Ethiopian Wolves Become First Large Carnivore Documented Feeding on Nectar

Nov 20, 2024 by Natali Anderson

Nectar foraging by Ethiopian wolves (Canis simensis) may contribute to the pollination of the Ethiopian red hot poker flower (Kniphofia foliosa), according to a new paper published in the journal Ecology.



An Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis) licks nectar from the Ethiopian red hot poker flower (Kniphofia foliosa). Image credit: Adrien Lesaffre.


The Ethiopian wolf — also known as the red jackal, the Ethiopian jackal, the Abyssinian wolf, the horse jackal, the Simien jackal or Simien fox — is the rarest wild canid species in the world. The species is listed as Endangered by the IUCN, on account of its small numbers and fragmented range. Found only in the Ethiopian highlands, fewer than 500 individuals survive, in 99 packs restricted to 6 Afroalpine enclaves.

The primary prey of this large carnivore are African mole-rats, though it also feeds on other rat species and hares, occasionally goslings and eggs.

Dr. Sandra Lai, a researcher at the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme and the University of Oxford, and her colleagues observed Ethiopian wolves foraging for the nectar of Kniphofia foliosa.

“Kniphofia foliosa is a perennial herb endemic to Ethiopia found in the Bale Mountains and other high altitude grasslands, which also host the endemic Ethiopian wolf, a top predator restricted to the Afroalpine ecosystem,” the authors said. “Flowers from the Kniphofia genus produce large amounts of nectar, which attracts a variety of bird and insect pollinators.”