# dhole (*Cuon alpinus*) Dholes are wild dogs that live in packs and are very social. They have beautiful reddish-brown fur and are great at hunting together in the forests. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Asiatic Wild Dog, Indian Wild Dog ![dhole](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Dhole_%28Asiatic_wild_dog%29_cropped.jpg&width=800) Photo: Davidvraju, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dhole_%28Asiatic_wild_dog%29_cropped.jpg) ## Appearance The dhole is a striking wild dog with rusty reddish-brown fur, a lighter white or cream belly, and a long, bushy tail tipped with dark fur. Its rounded ears and shorter muzzle give it a distinctive appearance, differing from other canids. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Canidae - **Genus:** Cuon ## Interesting facts - A dhole pack works together to raise all their pups! - Dholes have 40 teeth, fewer than most wild dogs! - Dholes often share food, even with injured pack members! - They love to play, splashing and chasing each other! ## Special abilities - **Whistle Talker:** Dholes can make unique whistling calls because of their specialized vocalizations that help them communicate across long distances. - **Team Hunter:** Dholes can hunt in highly coordinated packs because of their social intelligence that helps them take down prey much larger than themselves. - **River Runner:** Dholes can navigate watery environments because of their excellent swimming skills that help them cross rivers and even hunt in water. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 88-113 cm - **Weight:** 10-21 kg - **Lifespan:** 8-10 years - **Speed:** 55 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-12 - **Gestation:** 60-70 days ## Diet & Feeding Dholes are skilled hunters who primarily eat deer and wild pigs, sometimes even sharing fruit. - **Primary Foods:** Sambar Deer, Chital Deer, Wild Boar, Indian Muntjac, Hares, Fruit - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Sambar Deer (*Rusa unicolor*) — Large deer that dhole packs skillfully take down. - **Hunts:** Chital Deer (*Axis axis*) — A common prey species in many dhole habitats. - **Hunts:** [Wild Boar](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wild-boar) (*Sus scrofa*) — Packs often cooperate to take down these large animals. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Dholes are wild animals, so it's best to admire them from a distance in nature. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify dhole? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is dhole? 88-113 cm ### How much does dhole weigh? 10-21 kg ### How long does dhole live? 8-10 years ### How fast can dhole move? 55 km/h ### What does dhole eat? Dholes are skilled hunters who primarily eat deer and wild pigs, sometimes even sharing fruit. ### Where is dhole usually found? Forests ### How does dhole hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Ranuan Eläinpuisto](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ranuan-el-inpuisto) — Lapland, FI · Zoo - [The Wilds](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/the-wilds) — Ohio, US · Zoo - [Neunkircher Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/neunkircher-zoo) — Saarland, DE · Zoo [View all places to see dhole](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/dhole) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Dhole: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dhole)