African Painted Dog

== Roleplays that feature this creature ==
* South African Savanna
== Other info ==
They are enemies with hyenas and fearful of lions.
Mothers prefer to give birth in burrows which are lined with grass, especially abandoned aardvark burrows. The pups remain inside of the den until they reach the age of 3 weeks to a month, which is when they may venture outside for the first time. As soon as the pups leave the burrow, they are no longer just the responsibility of the mother, but the whole pack, and may suckle females other than their mother.
Pups are weaned at the age of 1 month and 1 week and are often fed regurgitated meat while they're too young to eat solid meat. They have very good eyesight and primarily use their sense of sight rather than sense of smell to find prey.
=== Social Structure ===
Lives in large family packs consisting of a dominant breeding pair and their pups. Although usually the dominant pair are the only ones allowed to breed, occasionally they might allow ONE of their daughters to have pups too. They are especially kind to each other and unlike many animals, they refuse to leave wounded and sick individuals of the pack behind.
There is very little aggression and intimidation used to enforce the dominance hierarchy, although it's not entirely unheard of for there to be an occasional fight between the dominant mother and one of her daughters over breeding rights. Hunts are led by the dominant father.
Females usually disperse from their pack at the age of 2 years and 6 months to find a pack without females she could become the dominant mother in. Males may choose between staying with their birth pack forever, or leaving with a few of their brothers to start a new pack and hopefully find a dispersal female who could join as the dominant mother.
Category:Animal Pages