Close Relative

A new study on DNA suggests that the animal commonly known as the Egyptian Jackal is not very closely related to other jackals. It is much more closely related to wolves and dogs, so much that it certainly belongs to our species, though it looks like a jackal. The scientists behind the study thus want this animal to be called the African Wolf. I congratulate the African Wolves, it sure is better to be a wolf than a jackal!

Nobody should be surprised that a wolf can look like a jackal. Just look at all the numerous dog breeds of different sizes and shapes, and consider that the dog and the wolf is the same species. While we have so far said the domesticated wolf come in very different guises, we can now say the same about the wild wolf. We are an interesting species, are we not, the canis lupus?