Canidae
Encyclopedia
Canidae
is the biological family
of carnivorous and omnivorous mammals that includes wolves, fox
es, jackal
s, coyote
s, and domestic dog
s. A member of this family is called a canid (ˈ). The Canidae family is divided into two tribes
: Canini (related to wolves) and Vulpini (related to foxes). The two species of the basal Caninae
are more primitive and do not fit into either tribe.
classification of several canines is disputed. Recent DNA
analysis shows that Canini (dogs) and Vulpini (foxes) are valid clades
. (See phylogeny below). Molecular data implies a North American origin of living Canidae and an African origin of wolf-like canines (Canis, Cuon, and Lycaon).
Currently, the domestic dog
is listed as a subspecies of Canis lupus
, C. l. familiaris, and the dingo
(also considered a domestic dog) as C. l. dingo, provisionally a separate subspecies from C. l. familiaris; the red wolf
, eastern Canadian wolf, and Indian wolf
are recognized as subspecies
. Many sources list the domestic dog as Canis familiaris, but others, including the Smithsonian Institution
and the American Society of Mammalogists
, more precisely list it as a subspecies of C. l. familiaris; the red wolf, eastern Canadian wolf, and Indian wolf may or may not be separate species
; the dingo has been in the past variously classified as Canis dingo, Canis familiaris dingo and Canis lupus familiaris dingo.
. Then, about 50 million years ago, the carnivorans split into two main divisions: caniforms (dog-like) and feliforms (cat-like). By 40 million years ago the first clearly identifiable member of the dog family Canidae had arisen. It was called Prohesperocyon wilsoni and was found in what is now southwestern Texas. This fossil species bears a combination of features that definitively mark it as a canid: teeth that include the loss of the upper third molar (a general trend toward a more shearing bite), and the characteristically enlarged bony bulla
(the rounded covering over the middle ear). Based on what we know about its descendants, Prohesperocyon likely had slightly more elongated limbs than its predecessors, along with toes that were parallel and closely touching, rather than splayed, as in bears.
The Canidae family soon subdivided into three subfamilies, each of which diverged during the Eocene: Hesperocyoninae
(~39.74-15 Mya), Borophaginae
(~34-2 Mya), and the Caninae
(~34-0 Mya) lineage that led to present-day canids (wolves, foxes, coyotes, jackals, and domestic dogs). Each of these groups showed an increase in body mass with time
, and sometimes exhibited a specialised hypercarnivorous diet that made them prone to extinction. Only the Caninae
lineage, commonly referred to as "canines", survived to the present day.
of the Oligocene (38-24 Mya). These early canids probably evolved for fast pursuit of prey in a grassland habitat, and resembled modern civet
s in appearance. Hesperocyonines eventually became extinct in the middle Miocene. One of the early member of the Hesperocyonines, the genus Hesperocyon
, gave rise to Archaeocyon
and Leptocyon
. These branches led to the borophagine and canine radiations.
, Canis
, Urocyon
, and Vulpes
genera expanded from southwestern North America
. This was the point where the canine radiation began. The success of these canines was related to the development of lower carnassial
s that were capable of both mastication
and shearing. Around 8 Mya, Beringia offered the canines a way to enter Eurasia
.
around (4-5 Mya) Canis lepophagus appeared in North America. This was small and sometimes coyote-like. Others were wolf-like in characteristics. It is theorized that Canis latrans (the coyote) descended from Canis lepophagus.
The formation of the Isthmus of Panama
about 3 Mya joined South America
to North America, allowing canids to invade the former
, where they diversified.
, clearly identifiable as a wolf. Canis rufus appeared, possibly a direct descendent of Canis edwardii. Around 0.8 Mya, Canis ambrusteri emerged in North America. A large wolf, it was found all over the continent. It is thought that this species migrated to South America where it became the ancestor of Canis dirus, the dire wolf.
At 0.3 Mya Canis lupus
(the gray wolf) was fully developed and had spread throughout Europe and northern Asia. Beringia offered a way to North America. At around 100,000 years ago, the dire wolf, one of the largest members of the dog family, had spread from South America to southern Canada and from coast to coast. The dire wolf shared its habitat with the gray wolf. Around 8,000 years ago the dire wolf became extinct.
, mountains, forests, and grassland
. They vary in size from the fennec fox at 24 cm (9.4 in) long, to the gray wolf
, which may be up to 2 m (6.6 ft) long, and can weigh up to 80 kg (176.4 lb).
With the exceptions of the bush dog
, raccoon dog
and some domestic breeds
, 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, excepting the African wild dog
(Lycaon pictus), a dewclaw
on the front feet. They possess a baculum
, which together with a cavernous body 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.
