![]() ![]() The Ethiopian wolf attains full adult appearance at 2 years of age, and both sexes are sexually mature during their second year (Sillero-Zubiri and Gottelli 1994). Adults have been seen providing food for young up to 1 year old. Finally, from week 10 until about 6 months, the young survive almost solely on solid food provided from adult members of the pack. ![]() It ends when the pups are completely weaned. The second occurs from week 5-10 from when the pups' milk diet is supplemented by solid food regurgitated from all pack members. ![]() The first covers weeks 1-4 when the pups are completely dependent on their mother for milk. After this time, den sites are regularly shifted, sometimes up to 1300m.ĭevelopment of the young occurs in three stages (Sillero-Zubiri and Gottelli 1994). At about 3 weeks, the coat begins to be replaced by the normal adult coloring and the young first emerge from the den. They are charcoal gray with a buff patch on their chest and under areas. The pups are born with their eyes closed and no teeth. The female gives birth to her litter in a den she digs in open ground under a boulder or in a rocky crevice. Gestation lasts approximately 60-62 days. Once a year between October and January, the dominant female in each pack gives birth to a litter of 2-6 pups. In these cases, the subordinate lactating female is likely pregnant and either loses or deserts her own young for those of the dominant female. It is not uncommon for a subordinate female to assist in suckling the young of the dominant female. Ethiopian wolves mate over a period of 3-5 days, involving a copulation tie that lasts up to 15 minutes. Prior to copulation, the dominant female increases her rate of scent marking, play soliciting, food begging towards the dominant male, and aggressive behavior towards subordinate females. While copulation between males and subordinate females does occur, pups that may arise from this union rarely survive (Sillero-Zubiri et al. Copulation outside the pack occurs with males of all rank, but those within the pack occur only between the dominant male and female. To combat this high potential for inbreeding inside the closely related pack, matings outside the pack occur frequently. Males generally remain in their natal pack, and a small number of females disperse in their second or third year. Range length 841 to 1012 mm 33.11 to 39.84 inįor Ethiopian wolves, dispersal from their native packs is limited due to habitat saturation.The dental formula is 3/3:1/1:4/4:2/3, with the lower third molar being absent occasionally. The tail is from 270 to 396 mm in length. Males weigh from 14.2 to 19.3 kg (average 16.2) and females from 11.2 to 14.2 kg (average 12.8). Males measure from 928 to 1012 mm (average 963 mm) and females from 841 to 960 mm (average 919 mm). There are five toes on the front feet and four on the rear feet. Females are generally paler in color than males and are smaller overall. The ears are wide and pointed and the nose, gums, and palate are black. The tail is marked with an indistinct black stripe down its length and a brush of black hairs at the tip. White markings on the face include a characteristic white crescent below the eyes and a white spot on the cheeks. ![]() The boundary between the red and white fur is quite distinct. They have a reddish coat with white marking on the legs, underbelly, tail, face, and chin.
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