Black-backed jackal vs Gharial

Canis mesomelas compared with Gavialis gangeticus

Key Differences

Black-backed jackal is Least Concern while Gharial is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Black-backed jackal	Gharial
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Reptilia (Reptiles)
Order	Carnivora (Carnivorans)	Crocodylia (Crocodilians)
Family	Canidae (Dogs & Wolves)	Crocodylidae (Crocodiles)
Genus	Canis (Dogs & Wolves)	Crocodylus (True Crocodiles)
Species	Canis mesomelas	Gavialis gangeticus

Evolutionary Relationship

Black-backed jackal and Gharial share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

View Phylum: Chordata

Conservation Status

Black-backed jackal

LC — Least Concern

Gharial

CR — Critically Endangered

Population: ~650

Trend: Increasing ↑

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Black-backed jackal	Gharial
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	60 years
Average Length	—	5.0 m
Average Weight	—	200.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Black-backed jackal

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Gharial

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical coniferous forests, and temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, among 6 distinct biome types spanning the Indomalayan and Palearctic realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Distributed across India and Nepal. Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Black-backed jackal

The Black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas) is a species in the genus Canis. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.