A black-backed jackal (canis mesomelas) closely and curiously follows a spotted hyena (crocuta crocuta) with bloodied face on the grass plains of Etos

---

A black-backed jackal (canis mesomelas) closely and curiously follows a spotted hyena (crocuta crocuta) with bloodied face on the grass plains of Etosha national park, in Namibia. Although spotted hyenas do not hunt black-backed jackals they could possibly kill or injure the jackal when competing over the remains of a carcass, as both species often scavenge. The hyena will however not expend much effort trying to catch the nimble jackal but both animals are opportunistic and aggressive.

---

Size: 7152px × 4751px
Photo credit: © TONY CAMACHO/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: africa, african, animals, black-backed, body, canis, carnivorous, competition, crocuta, curious, differentiation, etosha, fauna, grassland, hyena, interaction, jackal, laughing, mammal, mesomelas, namibia, national, nature, park, predator, scavenger, size, spotted, wildlife