Dholes have the largest land requirements of any Asian species and prefer open spaces, such as clearings and river beds.
Category: FaunaFacts
FaunaFocus releases a new FaunaFact every single day! These bite-sized bits of information are interesting facts paired with a unique image of that animal.
Dhole
Dholes engage in obligate cooperative group hunting and group care of their young and, of the canids, are most similar to African wild dogs due to their social behaviors.
Dhole
With fewer than 2,300 mature individuals remaining, the dhole is endangered due to habitat loss, inter-species competition, depletion of prey, persecution, and disease.
Dhole
Dholes are docile, gentle, communal animals and do not show aggression toward each other.
Dhole
Each dhole pack contains a dominant monogamous breeding alpha pair.
Dhole
The dhole is a hypercarnivore, with a diet of at least 70% meat, the majority consisting of deer and other ungulates.
Dhole
Dholes are highly social animals that live in packs averaging 5-12, but can number up to 40 depending on the ecosystem and prey availability.
Dhole
Depending on the region, an adult dhole's pelage may vary from light brownish-charcoal gray to a sandy beige or red coat.
Dhole
Dholes are known as "whistling dogs" because of their vocal nature and bird-like whistling calls.
Dhole
The dhole is about the size of a medium-sized dog, and males tend to be larger and heavier than females.
Dhole
The dhole is the only species in the Cuon genus and is known by many names, though the origin of "dhole" is unknown.
Dhole
The dhole was originally distinguished as two seperate species of Cuon, but later recognized as a single species, separated into 11, then 3, subspecies.
Dhole
Dholes are intelligent canines and can be trained to follow commands.
Dhole
Dholes are great diggers.
Green Turtle
All 8 species of sea turtles, including the green turtle, are endangered or threatened due to vulnerability to anthropogenic impacts during all life-stages.
Green Turtle
Artificial light alters the behavior of nesting green turtles and can be fatal to hatchlings attracted to the light sources instead of the water.
Green Turtle
Due to warming climates, 90% of green turtles at the Great Barrier Reef are hatching female.
Green Turtle
Green turtle copulation can last several hours, with the longest recorded mounting episode lasting 119 hours.
Green Turtle
Green turtles use wave propogation direction and magnetic channels to help them navigate.
Green Turtle
Unlike other sea turtles, green turtles only have one pair of prefrontal scales.
Green Turtle
Green turtles primarily use vision to detect plants and prey and use visual displays when communicating, such as during mating.
Green Turtle
Green turtles are polygynandrous, meaning that females and males will have multiple mates.
Green Turtle
Although many countries have laws protecting green turtles, they are poached for their eggs, meat, and shells in areas around the world, such as South East Asia.
Green Turtle
Green turtles are black upon hatching, but change color over the course of thier lives.
Green Turtle
Juvenile green turtles are faster swimmers than other sea turtles because of the way they stroke their foreflippers.
Green Turtle
Green turtles suffer from parasitic trematode eggs, known as flukes, that cause inflammation and death.
Green Turtle
The soft-shelled, white eggs of green turtles take 30-90 days to incubate, taking longer in wet seasons.
Green Turtle
The green turtle has a strong beak and short, serrated jaws that aid in ripping and tearing apart plants.
Green Turtle
Like many turtles, green turtles' development is affected by temperature. Cooler environments produce more males while warmer nests hatch more females.
Green Turtle
A female green turtle will revisit her birthplace, or a beach with similar sand texture and color, to breed and lay her eggs every 2-4 years.
Green Turtle
Rival green turtles will attack actively mating pairs in order to dislodge the male from the female and take his place.
Green Turtle
Female green turtles have "mating notches" on their shoulders that assist males in grasping and mounting during copulation.
Green Turtle
There is no parental investment by green turtles beyond the mother's egg-laying and camouflaging of the nest.