Only a few species are arboreal - the North American gray fox
, the closely related Channel Island fox
, and the raccoon dog habitually climb trees.
s have the largest packs, which can number as many as 90 animals. Some species form packs or live in small family groups depending on the circumstances, including the type of available food. In most species, there are also some individuals who live on their own. Within a canid pack, there is a system of dominance so that the strongest, most experienced animals lead the pack. In most cases, the dominant male and female are the only pack members to breed.
Canids communicate with each other by scent signals, by visual clues and gestures, and by vocalizations such as growls, barks, and howls. In most cases, groups have a home territory from which they drive out others. The territory is marked by leaving urine scent marks, which warn trespassing individuals.
Most canids bear young once a year, from 1 to 16 or more (in the case of the African wild dog) at a time. The young are born small and helpless and require a long period of care. They are kept in a den, most often dug into the ground, for warmth and protection. When they begin eating solid food, both parents, and often other pack members, bring food back for them from the hunt. This is most often vomited up from the adult's stomach. Young canids may take a year to mature and learn the skills they need to survive.
Most canids have 42 teeth
, with a dental formula
of: . As in other members of Carnivora
, the upper fourth premolar
and lower first molar
are adapted as carnassial
teeth for slicing flesh. The molar teeth are strong in most species, allowing the animals to crack open bone to reach the marrow
. The deciduous or baby teeth formula in canids is 3 1 3; molars are completely absent.
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FAMILY CANIDAE
(Ma = million years ago) (million years = in existence)
(Ma = million years ago)
One canid, the domestic dog, a subspecies of the gray wolf, long ago entered into a partnership with humans and today remains one of the most widely kept domestic animals in the world and serves humanity in a great many important ways.
Among canids, only the gray wolf has been known to prey on humans. There are at least two records of coyotes killing humans, and two of golden jackals killing children. Some canid species have also been trapped and hunted for their fur and, especially the gray wolf and the red fox, for sport. Some canids are now endangered in the wild due to hunting, habitat loss, and the introduction of diseases from domestic dogs.
is the biological family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of carnivorous and omnivorous mammals that includes wolves, fox
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
es, jackal
Jackal
Although the word jackal has been historically used to refer to many small- to medium-sized species of the wolf genus of mammals, Canis, today it most properly and commonly refers to three species: the black-backed jackal and the side-striped jackal of sub-Saharan Africa, and the golden jackal of...
s, coyote
Coyote
The coyote , also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States and Canada...
s, and domestic dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
s. A member of this family is called a canid (ˈ). The Canidae family is divided into two tribes
Tribe (biology)
In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...
: Canini (related to wolves) and Vulpini (related to foxes). The two species of the basal Caninae
Caninae
Caninae is the only living subfamily of Canidae. Many extinct species of Caninae were endemic to North America, living from 34 Ma—11,000 years ago. Some members of the endemic North American canines survived to the present time. This subfamily was recently revised by Tedford, Wang, and Taylor...
are more primitive and do not fit into either tribe.
Classification and relationship
The subdivision of Canidae into "foxes" and "true dogs" may not be in accordance with the actual relations; also the taxonomicAlpha taxonomy
Alpha taxonomy is the discipline concerned with finding, describing and naming species of living or fossil organisms. This field is supported by institutions holding collections of these organisms, with relevant data, carefully curated: such institutes include natural history museums, herbaria and...
classification of several canines is disputed. Recent DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
analysis shows that Canini (dogs) and Vulpini (foxes) are valid clades
Cladistics
Cladistics is a method of classifying species of organisms into groups called clades, which consist of an ancestor organism and all its descendants . For example, birds, dinosaurs, crocodiles, and all descendants of their most recent common ancestor form a clade...
. (See phylogeny below). Molecular data implies a North American origin of living Canidae and an African origin of wolf-like canines (Canis, Cuon, and Lycaon).
Currently, the domestic dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
is listed as a subspecies of Canis lupus
Subspecies of Canis lupus
Canis lupus has 39 subspecies currently described, including two subspecies of domestic dog, Canis lupus dingo and Canis lupus familiaris, and many subspecies of wolf throughout the Northern hemisphere...
, C. l. familiaris, and the dingo
Dingo
The Australian Dingo or Warrigal is a free-roaming wild dog unique to the continent of Australia, mainly found in the outback. Its original ancestors are thought to have arrived with humans from southeast Asia thousands of years ago, when dogs were still relatively undomesticated and closer to...
