One female gets 2 to 4 cubs and takes care of them in the special den reserved only for mother and cubs for four weeks. The gestation period lasts for 90 to 110 days in hyenas. All the members of the group nurse the baby. Generally, females give birth to 10 pups there are twice as many males than females in the offspring. Several cubs per litter can range from 2 to 20. The mating occurs between a dominant pair in the pack. Major Difference Between Wild Dog and Hyena: African Wild Dog Reproduction: Female hyenas are larger and dominant than males. The smallest species are the aardwolf with 20 inches in height and 60 pounds in weight.

Hyenas vary in size the most abundant species are spotted hyenas that measure 35 inches in height and weigh around 90 pounds. They have long legs, strong jaws and the body is covered with fur which has irregular patches of red, brown, black, yellow, and white color.Īlso read about wild dog vs wolf interesting fight comparison. African Wild Dog Size Comparison:Īfrican wild dogs can reach the height of 30 inches at the shoulder and weigh between 55 and 70 pounds. The four species are spotted brown, striped, and aardwolf. Four types of hyenas differ in size and eating habits. They live in savannas, grasslands, sub-deserts, and forests of Africa and Asia. It is the most significant first canine in Africa and the only extant member of the Lycaon genus. These animals inhabit the open plains and woodlands of sub- Saharan Africa. The African wild dog known as the painted wolf, or hunting dog is a canine native to Sub-Saharan Africa. We will focus here on the difference between wild dog and hyena. For example, domestic livestock killed by dogs is purchased at a fair price to deter farmers from shooting dogs, warning signs are being put up on roadsides, and rabies vaccines are being distributed to nearby communities.For so many years there has been confusion between similar-looking animals, such as cheetah and leopard, crocodile and alligator, and African wild dog and hyena. Rabies in particular has been a major factor in recent local extinctions and infection from domestic dogs remains a huge risk.Ĭonservation efforts are focused on coexistence, conflict resolution, and accident and disease prevention.

This has recently led to major population crashes in several locations. This leads to numerous accidents – especially where roads cut through dense wildlife areas.Īfrican wild dogs are susceptible to most of the same diseases as domestic dogs, and contact with human settlements exposes them to infectious diseases such as canine distemper and parvovirus. There are even several instances of packs using roads to rest on and travel along. Whilst they normally prefer wild prey, wild dogs may attack domestic livestock if the opportunity arises, leading to conflict with farmers that may result in pack members being shot. This increased exposure to human contact poses numerous threats to the wild dogs’ survival. They are perfectly adapted to their natural environment, but require vast territories to survive – much larger than most other carnivore species. African wild dogs are struggling to cope with the rapid increase in human settlements and infrastructure development that are encroaching on their traditional range.

Wild dogs of africa