Is The African Hunting Dog A Member Of The Dog Family?

No, the African Hunting Dog is not a true dog in that it isn't a member of the canis species. It is certainly related and does strongly resemble a dog, but has some important distinguishing features that mark it out from true canines.

Unlike true dogs, the African Hunting Dog's diet is exclusively meat; canines have a more varied diet, eating significant amounts of insects and plant material. Also, the African Hunting dog has four toes, not five, on each forefoot.

In the wild, the African Hunting Dog is a determined and efficient hunter. Its preferred habitats is savanna and open woodland where small to medium-sized antelope are readily available prey. Although not the biggest of dogs, the African Hunting Dog will also hunt larger animals including zebra and even wildebeest. Their modus operandi is to harry and chase prey animals until they are sufficiently exhausted to go in for the kill. Chases may continue for up to five kilometres and reach speeds of 48 to 60 kilometres per hour.

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This is incorrect - the African Hunting Dog is a member of the Canidae family and is the only member to lack the dew claws on the forelegs. It is in a sub species of its own for this reason.

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