The largest indigenous canid in Africa, the African wild painted dog (Lycaon pictus) scientific name means painted wolf. Unlike domestic dogs, wild dogs have long legs, four toes on their front feet and large, rounded ears. Though both species are descended from wolves, they are unable to interbreed, and wild dogs can’t be domesticated. Wild dogs live in tightly knit social groups of between two and 27 individuals and is called several other names, including painted hunting dog and cape hunting dog. Even though they are much smaller than lion and leopards, wild dogs have a higher success rate when it comes to killing prey. Hunting at dawn and dusk, they work as a team and can bring down much larger animals, including antelope and wildebeest.
