jackal

jackal

jackal name for several Old World carnivorous mammals of the genus Canis, which also includes the dog and the wolf . Jackals are found in Africa and S Asia, where they inhabit deserts, grasslands, and brush country. They are similar in size to the North American prairie wolf, or coyote , and like the coyote, they howl and yap before the evening hunt. Renowned as scavengers, jackals also hunt small animals such as rodents and gazelle fawns. Pairs generally mate for life; they forage by night and spend the day in holes or with a litter hidden in brush. The black-backed jackal, Canis mesomelas, the simian jackal, C. simensis, and the side-striped jackal, C. adustus, are found only in Africa; they are territorial and form complex social groups. The golden, or Asian, jackal, C. aureus, is found in S Asia and parts of N Africa; they usually hunt in small packs. Jackals are classified in the phylum Chordata , subphylum Vertebrata, class Mammalia, order Carnivora, family Canidae.

Bibliography: See J. L. Gittleman, Carnivore Behavior, Ecology, and Evolution (1989).

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"jackal." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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jackal

jackal the jackal was traditionally supposed to go in front of the lion and hunt up prey for him, and from this was called the lion's provider.

The name is recorded in English from the early 17th century; by the end of the century, it was used to denote a person seen as behaving like a jackal, especially one in a subservient relation to another. More recently, it has acquired connotations of cunning and treachery.

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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "jackal." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "jackal." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-jackal.html

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "jackal." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-jackal.html

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jackal

jack·al / ˈjakəl/ • n. a slender, long-legged wild dog (genus Canis) that feeds on carrion, game, and fruit and often hunts cooperatively, found in Africa and southern Asia. Four species include the black-backed jackal (C. mesomelas).

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"jackal." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"jackal." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-jackal.html

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jackal

jackal Wild dog, found throughout Asia and Africa, that resembles a coyote. It eats small animals, fruit, and seeds. Length: to 74cm (29.1in). Family Canidae; genus Canis.

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"jackal." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"jackal." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-jackal.html

"jackal." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-jackal.html

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jackal

jackal XVII. — Turk. çakal — Pers. ŝaġāl, rel. to Skr. śrgālá-.

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T. F. HOAD. "jackal." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "jackal." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-jackal.html

T. F. HOAD. "jackal." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-jackal.html

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jackal

jackal (Canis) See CANIDAE.

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MICHAEL ALLABY. "jackal." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "jackal." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-jackal.html

MICHAEL ALLABY. "jackal." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-jackal.html

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jackal

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"jackal." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

Jackal deceives tiger.(Folktale)
Magazine article from: The World and I; 12/1/2007
Don't be fooled Sure, the hair's cool; but 'The Jackal' is a cliched killer...
Newspaper article from: Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL); 11/14/1997
This `Jackal' hauls out the heavy artillery.(VARIETY)(Review) (movie review)
Newspaper article from: Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN); 11/14/1997

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