Canis adjustus, the side striped jackal, which can be recognized by its two yellow brown stripes that run lengthwise down its flanks. This jackal, residing in Africa, is one of the many prey of the leopard. The Canis mesomelas, the black backed jackal, can be found in eastern and southern Africa. This species has a thick dark saddle of fur across its back. This jackal is by far the most aggressive of the three species, even daring at times to raid settlements at night, killing flocks of chickens.
Jackals tend to look like a cross between a wolf and a fox.
They live partly on young birds small mammals, fruit and insects. They are, however, most well known for feeding on carrion, the remains of kills made by other animals. Along with the hyenas, African jackals often follow the lions, finishing off the carcasses of the kills they make. Jackals also find carrion by following the vultures, another carrion-eating animal. When the vultures stop circling in the air and swoop to the ground, the jackal races to that spot, knowing the vulture has found food.