JACKAL

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Jackal is a wild dog that lives in Asia, Africa, and southeastern Europe. Arabs call it "the howler" because of its mournful cry and yapping, usually heard at night.

Jackals feed on almost any small animal, but they are chiefly scavengers that eat animals they find dead. For this reason, they are important as "street cleaners" in some Asian and African cities. Jackals have a musky smell. Because of this, jackals are considered to be poor pets.

The common jackal looks more like a fox than a dog. It is about 14 inches (36 centimeters) high at the shoulder, and 2 to 21/2 feet (61 to 76 centimeters) long. It has a grayish-yellow or brown coat, and a bushy tail about 8 inches (20 centimeters) long. People prize the black-backed jackal of Africa for its fur, which is more attractive than that of the common jackal.

Scientific Classification. Jackals belong to the dog family, Canidae. The common jackal is classified as Canis aureus; the black-backed jackal is C. mesomelas.