🌿Native Nature

African Wild Dog

Lycaon pictus

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia ›Phylum: Chordata ›Class: Mammalia ›Order: Carnivora ›Family: Canidae ›Genus: Lycaon

About

The African wild dog (Lycaon pictus), also known as cape hunting dog, African hunting dog, African painted dog, painted hunting dog or painted wolf, is a canid native to Sub-Saharan Africa. It is the largest of its family in Africa, and the only extant member of the genus Lycaon, which is distinguished from Canis by its fewer toes and its dentition, which is highly specialised for a hypercarnivorous diet. It is classified as endangered by the...

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the scientific name of African Wild Dog?
The scientific name of African Wild Dog is Lycaon pictus.
What is the conservation status of African Wild Dog?
The African Wild Dog has a conservation status of Endangered.
What kingdom does African Wild Dog belong to?
African Wild Dog belongs to the kingdom Animalia.
What phylum does African Wild Dog belong to?
African Wild Dog belongs to the phylum Chordata.
What class does African Wild Dog belong to?
African Wild Dog belongs to the class Mammalia.
What order does African Wild Dog belong to?
African Wild Dog belongs to the order Carnivora.
What family does African Wild Dog belong to?
African Wild Dog belongs to the family Canidae.
What genus does African Wild Dog belong to?
African Wild Dog belongs to the genus Lycaon.

In the News

‘A good way to die’: triumph and tragedy among dispersing African wild dogs

In mid-2025, a trio of male African wild dogs headed east through the open woodlands of Kafue National Park in west-central Zambia, away from the pack they’d grown up in. Roughly two weeks earlier, four of their sisters had also left the pack. One dog in each of the groups was wearing a GPS collar […]

Mongabay · 9/16/2026

Longest African mammal movement recorded by Zambian wild dogs

Three male African wild dogs in Zambia have travelled more than 4,000 kilometers, about 2,500 miles, in search of new territory and mates, according to a new study. This nine-month odyssey, about half the distance between Cairo and Cape Town, reveals how these endangered animals connect populations and ecosystems that are far apart within Southern […]

Mongabay · 9/14/2026

First sighting of African wild dogs in Malawi national park in more than 10 years

Four African wild dogs were recently spotted in Kasungu National Park in Malawi, making it the first confirmation of the endangered species in the park in more than a decade. The wild dogs appear to have travelled hundreds of kilometers from a park in eastern Zambia to reach Kasungu. Matthew Becker, chief executive of the […]

Mongabay · 7/24/2026