Dholes are born a sooty brown color and acquire their distinctive red coat at three months of age.
A dhole is born with a sooty brown color, acquiring an adult color at three months of age. The pups reach sexual maturity at about a year.
The adult dhole is characterized by a rusty red coat with a pale underside. Their bellies, chest, and feet are usually white, but not always. Dholes also have dark, almost always black, bushy fox-like tails. Depending on the region, a dhole’s pelage may vary from light brownish-charcoal gray, to sandy beige, or an iconic uniform red coat.
Sources: (Carmignani; Chacon, 2000; Hance, 2015; San Diego Zoo Global)
Image: Johan Spaedtke
