Indian Jackal

Description:

The appearance of Indian Jackal is similar to wolf, but with a difference in few physical traits. The Jackals are smaller sized, light-weighted and have short legs and tail. The fur color has the combination of black and white at the center of the body and tail in a brown background. The chest, belly and legs are creamy white in color. They have white marks prevailing on its throat and dark brown at the back of the ear. Indian Jackals have a distinct characteristics that during the winter season, the summer fur would shed and winter coat grows simultaneously which is dark brown in color. The coat varies season from season. The body length ranges from 70 to 80 cm. They grow upto 25 to 40 cm at the shoulders. They weigh 8 to 11 kg. The tail is 20 to 30cm in length. Like other animals, males are larger than females. The body of these species is well-structured with long legs and light weight in order to chase prey. It also possesses excellent hearing sense to detect movement of prey.

Habitat:

Indian Jackals prefer semi-desert, evergreen forests, grasslands, mangroves, forested, semi-urban, rural, dry and open areas and agricultural habitats.

Notes:

In Hindu mythology, the Jackal is depicted as various deities; the most familiar of them is being Chamunda, the withered, devouring goddess of the burial grounds. Yet another deity related with jackals is Kali, who lives in the burial ground and is always surrounded by millions of jackals. In Tantrasara, it is stated that Kali appears in form of Jackal when she is offered animal flesh.