Journal of Mammalogy |volume= 83 |issue=2 |pages= 599–607|jstor=1383588|doi=10.1644/1545-1542(2002)083<0599:heotss>2.0.co;2 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Black-backed jackal pups are vulnerable to [[African wolf]],<ref name="loveridge2004.1"/> [[honey badger]], [[spotted hyena]] and [[brown hyena]]. Adults have few natural predators, save for [[leopard]]s and [[African wild dog]]s. <ref name="kingdon2013"/> Though there are some reports that [[martial eagle]]s prey on both juveniles and adults.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Boshoff, A.F. |name-list-style=amp |author2=Palmer, N.G. |author3=Avery, G. |year=1990 |title=Regional variation in the diet of martial eagles in the Cape Province, South Africa |journal=South African Journal of Wildlife Research |volume=20 |pages=57–68 |url=https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA03794369_3326}}</ref><ref>Steyn, P. (1983). ''Birds of prey of southern Africa: Their identification and life histories''. Croom Helm, Beckenham (UK).</ref>
+In areas where the black-backed jackal is sympatric with the larger [[side-striped jackal]], the former species aggressively drives out the latter from grassland habitats into woodlands. This is unique among carnivores, as larger species commonly displace smaller ones.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Loveridge, A. J. |author2=Macdonald, D. W. |name-list-style=amp |year=2002 |title=Habitat ecology of two sympatric species of jackals in Zimbabwe |journal=Journal of Mammalogy |volume= 83 |issue=2 |pages= 599–607|jstor=1383588|doi=10.1644/1545-1542(2002)083<0599:heotss>2.0.co;2 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Black-backed jackal pups are vulnerable to [[African wolf]],<ref name="loveridge2004.1"/> [[honey badger]], [[spotted hyena]] and [[brown hyena]]. Adults have few natural predators, save for [[leopard]]s and [[African wild dog]]s.<ref name="kingdon2013"/> Though there are some reports that [[martial eagle]]s prey on both juveniles and adults.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Boshoff, A.F. |name-list-style=amp |author2=Palmer, N.G. |author3=Avery, G. |year=1990 |title=Regional variation in the diet of martial eagles in the Cape Province, South Africa |journal=South African Journal of Wildlife Research |volume=20 |pages=57–68 |url=https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA03794369_3326}}</ref><ref>Steyn, P. (1983). ''Birds of prey of southern Africa: Their identification and life histories''. Croom Helm, Beckenham (UK).</ref>
 ==Diseases and parasites==
 Black-backed jackals can carry diseases such as [[rabies]], [[canine parvovirus]], [[canine distemper]], [[canine adenovirus]], ''[[Ehrlichia canis]]'', and [[African horse sickness]]. Jackals in [[Etosha National Park]] may carry [[anthrax]]. Black-backed jackals are major rabies vectors, and have been associated with epidemics, which appear to cycle every 4–8 years. Jackals in Zimbabwe are able to maintain rabies independently of other species. Although oral vaccinations are effective in jackals, the long-term control of rabies continues to be a problem in areas where stray dogs are not given the same immunisation.<ref name="walton2003"/>
-Jackals may also carry [[trematode]]s such as ''Athesmia'', [[cestode]]s such as ''[[Dipylidium caninum]]'', ''[[Echinococcus granulosus]]'', ''Joyeuxialla echinorhyncoides'', ''J. pasqualei'', ''Mesocestoides lineatus'', ''Taenia erythraea'', ''T. hydatigena'', ''T. jackhalsi'', ''T. multiceps'', ''T. pungutchui'', and ''T. serialis''. [[Nematode]]s carried by black-backed jackals include ''[[Ancylostoma braziliense]]'', ''[[Ancylostoma caninum|A. caninum]]'', ''A. martinaglia'', ''A. somaliense'', ''[[Ancylostoma tubaeforme|A. tubaeforme]]'', and ''Physaloptera praeputialis'', and [[protozoan]]s such as ''Babesia canis'', ''[[Ehrlichia canis]]'', ''Hepatozoon canis'', ''Rickettsia canis'', ''Sarcocytis'' spp., ''[[Toxoplasma gondii]]'', and ''[[Trypanosoma congolense]]''. [[Mite]]s may cause [[sarcoptic mange]]. [[Tick]] species include ''Amblyomma hebraeum'', ''A. marmoreum'', ''A. nymphs'', ''A. variegatum'', ''Boophilus decoloratus'', ''Haemaphysalis leachii'', ''H. silacea'', ''H. spinulosa'', ''Hyelomma'' spp., ''Ixodes pilosus'', ''I. rubicundus'', ''Rhipicephalus appendiculatus'', ''R. evertsi'', ''[[Rhipicephalus sanguineus|R. sanguineus]]'', and ''R. simus''. [[Flea]] species include ''Ctenocephalides cornatus'', ''[[Echidnophaga gallinacea]]'', and ''Synosternus caffer''.<ref name="walton2003"/>
