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Canis anthus

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Canis Anthus

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African golden wolf (Canis anthus)

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African Golden Wolf (Canis anthus) in the Western Sahara.

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Canis anthus, Adrar Atar, Mauritania

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African golden wolf (Canis anthus), Guidimaka, Mauritania

The African golden wolf, also known as the golden wolf or African wolf, is a canid native to north and northeastern Africa. The species is common in north-west and north-east Africa, occurring from Senegal to Egypt in the east, in a range including Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya in the north to Nigeria, Chad and Tanzania in the south. It is a desert-adapted canid, and is common in plains and steppe areas, including ones lacking abundant water. In the Atlas Mountains, the species has been sighted in elevations as high as 1,800 metres. It is primarily a predator, targeting invertebrates and mammals as large as gazelle fawns, though larger animals are sometimes taken. Other foodstuffs include animal carcasses, human refuse, and fruit. The African wolf is a monogamous and territorial animal, whose social structure includes yearling offspring remaining with the family to assist in raising their parents' younger pups.
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  • Taxonomic history 

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  • Ecology 

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