Question

african wild dogs: ultimate predators?
many books, papers, and television shows have created an image of the african wild dog as the ultimate predator. according to these sources, the dogs coordinated teamwork and their unusual endurance help them catch about eighty percent of their prey. a 2012 study tested that notion. researchers fit a pack of wild dogs with special collars that recorded the dogs positions and speeds. the data that the collars recorded allowed the researchers to learn what the dogs did when they werent being observed. the results provided a surprising contrast with the dogs fierce reputation. the dogs never used teamwork in their hunts; they chased their prey over short distances as opposed to long runs; and instead of eighty percent, they brought down only about sixteen percent of their prey.
what is the main, or central, idea of the passage?
african wild dogs have a reputation as fierce hunters who work in teams, but new data suggests otherwise.
a study shows that african wild dogs catch about sixteen percent of their prey and do not use teamwork in hunting.

Explanation:

The passage first presents the common view of African wild dogs as ultimate predators (fierce, using teamwork, high - success rate). Then it introduces a 2012 study. The study's data (from collars) shows that they don't use teamwork, chase over short distances (not long runs), and have a much lower success rate (16% instead of 80%). So the main idea is about the contrast between their reputation and the new data.

Answer:

African wild dogs have a reputation as fierce hunters who work in teams, but new data suggests otherwise.