New research is suggesting that a canid once thought to be a jackal may actually be a subspecies of gray wolf. See news link below for more details.
Questions over
Canis simensis' taxonomy lead to a variety of names for this African canid. Its lineage connects it to modern gray wolves through mitochonrdrial DNA showing these animals to be more closely related to gray wolves and coyotes than to any African canids.
Canis simensis is typically found above treeline at altitudes of 3,000 - 4,500m in the Ethiopian highlands and feeds on a variety of Afroalpine rodents, Starck's hares, goslings, eggs, rock hyrax, young common duiker, reedbuck and mountain nyala.
Species Information
Species
Common Names: Ethiopian wolf, Abyssinian wolf, ky kebero (Amharic for "red jackal"), jedalla farda (Oromo), Simien jackal
Latin Name:
Canis simensis
Current Population, Trend, Status
Number of wolves: About 400 - 500
Population trend: Decreasing
Legal protection: Full protection
Recovery & Management Information related to legal status, regulations and management plans and practices in Ethiopia.
Related Links & Information Information or links to other groups or agencies in Ethiopia related to the relationship between Canis simensis and humans.
Ecology
Biology Descriptions of species/subspecies present: physiology and unique characteristics as well as information related to distribution of Canis simensis in Ethiopia.