(also considered a domestic dog) as C. l. dingo, provisionally a separate subspecies from C. l. familiaris; the red wolf
Red Wolf
The red wolf is a North American canid which once roamed throughout the Southeastern United States and is a glacial period survivor of the Late Pleistocene epoch...
, eastern Canadian wolf, and Indian wolf
Indian Wolf
Indian wolf and Iranian Wolf are two common names for Canis lupus pallipes, a subspecies of grey wolf which inhabits western India, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and southern Israel. Some experts have suggested at least some C. lupus pallipes populations be re-classified a canid species...
are recognized as subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
. Many sources list the domestic dog as Canis familiaris, but others, including the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
and the American Society of Mammalogists
American Society of Mammalogists
The American Society of Mammalogists was founded in 1919. Its primary purpose is to encourage the study of mammals and professions studying mammals. There are over 4,500 members of this society, and they are primarily professional scientists who emphasize the importance of public policy and...
, more precisely list it as a subspecies of C. l. familiaris; the red wolf, eastern Canadian wolf, and Indian wolf may or may not be separate species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
; the dingo has been in the past variously classified as Canis dingo, Canis familiaris dingo and Canis lupus familiaris dingo.
Eocene epoch
Carnivorans evolved from miacoids about 55 million years ago during the late PaleocenePaleocene
The Paleocene or Palaeocene, the "early recent", is a geologic epoch that lasted from about . It is the first epoch of the Palaeogene Period in the modern Cenozoic Era...
. Then, about 50 million years ago, the carnivorans split into two main divisions: caniforms (dog-like) and feliforms (cat-like). By 40 million years ago the first clearly identifiable member of the dog family Canidae had arisen. It was called Prohesperocyon wilsoni and was found in what is now southwestern Texas. This fossil species bears a combination of features that definitively mark it as a canid: teeth that include the loss of the upper third molar (a general trend toward a more shearing bite), and the characteristically enlarged bony bulla
Bulla
-People:* Anton Bulla, a Slovak footballer and coach* Clyde Robert Bulla , an American author of books for children* Johnny Bulla, an American golfer* Karl Bulla, a Russian photographer* Max Bulla, an Australian bicycle racer...
(the rounded covering over the middle ear). Based on what we know about its descendants, Prohesperocyon likely had slightly more elongated limbs than its predecessors, along with toes that were parallel and closely touching, rather than splayed, as in bears.
The Canidae family soon subdivided into three subfamilies, each of which diverged during the Eocene: Hesperocyoninae
Hesperocyoninae
Hesperocyoninae is a subfamily of extinct canids.-Taxonomic history:Hesperocyoninae was named by Martin . The members of this subfamily were reassigned to the family Canidae by Xiaoming Wang in 1999....
(~39.74-15 Mya), Borophaginae
Borophaginae
The subfamily Borophaginae is an extinct group of canids called "bone crushing dogs" that were endemic to North America during the Oligocene to Pliocene and lived roughly 36—2.5 million years ago and existing for approximately .-Origin:...
(~34-2 Mya), and the Caninae
Caninae
Caninae is the only living subfamily of Canidae. Many extinct species of Caninae were endemic to North America, living from 34 Ma—11,000 years ago. Some members of the endemic North American canines survived to the present time. This subfamily was recently revised by Tedford, Wang, and Taylor...
(~34-0 Mya) lineage that led to present-day canids (wolves, foxes, coyotes, jackals, and domestic dogs). Each of these groups showed an increase in body mass with time
Cope's rule
Cope's rule states that population lineages tend to increase in body size over evolutionary time. While the rule has been demonstrated in many instances, it does not hold true at all taxonomic levels, or in all clades...
, and sometimes exhibited a specialised hypercarnivorous diet that made them prone to extinction. Only the Caninae
Caninae
Caninae is the only living subfamily of Canidae. Many extinct species of Caninae were endemic to North America, living from 34 Ma—11,000 years ago. Some members of the endemic North American canines survived to the present time. This subfamily was recently revised by Tedford, Wang, and Taylor...
lineage, commonly referred to as "canines", survived to the present day.
Oligocene epoch
By the Oligocene, all three subfamilies of canids (Hesperocyoninae, Borophaginae, and Caninae) had appeared in the fossil records of North America. The earliest and most primitive branch of the Canidae was the Hesperocyoninae lineage, which included the coyote-sized MesocyonMesocyon
Mesocyon is an extinct genus of terrestrial carnivore within the family Canidae, subfamily Hesperocyoninae, which inhabited North America from the Early Oligocene 33.9—20.6 Ma, existing for approximately ....
of the Oligocene (38-24 Mya). These early canids probably evolved for fast pursuit of prey in a grassland habitat, and resembled modern civet
Civet
The family Viverridae is made up of around 30 species of medium-sized mammal, including all of the genets, the binturong, most of the civets, and the two African linsangs....
s in appearance. Hesperocyonines eventually became extinct in the middle Miocene. One of the early member of the Hesperocyonines, the genus Hesperocyon
Hesperocyon
Hesperocyon is an extinct genus of canids, family of Canidae and subfamily Hesperocyoninae which was endemic to North America from southern Canada to appearing during the Uintan age-Bridgerian age of the Mid-Eocene 42.5 mya—31.0 Ma. . Hesperocyon existed for approximately .-Taxonomy:Hesperocyon...
