Black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas)
Although this is the most lightly built of jackals, it is the most aggressive, having been observed to singly kill animals many times its own size, and its pack relationships are more quarrelsome.
Black-backed jackals are small, fox-like canids and are the smallest of the three species called jackal. They measure 30–48 cm (12–19 in) in shoulder height and 60–90 cm (24–35 in) in length. Weight varies male jackals 6.8-9.5 kg (15-21 lb.), while females weigh 5.4–10 kg (12-22 lb.).
Black-backed jackals are omnivores, which feed on invertebrates, such as beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, termites, millipedes, spiders and scorpions. They will also feed on mammals, such as rodents, hares and young antelopes. They will feed on carrion, lizards, and snakes.
A pair of black-backed jackals in the Kalahari desert was observed to kill and devour a kori bustard and, on a separate occasion, a black mamba via prolonged harassment of the snake and crushing of the snake’s head. Brave, tenacious little fellows…
Sounds made by black-backed jackals include yelling, yelping, woofing, whining, growling and cackling. When calling to one another, they emit an abrupt yelp followed by a succession of shorter yelps. Jackals of the same family will answer each other’s calls, while ignoring those of strangers.
And then for a lucky capture.. this fellow was not keen on getting mud on his paws and having witnessed a Blue wildebeest jumping over the mud he decided to do the same… and I pressed the button at the right time…
After drinking he left the waterhole via some wood lying next to the hole… he got mud on his feet then… I wonder if he just didn’t want to dirty the water.??
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I suspect a jackal must be closely related to a coyote? Coyotes are plentiful where I live, and I know the howl and yip, too. These photos of jackals are fascinating to me. Although not very beautiful in my eyes, they are still mesmerizing!
I agree not the top of the list in looks… but a fascinating animal… I’m sure probably family of the coyote and Australian Dingo…
What great timing to capture him mid-leap! Well done my friend, well done!
It was a completely lucky capture… but I’ve been asked to enter it into a magazine competition… just wish the quality of the photo was a little better…
Oooooooohhh..It’s AWESOME! That’s wonderful
woo-hoo! xllent shot jumping the water, NICE JOB! What an amazing opportunity to get all of these beautiful shots bulldog.
Thanks … this is what one calls being in the right place at the right time…
Sorry, for coming around so late .. massive problems with my provider, they had problems with some email addresses today and I was one of them. Great shots .. and interesting reading, but they look so skinny. Good that they like snakes … maybe we can be friends after all. Funny long ears. Thanks for this one.
A tenacious little fellow… always on the look out for food… probably suffers from worms like most dogs…
You could be right … they look that they haven’t eat properly for weeks. Their ears .. look enormous.
I bet he is SOOOOOO STRONG!!! people think oooh he’s so skinny I’m like GIRL that’s a HUNGRY DOG!!! you better watch out!!! i bet he is nothing to mess with!
He is one of those that you can call “small man syndrome” wants to bully everything bigger than him..
LOL
wonderful photographs, I agree about making them a calendar, etc. Thank you dear Rob, love, nia
Thank you Nia… so kind as always…
You take such fabulous photos, do you ever sell your photos, like on stock photo sites? They would be great made into calendars too.
Thank you for such a complement.. some how I don’t think they are good enough… but I do it for fun and relaxation as my core business is the computer program I’ve designed that is unique in the world… it is nearing completion..(Beta test stage) and we will be marketing soon… hopefully it will make me a little stronger financially so that I can afford slightly better cameras to get to photo sell stage… but I do appreciate the complement…thank you…
That was a fabulous (jumping) shot, bulldog.
It was wasn’t it… but I have to admit it was unexpected and just a very lucky capture…
How funny is this… didn’t want to dirty the water?? You think? How clever this Black-backed Jackal is then .. .wow!! Love to you bd — how are you doing eye-wise? xRL
The eyes are improving in leaps and bounds… but learnt this morning I can’t have the eye op .. we first have to get my BP under control as the Dr says it is now critically high… don’t know why…I’m such an easy going person… (Linda does not agree) .. I have tried to convince them I need another holiday in the Kalahari, but my business partners won’t hear of it… slave drivers… being the only person that can test and understand my computer program, I have to now be here… the program is now in Beta testing stage and the marketing is now eminent, so no trips for me.. nose to the grind stone to get it up and ready for the International market that is awaiting it… either that or I’m going to be starving soon…
Amazing creatures and what a great shot of him jumping the mud … wow! It’s really kind of cool how mother nature gave them the coloring to blend in with the landscape.
