The monogamous black-backed jackal (Canis Mesomelas) is named for the dark, white-flecked ‘saddle’ on its back. It occurs in two separate populations: one in East Africa, from Ethiopia south to Central Tanzania, and another in Southern Africa, from the Cape north to Zimbabwe. Best known for its high wailing calls, fossil deposits have revealed that the black-backed jackal is one of the oldest known dog species. It has remained pretty much unchanged since the Pleistocene epoch, up to 2.5 million years ago.