, gave rise to Archaeocyon
Archaeocyon
Archaeocyon is a small extinct genus of the Borophaginae within the family Canidae which inhabited most of North America during the Whitneyan stage through Geringian stage of the Oligocene epoch 33.3—26.3 Ma Archaeocyon existed for approximately .Species of Archaeocyon are among the earliest...
and Leptocyon
Leptocyon
Leptocyon is a small extinct genus of canidae endemic to North America during the Oligocene through Miocene living from 24.8—10.3 mya, existing for approximately .Leptocyon was a small bodied, fox-like animal with a slender jaw.-Taxonomy:...
. These branches led to the borophagine and canine radiations.
Miocene epoch
Around 9-10 Mya during the Late MioceneLate Miocene
The Late Miocene is a sub-epoch of the Miocene Epoch made up of two stages. The Tortonian and Messinian stages comprise the Late Miocene sub-epoch....
, Canis
Canis
Canis is a genus containing 7 to 10 extant species, including dogs, wolves, coyotes, and jackals, and many extinct species.-Wolves, dogs and dingos:Wolves, dogs and dingos are subspecies of Canis lupus...
, Urocyon
Urocyon
The genus Urocyon is a genus that contains two living Western Hemisphere foxes in the family Canidae, the Gray Fox and the closely related Island Fox which is a dwarf cousin of the Gray Fox; as well as one fossil species, Urocyon progressus.Urocyon and the...
, and Vulpes
Vulpes
Vulpes is a genus of the Canidae family. Its members are referred to as 'true foxes', although there are species in other genera whose common names include the word 'fox'....
genera expanded from southwestern North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. This was the point where the canine radiation began. The success of these canines was related to the development of lower carnassial
Carnassial
Carnassials are large teeth found in many carnivorous mammals, used for shearing flesh and bone in a scissor- or shear-like way. In the Carnivora, the carnassials are the modified last upper premolar and the first molar, but in the prehistoric creodonts, the carnassials were further back in the...
s that were capable of both mastication
Mastication
Mastication or chewing is the process by which food is crushed and ground by teeth. It is the first step of digestion and it increases the surface area of foods to allow more efficient break down by enzymes. During the mastication process, the food is positioned between the teeth for grinding by...
and shearing. Around 8 Mya, Beringia offered the canines a way to enter Eurasia
Eurasia
Eurasia is a continent or supercontinent comprising the traditional continents of Europe and Asia ; covering about 52,990,000 km2 or about 10.6% of the Earth's surface located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres...
.
Pliocene epoch
During the PliocenePliocene
The Pliocene Epoch is the period in the geologic timescale that extends from 5.332 million to 2.588 million years before present. It is the second and youngest epoch of the Neogene Period in the Cenozoic Era. The Pliocene follows the Miocene Epoch and is followed by the Pleistocene Epoch...
around (4-5 Mya) Canis lepophagus appeared in North America. This was small and sometimes coyote-like. Others were wolf-like in characteristics. It is theorized that Canis latrans (the coyote) descended from Canis lepophagus.
The formation of the Isthmus of Panama
Isthmus of Panama
The Isthmus of Panama, also historically known as the Isthmus of Darien, is the narrow strip of land that lies between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, linking North and South America. It contains the country of Panama and the Panama Canal...
about 3 Mya joined South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
to North America, allowing canids to invade the former
Great American Interchange
The Great American Interchange was an important paleozoogeographic event in which land and freshwater fauna migrated from North America via Central America to South America and vice versa, as the volcanic Isthmus of Panama rose up from the sea floor and bridged the formerly separated continents...
, where they diversified.
Pleistocene epoch
Around 1.5 to 1.8 Mya, a variety of wolves were present in Europe. Also, the North American wolf line appeared with Canis edwardiiCanis edwardii
Canis edwardii is an extinct species of Canidae which was endemic to most of North America from the Blancan stage of the Pliocene epoch through to the Irvingtonian stage of the Pleistocene epoch, living 4.9 Mya—300,000 years ago, existing for approximately...
