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What the sources say

Golden JackalCanis aureus

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Golden Jackal profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 41 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

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Canis aureus (golden jackal). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysAnimal Diversity Web's 1999 account
The source saysTo cite this page: Ivory, A. 1999. "Canis aureus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web.
The page saysAnimal Diversity Web's 1999 account, which was written when Africa's jackals still counted as the same species and covers golden jackals on both continents
The source saysThe golden jackal occurs in North and East Africa, Southeastern Europe and South Asia to Burma.Note: 1999 from the page's own 'Last updated: 1999-06-07' line; the range sentence shows the account covers African and Eurasian animals, before the 2015 split
The page saysa body 70 to 85 centimeters long, plus a roughly 25-centimeter tail, a shoulder height of about 40 centimeters
The source saysThe body length of the golden jackal is 70 to 85 cm., with a tail length of about 25 cm. Its standing height is approximately 40 cm.Note: pre-split figure, scoped in the sentence
The page saysa weight of 8 to 10 kilograms
The source saysRange mass 8 to 10 kg 17.62 to 22.03 lbNote: pre-split figure, scoped in the sentence
The page saysAnimal Diversity Web's account predates the split and draws partly on jackals of the Serengeti
The source saysGolden jackals of the Serengeti court at the end of the dry season and produce pups during the rainy season.Note: account dated 1999 on its own page, before the 2015 split; the Serengeti animals are now the African golden wolf
The page saysIt describes golden jackals living in strictly monogamous mated pairs
The source saysGolden jackals live in mated pairs and are strictly monogamous.
The page saysthat forage and rest together, their behavior highly synchronized
The source saysGolden jackal pairs forage and rest together. All of their behavior is highly synchronized.
The page saysBy howling together, a pair shows it shares a bond, which the account likens to a betrothal
The source saysBy howling together, a pair shows that there is a bond between them, and thus the choral howling can be considered a kind of betrothal.
The page saysWhere people live, golden jackals are strictly nocturnal, sheltering by day in dens they dig, in rock crevices, or in burrows dug by other animals
The source saysGolden jackals are strictly nocturnal in areas inhabited by humans, but may be partly diurnal elsewhere. They dig caverns for shelter, or use crevices in rocks, or caverns that were dug by other animals.Note: 'by day' follows from strictly nocturnal
The page saysLife in a Monogamous Duet
The source saysGolden jackals live in mated pairs and are strictly monogamous.Note: heading; the section scopes ADW as pre-split
The page saysSoutheastern Europe through the Middle East to South Asia and Burma
The source saysThe golden jackal occurs in North and East Africa, Southeastern Europe and South Asia to Burma.Note: quoting only the Southeastern Europe / South Asia / Burma portion; the African portion is out of scope post-split (Canis anthus, not Canis aureus)
The page saysBy howling together, a golden jackal pair shows it shares a bond
The source saysBy howling together, a pair shows that there is a bond between themNote: vibe.reason; ADW's pre-split account, scoped in the body

Source
02

AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Build 15

AnAge entry for Canis aureus. AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Build 15.

The page saysAnAge lists a record of 18.8 years, set by a golden jackal in captivity
The source saysMaximum longevity 18.8 years (captivity)

Source
03

Koepfli et al. 2015

Koepfli et al. (2015). Genome-wide Evidence Reveals that African and Eurasian Golden Jackals Are Distinct Species. Current Biology.

The page saysBiologists long treated golden jackals across Africa and Eurasia as one species
The source saysThe golden jackal of Africa (Canis aureus) has long been considered a conspecific of jackals distributed throughout Eurasia
The page saysA 2015 genome study overturned that
The source sayspopulations of golden jackals from Africa and Eurasia represent distinct monophyletic lineages separated for more than one million years, sufficient to merit formal recognition as different speciesNote: "2015" is the reference's publication year, from its metadata, not a figure inside the quoted passage
The page saysResearchers analyzed mitochondrial DNA, nuclear genes and whole genomes from African and Eurasian populations
The source sayswe analyzed extensive genomic data including mitochondrial genome sequences, sequences from 20 autosomal loci (17 introns and 3 exon segments), microsatellite loci, X- and Y-linked zinc-finger protein gene (ZFX and ZFY) sequences, and whole-genome nuclear sequences in African and Eurasian golden jackals and gray wolves
The page saysfound they had been separate evolutionary lineages for over a million years, distinct enough to be formally split
The source sayspopulations of golden jackals from Africa and Eurasia represent distinct monophyletic lineages separated for more than one million years, sufficient to merit formal recognition as different species
The page saysAfrica's population became the African golden wolf, while Canis aureus, the true golden jackal profiled here, kept its name for the Eurasian animals
The source saysC. anthus (African golden wolf) and C. aureus (Eurasian golden jackal)
The page sayswhose populations nearest Africa live in the Middle East
The source saysThe golden jackal of Africa (Canis aureus) has long been considered a conspecific of jackals distributed throughout Eurasia, with the nearest source populations in the Middle East
The page saysOne Name, Two Species
The source sayssufficient to merit formal recognition as different species: C. anthus (African golden wolf) and C. aureus (Eurasian golden jackal)Note: heading restates the split already covered by the surrounding claims
The page saysA Million Years Apart
The source sayspopulations of golden jackals from Africa and Eurasia represent distinct monophyletic lineages separated for more than one million yearsNote: blockquote bold lead-in
The page saysGenetic testing found that Africa's golden jackals and Eurasia's had been separate lineages for more than a million years, despite a striking resemblance between East African and Eurasian animals that may have misled taxonomists
The source sayspopulations of golden jackals from Africa and Eurasia represent distinct monophyletic lineages separated for more than one million years ... we demonstrate a striking morphologic similarity between East African and Eurasian golden jackals, suggesting parallelism, which may have misled taxonomists
The page saysThe Eurasian canid that split from Africa's look-alike golden wolf more than a million years ago
The source sayspopulations of golden jackals from Africa and Eurasia represent distinct monophyletic lineages separated for more than one million years, sufficient to merit formal recognition as different species: C. anthus (African golden wolf) and C. aureus (Eurasian golden jackal). Using morphologic data, we demonstrate a striking morphologic similarity between East African and Eurasian golden jackals
The page saysThe genetic study that split them suggests parallel evolution. Uniquely intense competition among East Africa's carnivores likely held the African animal to a body size much like the Eurasian jackal's, even though the two lineages had been apart for more than a million years
The source sayswe demonstrate a striking morphologic similarity between East African and Eurasian golden jackals, suggesting parallelism, which may have misled taxonomists and likely reflects uniquely intense interspecific competition in the East African carnivore guild. Our study shows how ecology can confound taxonomy if interspecific competition constrains size diversification.

