What is Pack (canine)?
[[Image:Canis lupus pack surrounding Bison.jpg|thumb|250px|Canine packs often work together, as in this [[bison]] hunt.]] [[File:Wild_Dog_Kruger_National_Park_South_Africa.jpg|thumb|250px|[[African Wild Dog]]s hunting in a pack]] '''Pack''' is the name given to [[canine]]s, which live and hunt together. That means the dog tribe, known as the Canini. It does not apply to [[foxes]] (the tribe Vulpini). Other caniforms ([[Caniformia]]) live singly or come together at mating times, with some exceptions (like the [[badger]]). So, not all canids form packs. If they do, the size of the pack, and the social behaviour in the pack varies by [[species]]. The animals in the pack know each other. Always there is a [[hierarchy]] of [[dominance (ethology)|dominance]] inside the pack. The classic case is the [[grey wolf]]. All packs are united by [[genetic]] relationship: they are [[family]] members. One reason why some [[mammal]]ian [[predators]] [[evolved]] group behaviour is that their [[prey]] lives in massive [[herd]]s on [[grassland]]. The most notable predators on grassland are the wolves and [[jackals]] (caniforms) and the [[lions]] and [[hyaena]]s ([[Feliformia|feliforms]]). The same principle works with [[aquatic]] predators: if their prey goes in [[shoal]]s or family groups, then the predators go in groups. == Related pages == *[[Collective animal behaviour]] *[[Herd]] {{Biology-stub}} [[Category:Ethology]]