, clearly identifiable as a wolf. Canis rufus appeared, possibly a direct descendent of Canis edwardii. Around 0.8 Mya, Canis ambrusteri emerged in North America. A large wolf, it was found all over the continent. It is thought that this species migrated to South America where it became the ancestor of Canis dirus, the dire wolf.
At 0.3 Mya Canis lupus
Gray Wolf
The gray wolf , also known as the wolf, is the largest extant wild member of the Canidae family...
(the gray wolf) was fully developed and had spread throughout Europe and northern Asia. Beringia offered a way to North America. At around 100,000 years ago, the dire wolf, one of the largest members of the dog family, had spread from South America to southern Canada and from coast to coast. The dire wolf shared its habitat with the gray wolf. Around 8,000 years ago the dire wolf became extinct.
Characteristics
Wild canids are found on every continent except Antarctica, and inhabit a wide range of different habitats, including desertsDéserts
Déserts is a piece by Edgard Varèse for brass , percussion , piano, and tape. Percussion instruments are exploited for their resonant potential, rather than used solely as accompaniment...
, mountains, forests, and grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
. They vary in size from the fennec fox at 24 cm (9.4 in) long, to the gray wolf
Gray Wolf
The gray wolf , also known as the wolf, is the largest extant wild member of the Canidae family...
, which may be up to 2 m (6.6 ft) long, and can weigh up to 80 kg (176.4 lb).
With the exceptions of the bush dog
Bush Dog
The bush dog is a canid found in Central and South America, including Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru , Ecuador, the Guianas, Paraguay, northeast Argentina and Brazil...
, raccoon dog
Raccoon Dog
The raccoon dog , also known as the magnut or tanuki, is a canid indigenous to east Asia. It is the only extant species in the genus Nyctereutes...
and some domestic breeds
Dog breed
Dog breeds are groups of closely related and visibly similar domestic dogs, which are all of the subspecies Canis lupus familiaris, having characteristic traits that are selected and maintained by humans, bred from a known foundation stock....
, canids have relatively long legs and lithe bodies, adapted for chasing prey. All canids are digitigrade
Digitigrade
A digitigrade is an animal that stands or walks on its digits, or toes. Digitigrades include walking birds , cats, dogs, and many other mammals, but not plantigrades or unguligrades...
, meaning that they walk on their toes. They possess bushy tails, non-retractile claws, and, excepting the African wild dog
African Wild Dog
Lycaon pictus is a large canid found only in Africa, especially in savannas and lightly wooded areas. It is variously called the African wild dog, African hunting dog, Cape hunting dog, painted dog, painted wolf, painted hunting dog, spotted dog, or ornate wolf...
(Lycaon pictus), a dewclaw
Dewclaw
A dewclaw is a vestigial digit on the foot of many mammals, birds, and reptiles . It commonly grows high on the leg so that in digitigrade species, when the animal is standing, it does not make contact with the ground...
on the front feet. They possess a baculum
Baculum
The baculum is a bone found in the penis of most mammals. It is absent in humans, but present in other primates, such as the gorilla and chimpanzee.The bone aids in sexual intercourse.-Purpose:...
, which together with a cavernous body 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.
Gray Fox
The gray fox is a mammal of the order Carnivora ranging throughout most of the southern half of North America from southern Canada to the northern part of South America...
, the closely related Channel Island fox
Island Fox
The island fox is a small fox that is native to six of the eight Channel Islands of California. There are six subspecies of the fox, each unique to the island it lives on, reflecting its evolutionary history...
, and the raccoon dog habitually climb trees.
Social behavior
Almost all canids are social animals and live together in groups. In most foxes and in many of the true dogs, a male and female pair work together to hunt and to raise their young. Gray wolves and some of the other larger canids live in larger groups called packs. African wild dogAfrican Wild Dog
Lycaon pictus is a large canid found only in Africa, especially in savannas and lightly wooded areas. It is variously called the African wild dog, African hunting dog, Cape hunting dog, painted dog, painted wolf, painted hunting dog, spotted dog, or ornate wolf...
s have the largest packs, which can number as many as 90 animals. Some species form packs or live in small family groups depending on the circumstances, including the type of available food. In most species, there are also some individuals who live on their own. Within a canid pack, there is a system of dominance so that the strongest, most experienced animals lead the pack. In most cases, the dominant male and female are the only pack members to breed.
Canids communicate with each other by scent signals, by visual clues and gestures, and by vocalizations such as growls, barks, and howls. In most cases, groups have a home territory from which they drive out others. The territory is marked by leaving urine scent marks, which warn trespassing individuals.
