Jackal, jak'awl, an animal of the dog genus, resembling a dog and a fox, a native of Asia and Africa. The general color is a dirty yellow. The jackals are gregarious, hunt in packs and rarely attack the larger quadrupeds. They feed chiefly on carrion and are nocturnal in their habits. Jackals are timid animals and may be easily tamed. The common jackal is the most widely distributed. Another species, the black-backed jackal, whose fur is highly prized, is found in southern Africa. This species is much more highly colored than any of the others.