Talk:Black-backed jackal

The map (blue) needs an update as the jackals also occur on Namibias coast. This habitat is also mentioned in the text under "Diet" and they are quite common on the Skeleton Coast feeding on dead seals. Flo Simba (talk) 17:47, 5 March 2023 (UTC)

Animals don't typically prey on other carnivores near or above their size and African Wildcats frequently overlap in size with Jackals. Additionally, Wildcats are fierce and a Jackal would most likely be severely injured or even mortally wounded even if it won the fight. For a relevant example, European wildcats are known to attack and kill Foxes and their pups. Do European wildcats prey on Foxes because they frequently win fights against Foxes? 47.197.29.147 (talk) 03:35, 29 August 2023 (UTC)

The cited source says "wildcats (Felidae)... have been identified from the stomachs of C. mesomelas". That seems definitive, although how common a part of their diet they might be, or even if they were carrion, is another matter. I have amended the article to make it clear what the source for the statement is, since it wasn't clear from the earlier version. Anaxial (talk) 04:27, 29 August 2023 (UTC)

I think European wildcats may be too big. African wildcats are much smaller though. 47.197.29.147 (talk) 19:30, 27 October 2023 (UTC)

Also, Jackals are primarily omnivores who don't like the taste of other predators nor do they want to risk going after other predators. 47.197.29.147 (talk) 14:16, 28 October 2023 (UTC)

Edit: I meant to say scavengers. They are scavengers that don't like the taste of other carnivores. 47.197.29.147 (talk) 21:31, 31 October 2023 (UTC)