jackal

A member of the dog family similar in looks to the wolf, though considerably smaller in size, with a shorter tail and smaller ears. Its preference for a dry habitat is alluded to in (Isa 35:7) and (Isa 43:20). Numerous passages in the OT refer to the jackal prowling around settlements, and in (Mic 1:8) its characteristic wailing howl is mentioned. According to (Neh 2:13) a well named after the jackal existed outside Jerusalem. Its lair could symbolize a destroyed or deserted settlement (Jer 9:11).