They are so well camouflager.. yet so brave and forward… I actually love to watch them as they try everything to snatch a meal away from animals far bigger than what they are…
I am learning so much. Fantastic shots!
Thanks Julie… I think probably similar to your Dingo…
great freeze frame of the jackal in mid air!!
Thank you.. a really lucky shot…
Great action shot Bulldog!
Thank you…
Wonderful shots. I thought they would be a lot bigger than they are . . . they’re like a small dog. Sounds like I wouldn’t want to be confronted by one though.
They have the cheek of a dog far bigger than what they are… even to just nipping in and biting a lion feeding on a kill, just to snatch a mouthful of food…
This is an amazing capture of him jumping!
I’m amazed they would go anywhere near a black mumba – yikes! Aren’t they extremely venomous?
Thank you the jump was a great capture… the mamba.. deadly, I’ve encountered a few in my time in the bush… I certainly don’t hang around to get in his way… all other snakes don’t bother me at all… even try to get the cobras to puff up their necks for the photo op, but the mamba… some one else can photograph him…
Something makes me want to say “awww” – so doglike. That is an impressive capture, too funny about the mud
It was most unusual… jump up, but back through the mud… makes one wonder…
Telling secrets in pic #7.
Looks that way doesn’t it…
And I meant to compliment you on the mid-air capture! Very skilled (not just lucky, right?).
I like to think it was skill… but I have to admit it was luck.. I was focused on him wondering what he was up to and the jump and press just was a reaction… my Son asked if I caught it and a quick look at the screen said no.. how happy was I when I down loaded to see that I had…
Such a small animal to be so fierce. I’m amazed that it will eat spiders and scorpions – and the black mamba!! I suppose some jackals don’t win those battles.
Funny I wondered that myself.. do they always win against the black mamba?? Having been up close to the mamba and seen their speed and aggression, one has to be quick or you’re dead… so I’m sure that they don’t always win that battle.. but they are tenacious little fellows and I am always fascinated watching them in the wild.. awake and on the look out for any opportunity that comes their way.. In the Kruger park I watched one trying to seize the chance to snatch campers meat they were about to braai.. in and out so fast.. really had the people on their toes…
Great photos again, bdt. Well done to you on getting the ‘Jumping Jack-al Flash’ pic.
Jumping Jack-al flash… may I use that title in a competition?? I’ve been encouraged to enter that photo in the Getaway Magazine and I’ve been looking for a title..
Of course you may.
I’m flattered that you appreciate my sense of humour, and of course we are of the same era. Good luck with the magazine entry. 
Thank you so much.. you know what it’s like .. you don’t think your photo is good enough, but the kids are being insistent… I’ve tried telling them a photo taken with a Fujifilm camera has never won a competition backed by Canon… they say there is always a first time… but to keep the peace I will send it in and your caption is just perfect … thank you…
If you don’t try, you’ll never know. Fingers crossed for you and Jack.
More great shots! You wouldn’t think to look at them that they are such mean little guys. Loving the added sound effects by the way!
Thank you.. I wondered how many noticed the links for the sounds… glad you did…
Wow…..what a wonderful jump shot!!!
Thank you..
Sembra impossibile che un animale così esile possa essere invece molto aggressivo!!
Bellissime foto, sempre pronto per scattare nei momenti migliori, complimenti
Ciao, Pat
Thank you Pat.. I do agree.. so small and thin yet so aggressive…
I especially like the action shot, Bulldog. I saw a cougar jump across a road once and I’ll never forget the power and grace it had.
Russ
It is such a feeling when one gets that unexpected photo.. a friend of mine got a photo the other day of a Rhino galloping down the road after the others … when he processed the photo he had captured the rhino with all four feet off the road… it’s a brilliant photo.. but just a lucky shot…thanks for the comment…