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What the sources say

African Wild Dog (Painted Dog)Lycaon pictus

Every figure, record and mechanism on the African Wild Dog (Painted Dog) profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 55 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

African Wildlife Foundation

African Wild Dog. African Wildlife Foundation.

The page saysA coat no two dogs wear the same way
The source saysNo two wild dogs are marked exactly the same, making it easy to identify individuals.
The page saysMostly savanna and dry country
The source saysThey are found mostly in arid zones and in the savanna.Note: 'dry country' is AWF's 'arid zones'
The page saysGazelles and other antelope, warthogs, and wildebeest calves
The source sayshunt for a wide variety of prey, including gazelles and other antelopes, warthogs, wildebeest calves, rats, and birds
The page saysAdults weigh 18 to 36 kilograms and stretch about a meter long
The source saysWeight 18 to 36 kilograms (40 to 79 pounds) ... Size About 1 meter in length (30 to 43 inches)Note: 'Adults' is the reading of a species fact box; pups are born weighing less than a pound (Oregon Zoo)
The page sayswith large, bat-like ears and a colorful, patchy coat
The source sayshas a colorful, patchy coat; large bat-like ears
The page saysNo two wild dogs are marked exactly alike, which makes each one easy to identify
The source saysNo two wild dogs are marked exactly the same, making it easy to identify individuals.
The page saysthey usually stay paired for life
The source saysEvery hunting pack has a dominant pair. They are usually the only pair that remains monogamous for life.
The page saysthe whole pack helps raise the pups
The source saysThe entire pack is involved in the welfare of the pups.
The page saysHunters return to the den and regurgitate meat for the nursing mother and the pups
The source saysThe hunting members of the pack return to the den where they regurgitate meat for the nursing female and pups.
The page saysThere's little aggression within a pack and little bullying in its hierarchy
The source saysthere is a general lack of aggression exhibited between members of the pack ... there is little intimidation among the social hierarchy
The page sayspackmates take care of members that are hurt or sick
The source saysThey cooperate in taking care of the wounded and sick members
The page sayshabitat fragmentation is the main threat
The source saysThe principal threat to this species is habitat fragmentation
The page saysIt increases clashes with people and the loss of small local populations to disease outbreaks
The source sayshabitat fragmentation, which increases human-wildlife conflict and localized, small population extinction due to epidemic disease
The page saysAs farms, roads and settlements spread, wild dogs are losing the spaces where they once roamed freely
The source saysAs human populations expand, leading to agriculture, settlements, and roads, wild dogs are losing the spaces in which they were once able to roam freely.
The page saysRunning Out of Space
The source saysWild dogs are losing their living spaces.
The page saysThey typically live 10 to 12 years
The source saysLife span 10 to 12 years

Source
02

Oregon Zoo

African painted dog. Oregon Zoo.