+Jackals may also carry [[trematode]]s such as ''Athesmia'', [[cestode]]s such as ''[[Dipylidium caninum]]'', ''[[Echinococcus granulosus]]'', ''Joyeuxialla echinorhyncoides'', ''J.&nbsp;pasqualei'', ''Mesocestoides lineatus'', ''Taenia erythraea'', ''T.&nbsp;hydatigena'', ''T.&nbsp;jackhalsi'', ''T.&nbsp;multiceps'', ''T.&nbsp;pungutchui'', and ''T.&nbsp;serialis''. [[Nematode]]s carried by black-backed jackals include ''[[Ancylostoma braziliense]]'', ''[[Ancylostoma caninum|A.&nbsp;caninum]]'', ''A.&nbsp;martinaglia'', ''A. somaliense'', ''[[Ancylostoma tubaeforme|A.&nbsp;tubaeforme]]'', and ''Physaloptera praeputialis'', and [[protozoan]]s such as ''Babesia canis'', ''[[Ehrlichia canis]]'', ''Hepatozoon canis'', ''Rickettsia canis'', ''Sarcocytis'' spp., ''[[Toxoplasma gondii]]'', and ''[[Trypanosoma congolense]]''. [[Mite]]s may cause [[sarcoptic mange]]. [[Tick]] species include ''Amblyomma hebraeum'', ''A. marmoreum'', ''A.&nbsp;nymphs'', ''A.&nbsp;variegatum'', ''Boophilus decoloratus'', ''Haemaphysalis leachii'', ''H.&nbsp;silacea'', ''H.&nbsp;spinulosa'', ''Hyelomma'' spp., ''Ixodes pilosus'', ''I.&nbsp;rubicundus'', ''Rhipicephalus appendiculatus'', ''R.&nbsp;evertsi'', ''[[Rhipicephalus sanguineus|R.&nbsp;sanguineus]]'', and ''R.&nbsp;simus''. [[Flea]] species include ''Ctenocephalides cornatus'', ''[[Echidnophaga gallinacea]]'', and ''Synosternus caffer''.<ref name="walton2003"/>
 ==Relationships with humans==
+[[File:Lupulella mesomelas mesomelas, spoor, Morothotsekloof, a.jpg|thumb|Right front pawprint]]
 ===In folklore===
-Black-backed jackals feature prominently in the folklore of the [[Khoikhoi]], where it is often paired with the lion, whom it frequently outsmarts or betrays with its superior intelligence. One story explains that the black-backed jackal gained its dark saddle when it offered to carry the Sun on its back.<ref>Bleek, W. H. I. (1864), ''Reynard the fox in South Africa: or, Hottentot fables and tales'', Trübner and co., pp. 67-</ref> An alternative account comes from the [[ǃKung people]], whose folklore tells that the jackal received the burn on its back as a punishment for its scavenging habits.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Biesele, M. |year=1972|title= The black-backed jackal and the brown hyena : a !Kung Bushman folktale|url=https://journals.co.za/doi/10.10520/AJA052550590_673|journal=Botswana Notes and Records|volume=4|pages=133–134}}</ref> According to an ancient Ethiopian folktale, jackals and man first became enemies shortly before the [[Deluge myth|Great Flood]], when [[Noah]] initially refused to allow jackals into the [[Noah's Ark|ark]], thinking they were unworthy of being saved, until being commanded by God to do so.<ref>{{in lang|it}} Motta, F. (editor) (1957), ''Nel Mondo della Natura: Enciclopedia Motta di Scienze Naturali, Zoologia'', Quinto Volume.</ref>
+Black-backed jackals feature prominently in the folklore of the [[Khoikhoi]], where it is often paired with the lion, whom it frequently outsmarts or betrays with its superior intelligence. One story explains that the black-backed jackal gained its dark saddle when it offered to carry the Sun on its back.<ref>{{cite book |author=Bleek, W. H. I. |year=1864 |title=Reynard the fox in South Africa: or, Hottentot fables and tales|publisher=Trübner and Co. |chapter=Sun and Moon Fables |pages=67–68 |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/reynardfoxinsou00blee/page/66/mode/2up}}</ref> An alternative account comes from the [[ǃKung people]], whose folklore tells that the jackal received the burn on its back as a punishment for its scavenging habits.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Biesele, M. |year=1972 |title= The black-backed jackal and the brown hyena : a !Kung Bushman folktale |url=https://journals.co.za/doi/10.10520/AJA052550590_673 |journal=Botswana Notes and Records |volume=4 |pages=133–134}}</ref> According to an ancient Ethiopian folktale, jackals and man first became enemies shortly before the [[Deluge myth|Great Flood]], when [[Noah]] initially refused to allow jackals into [[Noah's Ark]], thinking they were unworthy of being saved, until being commanded by God to do so.<ref>{{cite book |author=Motta, F. |year=1957 |lang=it |title=Nel Mondo della Natura: Enciclopedia Motta di Scienze Naturali, Zoologia |volume=V |place= |publisher=}}</ref>
 ===Livestock predation===
@@ Line 247: / Line 257: @@
 == Notes ==
-{{notelist}}
+{{Notelist}}
 ==References==
@@ Line 272: / Line 282: @@
 {{Carnivora|Ca.}}
 {{Taxonbar|from=Q188944}}
+{{Authority control}}
 [[Category:Lupulella]]