Lycaon pictus - Named after the mythical king of Arcadia, Lycaon, and pictus from the past participle of the Latin word "pingo" to paint.

The following is from a 1998 article by GSA Rasmussen.

"The name 'wild dog' developed during an era of persecution of all predators when the name applied to feral dogs, hyenas, jackals and cape hunting dogs (Pringle, 1980). 'Painted' aside from being a direct translation of the specific epithet, accurately describes the unique varicoloured markings of each individual. Apart from being misleading, continued use of the name 'wild dog' does little more than further fuel negative attitude and prejudice which is detrimental to conservation efforts."

"What is the name 'painted hunting dog? Well here it is from recent scientific press. The first name denoted to the species from a type specimen in Mozambique was the Cape hunting dog (Temmick, 1820).

In that era the name Cape was applied irrelevantly to a number of species. Modern protocol indicates a place name should be utilised where endemism exists or such a name occurs in the specific epithet.

'Hunting dog' accurately describes the ecological role of the species particularly as they possess a unique molar/premolar configuration which functions to improve carnassial shear and is a diagnostic characteristic for the genus.

Consequently fossil species of the genus were called hunting dogs. vis +Lycaon africanis, African hunting dog in accordance with the specific epithet. +Lycaon atrox Kromdrai hunting dog.

Two undescribed intermediate fossils from Sterkontein are labelled +Lycaon sp.indet, hunting dog species undetermined, yet the label 'wild dog' is ascribed to the modern animal.

Lycaon Pictus, translates as Painted wolf-like animal, which correctly indicates similarity in appearance only with the true Canis line, but recognises the uniqueness of the genus. Wild dog of the African wild dog falsely intimates taxonomic affinity to Canis, so should any species in Africa called the African wild dog then it should be jackal as it is at least Canis, and sensu lato this is the case (Skead,1980; Pringle, 1980).