jackal

a kind of animal – mammal – belongs to ‘dog’ family – four-legged, medium-sized with pale brown to grey with a dark saddle (a patch of dark black and grey hair on the back running along from the back of the neck to the tail part);

narrow head with pointed long pointed muzzle (mouth and nose part), large pointed straight ears, sharp teeth; long slender legs, long bushy tail with black or white tip (depending on the species); size: 1-2 feet tall at the shoulder, 5-6 feet long, including the tail, and weighs 7-15 Kg.; feeds on (eats) (omnivore = eating meat and plant matter; and ‘scavengers’ = feeds on the dead bodies of the animals killed by other animals) rats, mice, rabbits and hares, lizards, snakes, birds, fish, and fruits, berries, grasses, and garbage, if near the human settlements; lives for 10-12 years; three species (kinds) – common or golden jackal, side-striped jackal and black-backed jackal – found in Africa, Asia and Europe

one kind of jackal

male ~~ dog

female ~~ bitch

baby ~~ pup, cub

group ~~ pack (while hunting or looking for food in a group)

voice (call) ~~ yap, yell, scream, howl

home ~~ burrow, den (for raising pups)

Special Features:

Jackals are known to be cunning and very resourceful.  It is believed that jackals lead larger predators, such as lion, to their prey (= animals they kill and eat) and when they kill the animals, jackals wait until they finish eating, and then eat whatever is left.

The coffee beans (= coffee seeds with which people make coffee) eaten by jackals, passed through the bowls and come out in their faeces (shit) undigested are believed to be tastier than the ordinary beans, and such beans have a great demand in the coffee market!

The jackal has been associated with humans since ancient times:

jackal-headed god of ancient Egypt

the ancient Greek and Egyptian cultures had jackals in their art representing some gods; and also the jackal has been associated with magic and sorcery mentioned in several fables, folklore and fictional stories!!

It is observed that once a male jackal and a female jackal make a pair, they live together for life!

Figures of Speech:

1.

jackal (noun)  =

(a)  a person who, by nature, obeys other, and does what others want

(b)  a person who helps others in a crime

2.

jackalling (noun)  =

(a)  the act of a junior or subordinate officer doing the monotonous or menial work in order to save the time and labour of a superior

(b)  the act of trying to get any profit or benefit out of others’ misfortune, troubles, etc.

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