The distinctive long-distance call of African wild dogs is commonly called the hoo call.
A hoo is a prolonged, low-frequency vocalization used by Lycaon pictus to communicate across woodland and grassland. Packs may use these calls when separated, after resting, or while regrouping before a hunt. The sound can help animals locate packmates that are hidden by vegetation or distance.
Researchers distinguish the hoo from the species’ other sounds, including whining, growling, barking, and high-pitched contact calls. Hoo calls are especially associated with social coordination, rather than with the direct alarm-call categories familiar from many small mammals.
The name is descriptive rather than a claim that every call has exactly the same acoustic form. African wild dogs also communicate through scent marking, body posture, facial expressions, and physical contact. Their highly social lifestyle makes reliable long-distance contact especially valuable when a pack is spread out.