Most canids bear young once a year, from 1 to 16 or more (in the case of the African wild dog) at a time. The young are born small and helpless and require a long period of care. They are kept in a den, most often dug into the ground, for warmth and protection. When they begin eating solid food, both parents, and often other pack members, bring food back for them from the hunt. This is most often vomited up from the adult's stomach. Young canids may take a year to mature and learn the skills they need to survive.
Dentition
Tooth
Teeth are small, calcified, whitish structures found in the jaws of many vertebrates that are used to break down food. Some animals, particularly carnivores, also use teeth for hunting or for defensive purposes. The roots of teeth are embedded in the Mandible bone or the Maxillary bone and are...
, with a dental formula
Dentition
Dentition pertains to the development of teeth and their arrangement in the mouth. In particular, the characteristic arrangement, kind, and number of teeth in a given species at a given age...
of: . As in other members of Carnivora
Carnivora
The diverse order Carnivora |Latin]] carō "flesh", + vorāre "to devour") includes over 260 species of placental mammals. Its members are formally referred to as carnivorans, while the word "carnivore" can refer to any meat-eating animal...
, the upper fourth premolar
Premolar
The premolar teeth or bicuspids are transitional teeth located between the canine and molar teeth. In humans, there are two premolars per quadrant, making eight premolars total in the mouth. They have at least two cusps. Premolars can be considered as a 'transitional tooth' during chewing, or...
and lower first molar
Molar (tooth)
Molars are the rearmost and most complicated kind of tooth in most mammals. In many mammals they grind food; hence the Latin name mola, "millstone"....
are adapted as carnassial
Carnassial
Carnassials are large teeth found in many carnivorous mammals, used for shearing flesh and bone in a scissor- or shear-like way. In the Carnivora, the carnassials are the modified last upper premolar and the first molar, but in the prehistoric creodonts, the carnassials were further back in the...
teeth for slicing flesh. The molar teeth are strong in most species, allowing the animals to crack open bone to reach the marrow
Bone marrow
Bone marrow is the flexible tissue found in the interior of bones. In humans, bone marrow in large bones produces new blood cells. On average, bone marrow constitutes 4% of the total body mass of humans; in adults weighing 65 kg , bone marrow accounts for approximately 2.6 kg...
. The deciduous or baby teeth formula in canids is 3 1 3; molars are completely absent.
Species and taxonomy
Subfamily Caninae
- True dogs - Tribe Canini
- Genus CanisCanisCanis is a genus containing 7 to 10 extant species, including dogs, wolves, coyotes, and jackals, and many extinct species.-Wolves, dogs and dingos:Wolves, dogs and dingos are subspecies of Canis lupus...
- Gray wolfGray WolfThe gray wolf , also known as the wolf, is the largest extant wild member of the Canidae family...
, Canis lupus (2.723 Ma to present)- Domestic dogDogThe domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
, Canis lupus familiaris - DingoDingoThe Australian Dingo or Warrigal is a free-roaming wild dog unique to the continent of Australia, mainly found in the outback. Its original ancestors are thought to have arrived with humans from southeast Asia thousands of years ago, when dogs were still relatively undomesticated and closer to...
, most often classified as Canis lupus dingo (sometimes considered a separate taxon) - many other subspeciesSubspecies of Canis lupusCanis lupus has 39 subspecies currently described, including two subspecies of domestic dog, Canis lupus dingo and Canis lupus familiaris, and many subspecies of wolf throughout the Northern hemisphere...
- Domestic dog
- CoyoteCoyoteThe coyote , also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States and Canada...
, Canis latrans (also called Prairie Wolf) - Ethiopian wolfEthiopian WolfThe Ethiopian wolf , also known as the Abyssinian wolf, Abyssinian fox, red jackal, Simien fox, or Simien jackal is a canid native to Africa...
, Canis simensis (also called Abyssinian wolf, simien fox and simien jackal) - Golden jackalGolden JackalThe golden jackal , also known as the common jackal, Asiatic jackal, thos or gold-wolf is a Canid of the genus Canis indigenous to north and northeastern Africa, southeastern and central Europe , Asia Minor, the Middle East and southeast Asia...
, Canis aureus - Side-striped jackalSide-striped JackalThe side-striped jackal is a species of jackal, native to central and southern Africa. Unlike its cousin, the smaller black-backed jackal, which dwells in open plains, the side-striped jackal primarily dwells in woodland and scrub areas....
, Canis adustus - Black-backed jackalBlack-backed JackalThe black-backed jackal , also known as the silver-backed or red jackal, is a species of jackal which inhabits two areas of the African continent separated by roughly 900 km. One region includes the southern-most tip of the continent, including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe...
