Jackal vs. Wolf — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 3, 2023
Jackal is a smaller, scavenging canid of Africa and Asia. Wolf is larger, predatory canid native to North America and Eurasia.
Difference Between Jackal and Wolf
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A jackal is a type of wild canine, smaller in stature, and is found primarily in parts of Africa and Asia. These creatures often play the role of scavengers in their ecosystems. On the other hand, the wolf is a larger, more dominant predator, native to regions of North America and Eurasia. They are apex predators known for hunting in packs.
While both the jackal and wolf are members of the Canidae family, they occupy different ecological niches. Jackals are more adaptable to diverse environments, often living on the outskirts of human settlements, and are sometimes seen scavenging for food. In contrast, wolves are more likely to hunt larger prey and maintain territories, often away from human habitats.
Physically, jackals tend to have slender bodies, long legs, and bushy tails. Their vocalizations, often yips and howls, are distinctive. In comparison, wolves exhibit more robust physiques, powerful jaws, and their howls are deeper, resonating across vast distances.
Culturally, jackals and wolves have found their way into human folklore and mythology. In many cultures, jackals are often associated with cunning, trickery, or scavenging. The wolf, however, holds varied symbolic meanings, from the menacing Big Bad Wolf of fairy tales to revered spirit animals representing strength and loyalty.
Though the jackal and wolf both belong to the canine family and share certain behavioral traits, they have evolved in different regions and adapted to their respective environments in unique ways. Their physical attributes, behavior, and interactions with humans highlight these distinctions.
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Comparison Chart
Geographical Range
Africa and Asia
North America and Eurasia
Size
Smaller, slender body
Larger, robust physique
Dietary Behavior
Scavengers
Predators
Cultural Associations
Cunning, trickery
Strength, loyalty, menace
Typical Vocalization
High-pitched yips and howls
Deep, resonating howl
Compare with Definitions
Jackal
An opportunistic scavenger
The jackal waited patiently for the predators to leave.
Wolf
A wild canine native to North America and Eurasia
The wolf howled under the full moon.
Jackal
A person who performs dishonest tasks for another
He acted as the jackal for the crime boss.
Wolf
A person who preys on others
Watch out for him; he's a real wolf.
Jackal
Medium-sized omnivore
The jackal diet consists of small animals and fruits.
Wolf
Emblem of strength in various cultures
The tribe revered the wolf as a powerful spirit animal.
Jackal
Symbol of cunning in folklore
The story depicted the jackal outsmarting the lion.
Wolf
The wolf (Canis lupus), also known as the gray wolf or grey wolf, is a large canine native to Eurasia and North America. More than thirty subspecies of Canis lupus have been recognized, and gray wolves, as colloquially understood, comprise non-domestic/feral subspecies.
Jackal
A wild canine found in Africa and Asia
The jackal scavenged the remains of the lion's kill.
Wolf
Any of several carnivorous mammals of the genus Canis, especially the gray wolf of northern regions, that typically live and hunt in packs.
Jackal
Jackals are medium-sized omnivorous mammals of the subtribe Canina, which also includes wolves and the domestic dog, among other species. While the word "jackal" has historically been used for many small canines, in modern use it most commonly refers to three species: the closely related black-backed jackal and side-striped jackal of sub-Saharan-Africa, and the golden jackal of south-central Europe and Asia.
Wolf
The fur of such an animal.
Jackal
A slender long-legged wild dog that feeds on carrion, game, and fruit and often hunts cooperatively, found in Africa and southern Asia.
Wolf
Any of various similar or related mammals, such as the hyena.
Jackal
Any of several mammals of the genus Canis of Africa, Asia, and southeast Europe, that are chiefly foragers feeding on plants, small animals, and occasionally carrion.
Wolf
The destructive larva of any of various moths, beetles, or flies.
Jackal
One who seeks to gain advantage or profit from the difficulties of another.
Wolf
One that is regarded as predatory, rapacious, and fierce.
Jackal
One who performs menial tasks for another.
Wolf
(Slang)A man who habitually makes aggressive sexual advances to women.
Jackal
Any of certain wild canids of the genus Canis, native to the tropical Old World and smaller than a wolf.
Wolf
A harshness in some tones of a bowed stringed instrument produced by defective vibration.
Jackal
A person who performs menial/routine tasks, a dogsbody.
Wolf
Dissonance in perfect fifths on a keyboard instrument tuned to a system of unequal temperament.
