{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "jackal",
  "name": "Golden Jackal",
  "scientificName": "Canis aureus",
  "category": "Mammal",
  "summary": "The golden jackal is a medium-sized canid with a golden coat and pointed ears, found from Africa through the Middle East to southern Asia and expanding into Europe. Omnivorous and adaptable, jackals weigh 7–15 kg (15–33 lb), pair-bond for life, and vocalise with yips and howls at dusk.",
  "conservationStatus": "Least Concern",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Mammalia",
    "order": "Carnivora",
    "family": "Canidae",
    "genus": "Canis"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 11,
    "lengthM": 0.85,
    "topSpeedKmh": 32,
    "lifespanYears": 13
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Canis aureus"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Omnivore — rodents, fruit, insects, carrion, and refuse"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Savannas, farmland, scrub, and forest edges across Eurasia and Africa"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "11–13 years in the wild"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "7–15 kg (15–33 lb); males slightly larger"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Up to 32 km/h (20 mph) in sustained trot"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Least Concern (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "North and East Africa, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, and expanding populations in southeastern and central Europe.",
    "continents": [
      "Africa",
      "Asia",
      "Europe"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Canis aureus.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Canis%20aureus&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Canis aureus. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Canis_aureus/"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/jackal/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/jackal/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}