Difference between wolf and jackal

The main difference between the wolf and the jackal is that the wolf belongs to the Canis lupus species, while the jackal belongs to three species, which are Canis mesomelas, Canis adustus and Canis aureus.

Wolf vs. Jackal

The wolf belongs to the Canis lupus species, while the jackal is recognized by three common species such as Canis mesomelas, Canis adustus, and Canis aureus. The word wolf originates from the proto-Germanic source “wulfaz”; on the other hand, the jackal is considered to be the word of Sanskrit origin “srgala” which means “howler” through the Persian word “Shoghal”. The wolf is the large animal, while the jackal is considered comparatively smaller than the wolf.

The wolf is recognized primarily by the two common species, which are a gray wolf and a red wolf; on the other side, the jackal includes three distinct species, which are the golden jackal, the black-backed jackal, and the side-striped jackal. Wolves breed to give 5 to 7 pups for young females and up to 14 pups for older females, while the jackal can give 2 to 4 pups at a time. The wolf is known to be carnivorous because it feeds on other animals; on the other hand, the jackal is omnivorous, since it can feed on both animals and plants depending on the available resources.

Wolves have a gestation period of approximately 62 to 75 days, while jackals depending on the species can vary in the length of the gestation period, as the black-backed jackal has a gestation period of approximately 61 days, the jackal side-striped has a gestation period of approximately 60 days. and golden jackal from about 57 to 70 days. The recorded speed of the wolf is about 55 to 70 km per hour, while the average recorded speed of the jackal is about 20 km per hour.

Comparative chart

What is Wolf?

The wolf belongs to the Canis lupus species, which is related to the Canidae family and is the largest member of its family. Wolf can be distinguished from other Canis members by specific characteristics, including less pointed ears, a longer tail, a shorter torso or trunk, and a blunt snout. The wolf is one of the social and behavioral animals that attacks prey most actively and exclusively in cooperative hunting. The word wolf originates from the proto-Germanic source “wulfaz”. Canis estruscus is considered a descendant of the wolf.

The wolf’s winter coat is fluffy and dense, highly resistant to cold. Their habitat can be diverse depending on the food, from sea level, wetlands, forests, deserts, to snowy areas. Its native habitat is Eurasia (all of Europe and Asia), North America and North Africa. The diet of the common wolf is wild animals, while they also depend on domestic species in some conditions. They reproduce with a gestation period of approximately 62 to 75 days in the spring season, or early summer they can give from 5 to 7 young for young females while they can reach up to 14 for older females at a time. Newborn puppies are blind and deaf. They can see after nine to twelve days.

The reported wild wolf lifespan is approximately 8 to 10 years. Wolves are considered to be the main vectors of the carrier of rabies in Russia, Afghanistan, Iran and India. Canine infectious hepatitis, papillomatosis, and canine coronavirus are some viral diseases in wolves. Bovine tuberculosis, brucellosis, and anthrax are some bacterial diseases in wolves.

The jackal’s name recognized three species of Canis, which are Canis mesomelas, Canis adustus, and Canis aureus. Common names for jackal species are the black-backed jackal which has a gestation period of approximately 61 days, the side-striped jackal which has a gestation period of approximately 60 days, and the golden jackal of approximately 57 to 70 days . The first two belong to sub-Saharan Africa and the third belongs to south-central Eurasia. The word jackal has been derived from the Sanskrit word “srgala” which means “howler” through the Persian word “Shoghal”.

Jackals are omnivores compared to wolves. They adapt according to the available food source. Wolves give 2 to 4 cubs at a time. They are medium-sized canine species. The jackal’s average recorded speed is about 20 kilometers per hour, with a record top speed of 32 kilometers per hour. Jackals are most active during dawn and dusk. They are strict with marking their territory by secreting pheromones.

A jackal hybrid can also be made with the dog, but it has been reported to cause several disorders. The jackal’s shoulder height is about 30-50cm, but it also varies from species to species as a golden shepherd is about 83cm tall, a side-striped jackal is about 69-81cm, and a jackal of black back of approximately 60 to 90 cm.

1. The wolf is the animal that belongs to the Canis lupus species, while the jackal belongs to three commonly known species, which are Canis mesomelas, Canis adustus, and Canis aureus.
2. The word wolf originated from the proto-Germanic source “wulfaz”, while the word jackal is from the Sanskrit origin “srgala” means “howler” through the Persian word “Shoghal”.
3. The wolf is the carnivorous animal that feeds on other animals; on the other hand, the jackal is the omnivorous animal that feeds on both animals and plants according to availability of source.
4. Common members of wolves include the red wolf and gray wolf, while common members of the jackal are the side-striped jackal, the golden jackal, and the black-backed jackal.
5. Wolf has the largest height ranges from 105 to 160 cm; On the other side of the coin, the jackal is medium in size, smaller than wolves, the height varies from 60 to 90 cm.
6. The wolf can reproduce until the birth of 5 to 7 pups at a time and even up to 14 pups by an older female, while the jackal can give birth to 2 to 4 pups.
7. The wolf has a gestation period of approximately 62 to 75 days, while the gestation period of the jackal varies by species.

Final Thought

The wolf is carnivorous, it belongs to the Canis lupus species, a large gestation period of about 62 to 75 days, while jackals are omnivorous, it belongs to three species commonly, the gestation period depends on the type of species.