Also known as the African wild dog, this is not and never will be a house pet, but it is part of a family and has an intricate social life nonetheless.

More information:

• Canid Specialist Group page.
• African Wild Dog Conservancy
• Study: “Hypercarnivory through sonic hedgehog (SHH) signalling” and other neat facts about African wild dogs (heavy jargon alert, but some very interesting details)

A little extra — Wild dogs (canids) versus spotted hyenas (feliforms):

With these two species, of course the air is occasionally rent with banshee screams.

Featured image: Jo McGowan/Shutterstock