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| Canids Fossil range: Paleogene (55.4 Ma) - Recent | ||||||||||||
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 Coyote (Canis latrans) | ||||||||||||
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The Canidae (IPA: /ˈkænədiː/, ′kanə′dē) family is a part of the order Carnivora within the mammals (Class Mammalia). Members of the family are called canids and include dogs, wolves, foxes, coyotes, dingoes, jackals, and lycaons. The Canidae family is divided into the "true dogs" (or canines) of the tribe Canini and the "foxes" of the tribe Vulpini. The two species of the basal Caninae are more primitive and don\'t fit into either tribe. Any member of this family can be referred to generally as a canid.
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Note that the subdivision of Canidae into "foxes" and "true dogs" may not be in accordance with the actual relations, and that the taxonomic classification of several canines is disputed. Recent DNA analysis has shown, however, that Canini (dogs) and Vulpini (foxes) are valid clades, which exclude Nyctereutes, Urocyon and Otocyon. (See phylogeny below). Molecular data implies an African origin of canines.According to Solomon, Berg, and Martin in the 8th edition of Biology.
The Domestic Dog is listed by some authorities as Canis familiaris and others (including the Smithsonian Institution and the American Society of Mammalogists) as a subspecies of the Gray Wolf (i.e., Canis lupus familiaris); the Red Wolf, Eastern Canadian Wolf, and Indian Wolf may or may not be full species; and the Dingo is variously classified as Canis dingo, Canis lupus dingo, Canis familiaris dingo and Canis lupus familiaris dingo.
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The Canidae family evolved from miacids about 40 million years ago in the late Eocene to early Oligocene. The Canidae family is subdivided into three subfamilies, each of which diverged during the eocene: Hesperocyoninae (~39.74-15 Mya), Borophaginae (~36-2 Mya), and the Caninae lineage that led to present-day canids, including wolves, foxes, coyotes, jackals, and domestic dogs.
The earliest branch of the Canidae was the Hesperocyoninae lineage, which included the coyote-sized Mesocyon of the Oligocene (38-24 Mya). These early canids probably evolved for fast pursuit of prey in a grassland habitat, and resembled modern civets in appearance. Hesperocyonine dogs became extinct except for the Nothocyon and Leptocyon branches. These branches lead to the borophagine and canine radiations.Martin, L.D. 1989. Fossil history of the terrestrial carnivora. Pages 536 - 568 in J.L. Gittleman, editor. Carnivore Behavior, Ecology, and Evolution, Vol. 1. Comstock Publishing Associates: Ithaca.
Around 9-10 Mya during the Late Miocene, Canis, Urocyon, and Vulpes genera expand from southwestern North America. This is the point where canine radiation begins. The success of the these canines is the development of lower carnassials that are capable of both mastication and shearing. Around 8 Mya, Berengia offers the canines a way to enter Eurasia.
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This section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia\'s quality standards. Please improve this article if you can (February 2008). |
During the Pliocene around (4-5 Mya) Canis lepophagus appears in North America. This dog is small with some being coyote-like. Others are wolf-like in characteristics. It is theorized that Canis latrans (coyote) descended from Canis lepophagus.Nowak, R.M. 1979. North American Quaternary Canis. Monograph of the Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas 6:1 - 154. Around 1.5 to 1.8 Mya, a variety of wolves are now in Europe. Also, the North American wolf line appears with Canis edwardii as clearly identifiable as a wolf. Canis rufus, a red wolf canine appears and possibly a direct descendent of Canis edwardii.
Around 0.8 Mya Canis ambrusteri, emerges in North America. A large wolf, it is found all over the continent. It is thought that this species went to South America where it becomes the ancestor of the Canis dirus or Dire wolf.
At 0.3 Mya Canus lupus (Gray wolf) has fully developed and has spread throughout Europe and northern Asia. Berengia offers a way to North America. Nowak, R. 1992. Wolves: The great travelers of evolution. International Wolf 2(4):3 - 7. At around 100,000 years ago, the Dire wolf, some of the largest members of the dog family, appears from southern Canada to South America and coast to coast. The Dire wolf shares its habitat with the Gray wolf. Around 8000 years ago the Dire wolf becomes extinct.
Wild canids are found on every continent, except Antarctica, and inhabit a wide range of different habitats, including deserts, mountains, forests, and grassland. They vary in size from the fennec fox at 24 cm in length, to the gray wolf, which may be up to 200 cm long, and can weigh up to 80 kg.
With the sole living exception of the bush dog, canids have relatively long legs and lithe bodies, adapted for chasing prey. All canids are digitigrade, meaning that they walk on their toes. They possess bushy tails, non-retractile claws, and a dewclaw on the front feet. They possess a baculum, which helps to create a copulatory tie during mating, locking the animals together for up to an hour. Young canids are born blind, with their eyes opening a few weeks after birth. Macdonald, D. (1984). The Encyclopedia of Mammals. New York: Facts on File, 57. ISBN 0-87196-871-1.
Many species live and hunt in packs, and have complex social lives. They are generally highly adaptable, and there may be considerable variation in habits even within a single species.
Most canids have 42 teeth, with a dental formula of:
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| Phylogeny of the Canidae | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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FAMILY CANIDAE
Subfamily: Caninae
Classification of Hesperocyoninae from Wang (1994). Classification of Borophaginae from Wang et al. (1999).
Prehistoric Caninae
Borophaginae : † (Ma = million years ago)
Hesperocyoninae : † (Ma = million years ago)
Wikispecies has information related to:
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
| Extant Carnivora families by suborder | |
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| Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Mammalia · Infraclass: Eutheria · Superorder: Laurasiatheria | |
| Feliformia | Nandiniidae · Prinonodontidae · Felidae · Viverridae · Hyaenidae · Eupleridae · Herpestidae |
| Caniformia | Canidae · Ursidae · Ailuridae · Mephitidae · Mustelidae · Procyonidae · Odobenidae · Otariidae · Phocidae |
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