Theme # 2 : Wild Dogs (original) (raw)

| Since things have been slowing down, I thought it'd be cool to do our second theme! (And I was too excited to wait!) I've limited the options to 12 wild dogs/wolves. We'll have to have a special theme for foxes later on. Don't forget to vote on everyone else'sThe African Wild Dog is a medium-sized canid found only in Africa (largest there), especially in savannas and other lightly wooded areas. It is also called the Painted Hunting Dog, African Hunting Dog, the Cape Hunting Dog, the Spotted Dog, or the Painted Wolf. They are primarily found in eastern and southern Africa. The wild dog is the wolf of Africa but with a more extreme adaptation to pack living. Packs range from two to 30.AfricaThe Arctic Wolf (Canis lupus arctos), also called Polar Wolf or White Wolf, is a mammal of the Canidae family, and a subspecies of the Gray Wolf. Arctic Wolves inhabit the Canadian Arctic, Alaska and the northern parts of Greenland. Though the same species as a Grey Wolf, Arctic Wolves generally are smaller. The Arctic Wolf is able to withstand sub-zero temperatures for years. They can also survive up to five months of absolute darkness a year, and can live weeks without food. The Arctic Wolf is one of the few mammals that can withstand the conditions of weather. Arctic Wolves usually travel in small packs as small as two and as large as twenty.ArcticThe coyote, also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf,[4] is a species of canid found throughout North and Central America. Unlike the wolf, the coyote's range has expanded in the wake of human civilization, and coyotes readily reproduce in metropolitan areas. Though coyotes have been observed to travel in large groups, they primarily hunt in pairs. Typical packs consist of six closely related adults, yearlings and young. Coyote packs are generally smaller than wolf packs and associations between individuals are less stable. Coyotes appear better able than wolves to live among people.North & Central AmericaThe Dhole, also known as the Asiatic Wild Dog, Indian Wild Dog or Red Dog is an endangered species. It once ranged across East and South Asia from Russia Far East to Sumatra, but now lives in Southeast Asia and India. The Dhole is a highly social and cooperative animal, like the Gray Wolf, the Amazonian Bush Dog, and the African Hunting Dog. Generally it lives in organized, extended-family packs of five to twelve individuals. Within Dhole packs, there is almost never any aggression – there is a strict social hierarchy, so fighting is not needed.Southeast Asia & IndiaThe Dingo (Canis lupus dingo) is a domestic dog which has reverted to a wild state for thousands of years and today lives largely independent from humans in the majority of its distribution. The dingo is considered as an apex predator in Australia and is, together with other domestic dogs, the biggest terrestrial predator there. As such they are considered to play an important role in the various ecosystems of the continent. Dingoes are very often nocturnal in warmer regions, but more active during the day in cooler areas. Their main time of activity is around dusk and dawn. In general, dingoes are shy towards humans. However, there are reports on dingoes that were not impressed by the presence of humans, for instance around camps in national parks, near streets or suburbs._They may also eat your baybee._AustraliaThe Ethiopian wolf, also known as the Abyssinian wolf, Abyssinian fox, red jackal, Simien fox, or Simien jackal is a canid native to Africa. The Ethiopian wolf is found at altitudes above 3,000 meters (9,800 ft) in the Afro-alpine regions of Ethiopia, and is the top predator of the ecosystem. It is the most endangered canid, with only about seven populations remaining, totaling roughly 550 adults. The Ethiopian wolf is a medium sized canid resembling the coyote in size and conformation, having long legs and a narrow pointed muzzle. Although the Ethiopian wolf is primarily a solitary hunter of rodents, it lives in packs that share and defend an exclusive territory. This differs from most larger social carnivores that live in groups for the purpose of hunting cooperatively.EthiopiaThe gray wolf or grey wolf, often known simply as the wolf, is the largest wild member of the Canidae family. Gray wolves are typically apex predators in the ecosystems they occupy. Though once abundant over much of Eurasia and North America, the gray wolf inhabits a very small portion of its former range because of widespread destruction of its territory, human encroachment, and the resulting human-wolf encounters that sparked broad extirpation. In areas where human cultures and wolves are sympatric, wolves frequently feature in the folklore and mythology of those cultures, both positively and negatively. Occasionally, single wolves are found in the wild, though packs are more common. Wolves are territorial animals. Studies have shown that the average size of a wolf pack's territory is close to 200 km2 (80 sq mi). Wolves can communicate visually through a variety of expressions and moods ranging from subtle signals, such as a slight shift in weight, to more obvious ones, such as rolling on their backs to indicate complete submission.Currently - North America (mostly Canada), Parts of Europe, Parts of Asia (mostly Russia and other mountainous areas)A jackal is a member of any of small to medium-sized species of the family Canidae, found in Africa, Asia, and southeastern Europe. Jackals fill a similar ecological niche to the coyote in North America, that of predators of small to medium-sized animals, scavengers, and omnivores. Their long legs and curved canine teeth are adapted for hunting small mammals, birds and reptiles. Big feet and fused leg bones give them a long-distance runner's physique. They are crepuscular, most active at dawn and dusk.Africa, Asia, & EuropeThe Maned Wolf is the largest canid of South America, resembling a large fox with reddish fur. This mammal is found in open and semi-open habitats, especially grasslands with scattered bushes and trees in South America. The maned wolf has often been described as "a red fox on stilts" owing to its similar coloration and overall appearance, though it is much larger than a red fox. Unlike other large canids (such as the Gray Wolf, the African Hunting Dog, or the Dhole) the Maned Wolf does not form packs. It hunts alone, usually between sundown and midnight.South AmericaThe New Guinea Singing Dog, known as NGSD, New Guinea Highland Dog, or Singer, is a type of wild dog that is native to New Guinea, classified as a subspecies of Canis lupus and related to the Australian Dingo. Singers have remained isolated from other dogs for almost 6000 years, making them possibly the oldest of the pariah dogs. They have a fox-like appearance, with a double coat ranging in color from red to brown. The New Guinea Singing Dog has never been studied in the wild and virtually nothing is known concerning its behavior, social organization or general natural history under free-ranging conditions; and as of 2004, there were less than 50 specimens (all highly inbred) in the documented NGSD captive breeding population.New GuineaThe Red Wolf is a North American canid subspecies which once roamed throughout the Southeastern United States. Its natural range extended from Texas to Florida northward to New York. Historical habitats included forests, swamps, and coastal prairies, where it was an apex predator. The Red Wolf became extinct in the wild by 1980. A population has been successfully reintroduced to eastern North Carolina. Although this population has grown to over 100 animals, it is still highly endangered. The Red Wolf has a brownish or cinnamon pelt, with grey and black shading on the back and tail. Its muzzle is white furred around the lips. The Red Wolf lives in an extended family unit which includes a dominant breeding pair and young from prior seasons. Offspring typically disperse before the age of 2 years.North CarolinaThe Short-eared Dog, also known as the Short-eared Fox or the Short-eared Zorro, is a unique and elusive canid species endemic to the Amazonian basin. It lives in various parts of the rainforest environment, preferring areas with little human disturbance. The Short-eared Dog has short and slender limbs with short and rounded ears. The Short-eared Dog has a distinctive fox-like muzzle and bushy tail. This species has some unique behaviours not typical to other canids. Females of this species are about almost 1/3 larger than males. The excited male sprays a musk produced by the tail glands. It prefers a solitary lifestyle, in forest areas. It avoids humans in the natural environment. Agitated males will raise the hairs on their backs.Tags:*theme, *theme: wild dogsMood:nostalgic | | | 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