Jackal
(derogatory) A person who behaves in an opportunistic way; especially a base collaborator.
Wolf
To eat greedily or voraciously:"The town's big shots were ... wolfing down the buffet"(Ralph Ellison).
Jackal
A jack (the playing card).
Wolf
Canis lupus; the largest wild member of the canine subfamily.
Jackal
(rugby union) a player who steals the ball at the tackle
Wolf
Any of several related canines that resemble Canis lupus in appearance, especially those of the genus Canis.
Jackal
To perform menial or routine tasks
Wolf
A man who makes amorous advances to many women.
Jackal
Any one of several species of carnivorous animals inhabiting Africa and Asia, related to the dog and wolf. They are cowardly, nocturnal, and gregarious. They feed largely on carrion, and are noted for their piercing and dismal howling.
Wolf
(music) A wolf tone or wolf note.
The soft violin solo was marred by persistent wolves.
Jackal
One who does mean work for another's advantage, as jackals were once thought to kill game which lions appropriated.
Wolf
(figurative) Any very ravenous, rapacious, or destructive person or thing; especially, want; starvation.
They toiled hard to keep the wolf from the door.
The bee wolf
Jackal
Old World nocturnal canine mammal closely related to the dog; smaller than a wolf; sometimes hunts in a pack but usually singly or as a member of a pair
Wolf
One of the destructive, and usually hairy, larvae of several species of beetles and grain moths.
Wolf
A white worm which infests granaries, the larva of Nemapogon granella, a tineid moth.
Wolf
A wolf spider.
Wolf
(obsolete) An eating ulcer or sore. See lupus.
Wolf
A willying machine, to cleanse wool or willow.
Wolf
(transitive) To devour; to gobble; to eat (something) voraciously.
Wolf
To make amorous advances to many women; to hit on women; to cruise for sex.
Wolf
(intransitive) To hunt for wolves.
Wolf
Any one of several species of wild and savage carnivores belonging to the genus Canis and closely allied to the common dog. The best-known and most destructive species are the European wolf (Canis lupus), the American gray, or timber, wolf (Canis occidentalis), and the prairie wolf, or coyote. Wolves often hunt in packs, and may thus attack large animals and even man.
Wolf
One of the destructive, and usually hairy, larvæ of several species of beetles and grain moths; as, the bee wolf.
Wolf
Fig.: Any very ravenous, rapacious, or destructive person or thing; especially, want; starvation; as, they toiled hard to keep the wolf from the door.
Wolf
A white worm, or maggot, which infests granaries.
Wolf
An eating ulcer or sore. Cf. Lupus.
If God should send a cancer upon thy face, or a wolf into thy side.
Wolf
The harsh, howling sound of some of the chords on an organ or piano tuned by unequal temperament.
Wolf
A willying machine.
Wolf
Any of various predatory carnivorous canine mammals of North America and Eurasia that usually hunt in packs
Wolf
Austrian composer (1860-1903)
Wolf
German classical scholar who claimed that the Iliad and Odyssey were composed by several authors (1759-1824)
Wolf
A man who is aggressive in making amorous advances to women
Wolf
A cruelly rapacious person
Wolf
Eat hastily;
The teenager wolfed down the pizza
Wolf
A predatory mammal known to hunt in packs
The wolf pack coordinated to bring down the elk.
Wolf
A symbol of ferocity or greed
He was a wolf in the world of business.
Common Curiosities
Can wolves and jackals interbreed?
It's improbable given their different geographical distributions and genetic differences.
Are jackals and wolves related?
Yes, both are part of the Canidae family.
Which is larger, a jackal or a wolf?
A wolf is typically much larger than a jackal.
Are jackals considered dangerous?
While wary of humans, they aren't typically a threat like some wolves can be.
Are there different species of jackals?
Yes, there are several species like the golden jackal, black-backed jackal, and side-striped jackal.
Which is more likely to be seen near human habitats, jackals or wolves?
Jackals are more adaptable and often seen near human settlements.
Do wolves always hunt in packs?
Mostly, but solitary hunting isn't unheard of.
Do jackals hunt in packs like wolves?
While jackals can be social, they don't form large packs like wolves.
Is the term 'lone wolf' derived from actual wolf behavior?
Yes, sometimes wolves leave or are ousted from their pack, becoming solitary.
Which has a more diverse diet, jackals or wolves?
Jackals have a more varied diet, including fruits and small animals.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
