De black-backed jackal can be found only in Africa. The habitat of the black-backed jackal is quite variable, but mostly associated with open terrain, and not forest or heavy bush. The main characteristic of the black-backed jackal, which gives it its name, is the black hair running from the back of the neck to the tail, adults stand about 40cm at the shoulder and are nearly a meter long in length. The head is dog-like, with a pointed muzzle and high pointed ears. This species is one of the few mammals that has a long-term mate. When hunting an individual walks slowly with its ears pricked and alert. Their senses are extremely acute and well-developed, especially their senses of hearing and smell. Black-backed jackals are like other social canids in their foraging, they hunt often in packs to make it possible to bring down large prey. However, black-backed jackals have also been found to hunt alone or in mated pairs, i have seen many jackals scavenging the remains of a feline kill in de serengeti together with hyeana's. The black-backed jackal occurs in numerous protected areas including the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, and the Kruger National Park and Giant's Castle Game Reserve, South Africa.

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