Canidae-Lammers

African Wild Dog __﻿ ﻿Classification __ Kingdom-Animalia Phylum-Chordata Class-Mammalia Order-Carnivora Family-Canidae Genus-Lycaon Species-Lycaon pictus

__Movement __ The African Wild Dog has a thin body and four muscular legs. It uses its legs to run after prey. Sometimes it can reach speeds of up to 42 mph.

__Metabolism __ African Wild Dogs are carnivores. They eat mainly impala(a kind of antelope), bush duiker(a type of deer), zebra, and sick or injured wildebeest. African Wild Dogs use sight to find their prey. Once spotted they chase it down until it tires out. They then proceed to tear it to shreds with their sharp teeth.

__Growth and Development __ Both genders reach sexual maturity at 12 to 18 months. They can grow from 1 to 1 1/2 meters long and can weigh up to 80 pounds.

__<span style="color: #340aae; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 150%;">Response to Stimuli __ <span style="color: #340aae; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;">Unlike many animals the African Wild Dog has a social hierarchy with a dominant male and female. Also very different from other pack animals is their lack of aggresion toward each other. They have sharp teeth to tear meat and great vision for spotting prey.

__<span style="color: #340aae; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 150%;">Reproduction __ <span style="color: #340aae; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;">Babies gestate for 60 to 80 days the average being 74 days. They can have as many as 20 pups at a time but normally have around 8.

__<span style="color: #340aae; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 150%;">Gender Differences __ <span style="color: #340aae; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;">There is very little difference between males and females. They both look the same and are usually the same size.

__<span style="color: #340aae; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 150%;">Family Canidae __

<span style="color: #340aae; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;">All members of the canidae family are carnivores though many are scavengers as well. They all walk on their toes instead of their feet. Most canids live in packs though some, like the domestic dog, do not. They have blunt claws used to gain traction when running. They often have thick fur though some have very short hair depending on their enviroment. They all have sharp teeth for holding onto prey. Some examples are the African Wild Dog,Arctic Fox, Coyote, and the Grey Wolf. <span style="color: #340aae; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;">