The page saysa hunt run at up to 30 mph until the prey tires
The source sayschase their prey at up to 30 miles an hour for up to 3 ½ miles until the hunted animal slows down from fatigue
The page sayschasing prey at up to 30 mph for as long as three and a half miles until it tires and slows down
The source sayschase their prey at up to 30 miles an hour for up to 3 ½ miles until the hunted animal slows down from fatigue
The page saysin sub-Saharan Africa
The source sayslive in the savanna, grasslands, and open range of sub-Saharan AfricaNote: 'in', not 'across': the same page says most survivors are limited to the south and east of their original range
The page saysAfrican wild dogs live in the savanna, grasslands and open country of sub-Saharan Africa
The source sayslive in the savanna, grasslands, and open range of sub-Saharan AfricaNote: 'open country' glosses 'open range'.
The page saysA pack can run at up to 30 mph and keep going for as much as three and a half miles
The source sayschase their prey at up to 30 miles an hour for up to 3 ½ miles
The page sayschasing prey such as an antelope, warthog or wildebeest calf until it tires and slows down
The source saysuntil the hunted animal slows down from fatigueNote: the prey names are the AWF diet list (stats.diet claim); the chase-to-fatigue is Oregon Zoo's
The page saysTheir hunts succeed 70 to 90 percent of the time
The source saysTheir hunts are successful 70-90% of the time.
The page saysWild dogs hunt mostly at dawn and dusk to avoid lions and other predators
The source sayshunting mostly at dawn and dusk to avoid lions and other predators
The page saysOnly the dominant male and female in a pack breed
The source saysOnly the dominant pair breeds and has young
The page saysTheir hunts succeed 70 to 90 percent of the time
The source saysTheir hunts are successful 70-90% of the time.
The page saysA pack can chase prey like an antelope or wildebeest at up to 30 mph, for as much as three and a half miles, until the animal tires and slows down
The source sayschase their prey at up to 30 miles an hour for up to 3 ½ miles until the hunted animal slows down from fatigue ... they can take down not only a medium-sized antelope but also larger animals like the kudu and the wildebeest
The page saysfor a pack that talks in high-pitched squeaks
The source saysThey work as a team, communicating with each other using high-pitched squeaking noises that sound like tennis shoes rubbing on a gym floor.Note: vibe.reason; replaces 'high-energy African vocal cuts', which paired by geography, and the unsourced '170 BPM' (#184)
The page saysruns prey down at up to 30 mph over as much as three and a half miles
The source sayschase their prey at up to 30 miles an hour for up to 3 ½ miles until the hunted animal slows down from fatigueNote: vibe.reason

Source
03

Tsavo Trust

African wild dogs: Frequently Asked Questions. Tsavo Trust.

The page saysWild dogs themselves pose no known threat to people, and actively avoid them
The source saysAfrican wild dogs pose no known threat to humans and actively avoid people.Note: body; the sentence stats.dangerLevel: Medium rests on. Tiers are capabilities: a pack that kills antelope with repeated bites can injure, so not Low, and it has no recorded attack on a person and avoids people, which is Medium's 'real weapons and little interest in using them on anything your size', not High (#184)

Source
04

AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Build 15

AnAge entry for Lycaon pictus. AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Build 15.

The page saysthe record in captivity is 15.1 years
The source saysrecord longevity in captivity is only 15.1 yearsNote: AnAge's headline 'Maximum longevity 17 years (captivity)' cites ref 0671, but its own observation text gives ref 0671 (Weigl 2005, captive records) as 15.1 years and the 17 as an estimate from Nowak 1999; the captive record is 15.1

Source
05

Chavez et al. 2019

Chavez et al. (2019). Comparative genomics provides new insights into the remarkable adaptations of the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus). Scientific Reports.

The page saysfour-toed front feet
The source sayshaving only four digits on their forefeet
The page saysFour Toes Up Front
The source sayshaving only four digits on their forefeet
The page saysWolves keep a small first toe on the front foot, called a dewclaw
The source saysnote the small first digit in gray wolf called the “dewclaw”
The page saysLosing that toe is unique among living canids, and African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) are the ones that lost it
The source saysthe loss of the first digit on the forefeet ... is unique among living canids
The page saysA genomic study of the species suggests the loss comes from mutations that may let the natural cell death that shapes a growing paw destroy that toe instead of sparing it
The source saysWe suggest that the amino acid deletions in FANCC, FANCD2, and FANCM found exclusively in AWDs may reduce the binding affinity of the FA protein complex to CtBP1, thus allowing the loss of the first digit through apoptosisNote: 'natural cell death' is apoptosis; 'shapes a growing paw' is the interdigital apoptosis during early digit development; 'sparing' is the paper's 'protected from apoptosis'
The page saysThe payoff is a longer stride and more speed
The source saysThis trait increases their stride length and speed
The page saysWithin the dog family, the wild dog is the most specialized for running
The source saysWithin the Canidae, the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is the most specialized with regards to cursorial adaptations (specialized for running)
The page saysWolves keep a small first toe on the front foot, called a dewclaw
The source saysnote the small first digit in gray wolf called the “dewclaw”
The page saysLosing that toe is unique among living canids
The source saysthe loss of the first digit on the forefeet ... is unique among living canids
The page saysAfrican wild dogs are the ones that lost it
The source saysWithin the Canidae, the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is the most specialized with regards to cursorial adaptations (specialized for running), having only four digits on their forefeet.
The page saysA genomic study suggests that mutations found only in wild dogs may let the natural cell death which shapes a growing paw destroy that toe instead of sparing it
The source saysWe suggest that the amino acid deletions in FANCC, FANCD2, and FANCM found exclusively in AWDs may reduce the binding affinity of the FA protein complex to CtBP1, thus allowing the loss of the first digit through apoptosis
The page saysThe payoff is a longer stride that helps power their long chases
The source saysThis trait increases their stride length and speed allowing them to pursue prey for long distances in open plain habitats

