Jackals belong to the same canid family as wolves and dogs, which can be seen from its appearance. However, some characteristics of jackals are somewhat similar to foxes, such as a short snout, short and round ears, a long and thick tail, and their reddish-brown back hair, all similar to foxes. In terms of body size, jackals are much smaller than wolves, but larger than foxes. The average adult jackal weighs about 20 kilograms.


Like most other canids, jackals are highly gregarious carnivores, usually consisting of at least 5 members in a group. Although jackals also have a certain territorial awareness, it is not strong, because most territorial animals do not allow other animals to appear in the territory, but different groups of jackals can even spontaneously unite to kill large animals.


Jackals are mainly distributed in Asia and Africa, but the number of wild jackals is very small. According to incomplete statistics, the number of wild jackals worldwide is less than 5,000, so they have been included in the ranks of endangered animals.


The jackal is endangered, like most animals, because of reduced habitat and reduced food. In addition to their small numbers, the jackal's habitat is also the reason why we rarely see them. Wild jackals mainly live in mountains and forests far away from human living areas, and jackals have very sensitive sense of smell and hearing. Once they smell unfamiliar smells or hear strange noises, they will run away. Therefore, the scarcity of numbers, the habitat far away from human habitation and the cautious nature are the main reasons for the mystery of the jackal.


Jackals are far more cruel than tigers and wolves when it comes to hunting. When hunting in groups, several jackals will surround the prey, and then the jackal at the tail of the prey will jump on the back of the prey. They will use their sharp teeth and claws to "dig the anus" directly, pulling out the entire intestine of the prey. The other jackals were not idle either. Some used their claws to rip out the eyes of their prey, while others bit the neck of their prey, and some were biting their legs.


In general, we think felines are much more agile than canines, but jackals are an exception. Jackal is the most flexible existence in the entire canid. Due to its long-term mountain life and its long body, the jackal has the jumping power of 3 meters up in place and 5-7 meters for run-up jumps. Such strong flexibility is beyond the reach of both wolves and tigers and leopards as big cats.


Although the jackal is not large, it has an advantage over tigers and leopards, that is, they live in groups. From a hunting point of view, a group of jackals puts more pressure on their prey than a tiger or a leopard. Secondly, although the jackal is not as big as the wolf, its bite force is one of the best in the canine family. Because the canine teeth of the jackal are very tapered, coupled with its relatively short snout, the jackal has a bite force of about 230 kg. Under the same body size, the entire bite force is already considered to be the top among all carnivores. You must know that the bite force of the largest North American gray wolf is only about 300 kg.


Jackal is a relatively rare canine, they inhabit deep mountains and old forests, and rarely have a head-on conflict with people. However, as a small carnivore, the jackal is more ferocious than almost all carnivores. It is worth mentioning that there is no precedent for a group of jackals to besiege leopards or tigers in the wild. After all, although jackals are ferocious, they are also afraid of death, and both leopards and tigers have the ability to hunt jackals.