{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "african-wild-dog",
  "name": "African Wild Dog",
  "scientificName": "Lycaon pictus",
  "category": "Mammal",
  "summary": "The African wild dog is a lean, long-legged carnivore of sub-Saharan Africa, famous for its mottled coat of black, tan, and white patches. Weighing 20 to 30 kg and standing about 1.1 m in body length, it is one of the world's most efficient pack hunters, chasing prey at up to 60 km/h. Packs are intensely social and cooperative. With only a few thousand left, the IUCN lists the species as Endangered.",
  "conservationStatus": "Endangered",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Mammalia",
    "order": "Carnivora",
    "family": "Canidae",
    "genus": "Lycaon"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 25,
    "lengthM": 1.1,
    "topSpeedKmh": 60,
    "lifespanYears": 11
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Lycaon pictus"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Carnivore — antelope, warthog, and medium-sized mammals"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Savannas, grasslands, and open woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "10–11 years in the wild (longer in captivity)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "20–30 kg (44–66 lb); males slightly larger"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Up to 60 km/h (37 mph) in sustained pursuit"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Endangered (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Savannas and open woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa — strongholds in Botswana, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and South Africa; extinct in most of West and North Africa.",
    "continents": [
      "Africa"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Lycaon pictus.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Lycaon%20pictus&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Lycaon pictus. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Lycaon_pictus/"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/african-wild-dog/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/african-wild-dog/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}