Jackal, wolflike carnivore of the dog genus Canis, family Canidae.

Jackals inhabit more or less open country.
Nocturnal animals, they usually conceal themselves by day in brush or thickets and sally forth at dusk to hunt.
They live alone, in pairs, or packs and feed on whatever is available.

When hunting in packs they are able to bring down prey as large as antelopes and sheep.
Like other members of the genus, jackals sing at evening; their cry is more dismaying than that of the Hyena.