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Canis aureus

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Golden Jackal (Canis aureus) - zlati šakal

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Who Will Win? | Europe’s New Wild | National Geographic Wild UK

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Golden Jackal (Canis aureus)

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Golden Jackal (Canis aureus)

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Golden Jackal (Canis aureus) in the Slovenian Karst, February 2019

The golden jackal is a wolf-like canid that is native to Southeast Europe, Southwest Asia, South Asia, and regions of Southeast Asia. Compared with the Arabian wolf, which is the smallest of the gray wolves, the jackal is smaller and possesses shorter legs, a shorter tail, a more elongated torso, a less-prominent forehead, and a narrower and more pointed muzzle. The golden jackal's coat can vary in color from a pale creamy yellow in summer to a dark tawny beige in winter. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List due to its widespread distribution and high density in areas with plenty of available food and optimum shelter.