A wild, highly social carnivorous dog native to Asia, smaller than a wolf, that hunts in coordinated packs and has a reddish-brown coat.
From Hindi dhol or dhole. The word entered English through colonial naturalists documenting Indian wildlife. The scientific name Cuon alpinus reflects both the Sanskrit/Hindi root and its Asian distribution.
Dholes are one of nature's most efficient hunters—they can outmaneuver tigers and have been known to chase prey for miles in coordinated, relay-style hunts. They're fascinating because they're more closely related to wolves than to domestic dogs, yet their social structure is more sophisticated.
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