, Canis mesomelas
- Gray wolf
- Genus Cuon
- DholeDholeThe dhole is a species of canid native to South and Southeast Asia. It is the only extant member of the genus Cuon, which differs from Canis by the reduced number of molars and greater number of teats...
, Cuon alpinus or Canis alpinus (also called Asian wild dog)
- Dhole
- Genus Lycaon
- African wild dogAfrican Wild DogLycaon pictus is a large canid found only in Africa, especially in savannas and lightly wooded areas. It is variously called the African wild dog, African hunting dog, Cape hunting dog, painted dog, painted wolf, painted hunting dog, spotted dog, or ornate wolf...
, Lycaon pictus (also called African hunting dog)
- African wild dog
- Genus Atelocynus
- Short-eared dogShort-eared DogThe short-eared dog , also known as the short-eared fox or the short-eared zorro, is a unique and elusive canid species endemic to the Amazonian basin...
, Atelocynus microtis
- Short-eared dog
- Genus Cerdocyon
- Crab-eating foxCrab-eating FoxThe crab-eating fox , also known as the forest fox, wood fox, and the common fox, is an extant species of medium-sized canid endemic to the central part of South America and which appeared during the Pliocene epoch...
, Cerdocyon thous
- Crab-eating fox
- Genus Dusicyon †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Falklands wolf, Dusicyon australis †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Falklands wolf, Dusicyon australis †
- Genus Lycalopex (Pseudalopex)
- CulpeoCulpeoThe culpeo , sometimes known as the culpeo zorro or Andean fox , is a South American species of wild dog. It is the second largest native canid on the continent after the maned wolf. In its appearance it bears many similarities to the widely recognized red fox...
, Lycalopex culpaeus - Darwin's foxDarwin's FoxDarwin's fox or Darwin's Zorro is a small Critically endangered canine from the genus Lycalopex. It is also known as the Zorro Chilote or Zorro de Darwin in Spanish and lives on Chiloé Island and Nahuelbuta National Park in mainland Chile .Darwin's fox was first collected from San Pedro Island off...
, Lycalopex fulvipes - South American gray fox, Lycalopex griseus
- Pampas foxPampas FoxThe Pampas fox , also known as graxaim, sorro, Azara's fox, or Azara's zorro, is a medium sized zorro or "false" fox native to South American pampas and its range is through central South America in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil...
, Lycalopex gymnocercus - Sechura foxSechura FoxThe Sechuran fox , also called the Peruvian desert fox or the Sechuran zorro, is a South American species of canid closely related to other South American "false" foxes or zorro, of which it is the smallest...
, Lycalopex sechurae - Hoary foxHoary FoxThe hoary fox , also called the hoary zorro, is a species of zorro or "false" fox endemic to Brazil. Unlike many other foxes, it feeds primarily on small invertebrates such as insects.-Description:...
, Lycalopex vetulus
- Culpeo
- Genus Chrysocyon
- Maned wolfManed WolfThe maned wolf is the largest canid of South America, resembling a large fox with reddish fur.This mammal is found in open and semi-open habitats, especially grasslands with scattered bushes and trees, in south, central-west and south-eastern Brazil The maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) is the...
, Chrysocyon brachyurus
- Maned wolf
- Genus Speothos
- Bush dogBush DogThe bush dog is a canid found in Central and South America, including Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru , Ecuador, the Guianas, Paraguay, northeast Argentina and Brazil...
, Speothos venaticus
- Bush dog
- Genus Canis
- True foxes - Tribe Vulpini
- Genus VulpesVulpesVulpes is a genus of the Canidae family. Its members are referred to as 'true foxes', although there are species in other genera whose common names include the word 'fox'....
- Arctic foxArctic foxThe arctic fox , also known as the white fox, polar fox or snow fox, is a small fox native to Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere and is common throughout the Arctic tundra biome. The Greek word alopex, means a fox and Vulpes is the Latin version...
, Vulpes lagopus - Red foxRed FoxThe red fox is the largest of the true foxes, as well as being the most geographically spread member of the Carnivora, being distributed across the entire northern hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to North Africa, Central America, and the steppes of Asia...
, Vulpes vulpes (1 Ma to present) - Swift foxSwift FoxThe swift fox is a small light orange-tan fox around the size of a domestic cat found in the western grasslands of North America, such as Colorado, New Mexico and Texas. It also lives in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta in Canada, where it was previously extirpated...
, Vulpes velox - Kit foxKit FoxThe kit fox is a fox species of North America. Its range is primarily in the southwestern United States and northern and central Mexico. Some mammalogists classify it as conspecific with the swift fox, V. velox, but molecular systematics imply that the two species are distinct.-Range:The...
