Coyote or jackal?
How to tell them apart
The golden jackal fills much the same niche in Eurasia as the coyote does in North America; the coyote is generally larger.
Quick answers
They give the same 8 quick answers, so in the game it comes down to the clues below.
| Question | Coyote | Jackal |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Mammal | Mammal |
| Carnivore? | Omnivore | Omnivore |
| Dangerous? | Can be | Can be |
| Domesticated? | No | No |
| Awake when? | Night | Night |
| Hibernates? | No | No |
| Kept as a pet? | No | No |
| Do people eat it? | No | No |
At a glance
| Question | Coyote | Jackal |
|---|---|---|
| Found in differs | North America, Central America | Africa, Asia, Europe |
| Habitat differs | Grassland, Forest, Desert, Towns | Grassland, Scrub, Desert, Farmland |
| Size | Medium | Medium |
| Length differs | 75–100 cm | – |
| Weight differs | 7–21 kg | 8–10 kg (golden jackal) |
| Legs | 4 | 4 |
| Covered in | Fur | Fur |
| Lives differs | In packs | In pairs |
| Lives for differs | 10–14 years | 8–15 years |
| Can fly | No | No |
| Swims differs | Yes | No |
| Lays eggs | No | No |
About each
Coyote
A North American wild dog, smaller than its close relative the grey wolf. It adapts well to places people have changed, and urban coyotes are now common in many cities. In 2013 one was seen across the Panama Canal for the first time.
Jackal
Wild dogs of Africa and Eurasia: the black-backed and side-striped jackals of Africa and the golden jackal of south-central Europe and Asia. They aren’t one natural group; the golden jackal is closer to wolves and coyotes.
Sources
Last reviewed . The answers and notes come from each animal's own page, where every source is listed.
How each answer is decided: How we answer. More look-alikes: Side by side.