Geographical Variation in Coat Colour is Associated With Climate and Habitat in African Wild Dogs Lycaon pictus
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: ABSTRACT Variability in a trait can increase species' ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions, which may reduce extinction risks under global environmental change. The African wild dog, Lycaon pictus , is an endangered species which exhibits geographical variation in coat colour, occupies a range of habitats, and also shows behavioural, demographic and phenological responses to weather conditions. We used a machine learning algorithm to estimate the relative proportions of black, tan, and white fur from 490 unique georeferenced photographs from across the species' current range. We found that wild dog coats had higher proportions of tan and white, and lower proportions of black, in hotter and drier areas. Wild dog coats also had higher proportions of white in wooded habitats, including mopane Colophospermum mopane woodland. We speculate that wild dogs' dappled coats provide camouflage in woodland, and that paler (tan or white) fur may provide a selective advantage in hotter and drier regions, through more efficient thermoregulation. Our findings indicate likely adaptive variation in a trait which could inform conservation decisions.
Source: Journal of Zoology
DOI: 10.1111/jzo.70146
Authors: Laura Daniels, Daniella Rabaiotti, Aimee L. S. McIntosh, Amelia Ramage, Tijmen De Lorm, Thierry Aebischer, Matthew S. Becker, Grant Beverley, David Elizalde Castells, Will Donald, Marine Drouilly, Sara Raquel Figueira Fernandes Elizalde, Paul Funston, Rosemary J. Groom, Lise Hanssen, Leonard J. Haule, Robin Horion, Keafon Jumbam, Ruth Kabwe, Glyn Maude, Reilly Mooney, Dedan Ngatia, Kandey Olesyapa, Singira Ngoishiye Parsais, Angelo Poupard, Charlotte Searle, Paulo Strampelli, Ron Van der A, Jessica Watermeyer, Moses Wekesa, Nasri Dadi Salum, Josephine Smit, Rosie Woodroffe
Institutions: Zoological Society of London, University College London, Imperial College London, South African National Parks, Panthera Corporation, University of Cape Town, Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa, Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, University of Wyoming, Mpala Research Center and Wildlife Foundation, Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority, University of Stirling
Language: English
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7225338429