Original Research
A case of inbreeding in the African Wild Dog Lycaon pictus in the Kruger National Park
Submitted: 01 September 1978 | Published: 03 September 1978
About the author(s)
A. Reich,Full Text:
PDF (921KB)Abstract
An observed case of inbreeding in a pack ot wild dogs Lycaon pictus in the Kruger National Park, Republic of South Africa, provides evidence for the phenomenon of dominance reversal in this species. This is believed to be the first recorded instance of inbreeding in Lycaon. Emigration of subordinate females from established packs of wild dogs has been documented in the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area in northern Tanzania, as well as in the Kruger National Park. However, the newly subordinate (ex-dominant) female in the pack in which inbreeding has occurred has not emigrated in the 16 months since the change in her status. A possible explanation for this behaviour is given. As a result of this reversal, the pack contains at least two females capable of breeding, the subordinate of which is at least two years older than the dominant. This is considered the first record of such a breeding structure in Lycaon.
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Crossref Citations
1. Are dispersal and inbreeding avoidance related?
Jim Moore, Rauf Ali
Animal Behaviour vol: 32 issue: 1 first page: 94 year: 1984
doi: 10.1016/S0003-3472(84)80328-0