Source
04

Gherman & Mihalca 2017

Gherman & Mihalca (2017). A synoptic overview of golden jackal parasites reveals high diversity of species. Parasites & Vectors.

The page saysis a medium-sized member of the dog family
The source saysThe golden jackal, Canis aureus (Carnivora: Canidae) is a medium-sized canid species
The page saysThe golden jackal is thought to have colonized Europe through the Balkan Peninsula during the late Holocene and early Neolithic
The source saysIt is considered that the colonization of Europe by the golden jackal took place during the late Holocene and early Neolithic, through the Balkan Peninsula
The page saysA 2017 review of golden jackal parasites notes at least two expansions in the last century, one starting in the 1950s and a second in the 1980s, particularly evident in Europe
The source saysDuring the last century, the species has recorded at least two geographic expansion events. A notable expansion started in the 1950s, with a second one following during the 1980s. This is particularly evident in Europe.Note: "2017" is the reference's publication year, from its metadata
The page saysBy 2017, stable breeding populations had been recorded in about 20 European countries, with jackals turning up as occasional wanderers in nine more
The source saysStable reproductive populations have been recorded in about 20 European countries, while in other nine, vagrant specimens were observedNote: "2017" is the reference's publication year, from its metadata
The page saysThe 2017 review calls their diet opportunistic and extremely varied: small mammals, birds and their eggs, amphibians, reptiles, even invertebrates, and carrion when it is available
The source saysGolden jackals have an opportunistic nutritional behaviour with an extremely varied diet ... They prey or scavenge on small mammals, birds and their eggs, amphibians, reptiles, even invertebrates, and they take carrion when available.Note: "2017" is the reference's publication year, from its metadata
The page saysA Medium-Sized Canid
The source saysis a medium-sized canid speciesNote: heading
The page saysthen spread fast across Europe in the last century
The source saysDuring the last century, the species has recorded at least two geographic expansion events. A notable expansion started in the 1950s, with a second one following during the 1980s. This is particularly evident in Europe.
The page saysbreeding populations recorded in about 20 European countries by 2017
The source saysStable reproductive populations have been recorded in about 20 European countriesNote: "2017" is the reference's publication year, from its metadata
The page saysSmall mammals, birds and their eggs, amphibians, reptiles, invertebrates, carrion, and occasionally fruit or vegetables
The source saysThey prey or scavenge on small mammals, birds and their eggs, amphibians, reptiles, even invertebrates, and they take carrion when available. Occasionally, jackals also feed on vegetables or fruits.
The page saysA fast geographic expansion
The source saysThe golden jackal (Canis aureus) is a species under significant and fast geographic expansion.
The page saysacross Europe over the last century, in at least two waves
The source saysDuring the last century, the species has recorded at least two geographic expansion events. A notable expansion started in the 1950s, with a second one following during the 1980s. This is particularly evident in Europe.
The page saysIt hunts and scavenges a wide range of animal food, but a 2017 review notes that golden jackals occasionally eat vegetables or fruit too
The source saysThey prey or scavenge on small mammals, birds and their eggs, amphibians, reptiles, even invertebrates, and they take carrion when available. Occasionally, jackals also feed on vegetables or fruits.Note: "2017" is the reference's publication year, from its metadata
The page saysResearchers aren't sure. A 2017 review calls the factors unclear, but notes that land use, climate change and a lack of competition from other members of its genus have been suggested
The source saysThe factors that facilitate the territorial expansion of golden jackals are unclear, but land use [ 11 ], climate change [ 12 , 13 ], and the lack of intra-genus competition have been suggested [ 12 – 14 ].Note: "2017" is the reference's publication year, from its metadata

Source
05

Ranc, Krofel & Ćirović 2025

Ranc, Krofel & Ćirović (2025). Canis aureus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2025: e.T118264161A214278675.

The page saysLeast Concern
The source saysLeast Concern
The page saysNo. The IUCN Red List rates the golden jackal as Least Concern
The source saysLeast Concern

Source
06

Lammertsma, Villing & Jansman 2025

Lammertsma, Villing & Jansman (2025). The arrival of the golden jackal (Canis aureus) in the Netherlands : a fact-finding study. Wageningen Environmental Research.

The page saysdangerLevel: Medium
The source saysAttacks on humans and frequent attacks on farm animals and pets would appear to be unlikely. Golden jackals generally avoid human environments, especially by day. So far, there have been no known golden jackal attacks on humans in Europe.
The page saysdangerLevel: Medium
The source saysindividuals that demonstrate excessively bold behaviour towards humans and therefore form a risk of bites

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.