Source
06

Walker et al. 2017

Walker et al. (2017). Sneeze to leave: African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) use variable quorum thresholds facilitated by sneezes in collective decisions. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.

The page saysBefore the group moves off together, wild dogs hold a "rally," a high-energy greeting session
The source saystake part in stereotyped social rallies: high energy greeting ceremonies that occur before collective movements
The page saysResearchers watching packs in Botswana found that once a rally has enough quick, audible sneezes, the pack is likely to leave
The source sayswe investigate collective decisions by free-ranging African wild dog packs in Botswana ... Not all rallies result in collective movements ... the probability of rally success (i.e. group departure) is predicted by a minimum number of audible rapid nasal exhalations (sneezes), within the rally
The page saysIt takes fewer sneezes when a dominant dog starts the rally
The source saysthe number of sneezes needed for the group to depart (i.e. the quorum) was reduced whenever dominant individuals initiated rallies
The page saysA dominant dog isn't required, though: if enough of the others agree, the group may overrule the leaders
The source saysdominant participation increases the likelihood of a rally's success, but is not a prerequisite. As such, the 'will of the group' may override dominant preferences when the consensus of subordinates is sufficiently great.
The page saysA Sneeze Is a Vote
The source saysspecific behavioural mechanisms (here, sneezing) allow for negotiation (in effect, voting)
The page saysWith sneezes
The source saysthe probability of rally success (i.e. group departure) is predicted by a minimum number of audible rapid nasal exhalations (sneezes), within the rally
The page saysBefore the group moves off together, a pack holds a high-energy greeting session called a rally
The source saystake part in stereotyped social rallies: high energy greeting ceremonies that occur before collective movements
The page saysResearchers studying wild packs in Botswana found that once a rally has enough audible sneezes, the pack is likely to leave
The source sayswe investigate collective decisions by free-ranging African wild dog packs in Botswana ... the probability of rally success (i.e. group departure) is predicted by a minimum number of audible rapid nasal exhalations (sneezes), within the rally
The page saysIt takes fewer sneezes when a dominant dog starts the rally, though the group can still leave without one
The source saysthe number of sneezes needed for the group to depart (i.e. the quorum) was reduced whenever dominant individuals initiated rallies, suggesting that dominant participation increases the likelihood of a rally's success, but is not a prerequisite

Source
07

Dröge et al. 2016

Dröge et al. (2016). Spatial and temporal avoidance of risk within a large carnivore guild. Ecology and Evolution.

The page saysIn one park in Zambia, they also avoided areas that lions used heavily
The source sayswithin Liuwa Plain National Park in western Zambia ... wild dogs avoided areas heavily used by lions
The page saysThe researchers suggest wild dogs may be more likely than cheetahs to die out locally, especially in open, uniform country where that avoidance is difficult
The source sayspartitioning may not allow for coexistence for one subordinate species, the African wild dog, while it does for cheetah. Because of differences in responses to dominant competitors, African wild dogs may be more prone to competitive exclusion (local extirpation), particularly in open, uniform ecosystems with simple (often wildebeest dominated) prey communities, where spatial avoidance is difficult

Source
08

Woodroffe et al. 2025

Woodroffe et al. (2025). Lycaon pictus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2025: e.T12436A221299510.

The page saysThey are Endangered
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Endangered (EN).

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.