, Vulpes macrotis - Corsac foxCorsac FoxThe corsac fox , also known as the steppe fox, is a medium sized Asiatic fox species found throughout the central steppes of Asia. It is sometimes referred to as the "sand fox", but this terminology is confusing because two other species, the Tibetan sand fox and Rüppell's fox are also sometimes...
, Vulpes corsac - Cape foxCape FoxThe Cape fox , also called the cama fox or the silver-backed fox, is a small fox.It has black or silver gray fur with flanks and underside in light yellow. The tip of its tail is always black....
, Vulpes chama - Pale foxPale FoxThe pale fox , also known as the African sand fox or the pallid fox is a species of fox found in the band of African Sahel from Senegal in the west to Sudan in the east...
, Vulpes pallida - Bengal foxBengal FoxThe Bengal fox , also known as the Indian fox, is a fox endemic to the Indian subcontinent and is found from the Himalayan foothills and Terai of Nepal through southern India and from southern and eastern Pakistan to eastern India and southeastern Bangladesh.-Appearance:Vulpes bengalensis is a...
, Vulpes bengalensis - Tibetan sand fox, Vulpes ferrilata
- Blanford's foxBlanford's FoxBlanford's fox , is a small fox found in certain regions of the Middle East.-Other names:It is also known as the Afghan fox, royal fox, Corsac, dog fox, hoary fox, steppe fox, black fox, king fox, cliff fox or Baluchistan fox...
, Vulpes cana - Rüppell's foxRüppell's FoxRüppell's fox , also spelled Rueppell's fox and also called the sand fox, is a species of fox living in North Africa and the Middle East, from Morocco and the Sahel region to the Afghanistan hills. and SW Pakistan It is named after the German collector Eduard Rüppell...
, Vulpes rueppelli - Fennec fox, Vulpes zerda
- Arctic fox
- Genus UrocyonUrocyonThe genus Urocyon is a genus that contains two living Western Hemisphere foxes in the family Canidae, the Gray Fox and the closely related Island Fox which is a dwarf cousin of the Gray Fox; as well as one fossil species, Urocyon progressus.Urocyon and the...
(2 Ma to present)- Gray foxGray FoxThe gray fox is a mammal of the order Carnivora ranging throughout most of the southern half of North America from southern Canada to the northern part of South America...
, Urocyon cinereoargenteus - Island foxIsland FoxThe island fox is a small fox that is native to six of the eight Channel Islands of California. There are six subspecies of the fox, each unique to the island it lives on, reflecting its evolutionary history...
, Urocyon littoralis - Cozumel foxCozumel FoxThe Cozumel Fox is an undescribed species of fox which is apparently close to extinction or even already extinct. It is found on the island of Cozumel, Mexico. The Cozumel Fox, which has not been scientifically described to date, is a dwarf form like the Island Fox but slightly larger, being up...
, Urocyon sp.
- Gray fox
- Genus Vulpes
- Basal Caninae
- Genus Otocyon (probably a vulpine close to Urocyon)
- Bat-eared foxBat-eared FoxThe bat-eared fox is a canid of the African savanna, named for its large ears. Fossil records show this canid to first appear during the middle Pleistocene, about 800,000 years ago....
, Otocyon megalotis
- Bat-eared fox
- Genus NyctereutesNyctereutesNyctereutes is an east Asian genus of the family Canidae, consisting of just one living species, the Raccoon Dog. Nyctereutes appeared about 9.0 Ma, with all but one species becoming extinct before the Pleistocene.-Taxonomy:...
- Raccoon dogRaccoon DogThe raccoon dog , also known as the magnut or tanuki, is a canid indigenous to east Asia. It is the only extant species in the genus Nyctereutes...
, Nyctereutes procyonoides
- Raccoon dog
- Genus Otocyon (probably a vulpine close to Urocyon)
Prehistoric Canidae
Classification of Hesperocyoninae from Wang (1994) and Borophaginae from Wang, Tedford, Taylor (1999), and Caninae from Tedford, Wang, Taylor (2009) except where noted.Caninae
- Tribe Canini
- Genus CanisCanisCanis is a genus containing 7 to 10 extant species, including dogs, wolves, coyotes, and jackals, and many extinct species.-Wolves, dogs and dingos:Wolves, dogs and dingos are subspecies of Canis lupus...
- Canis adoxus †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Canis ameghinoi †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Canis apolloniensisCanis apolloniensisCanis apolloniensis is an extinct species of Canidae which was endemic to Europe and lived during the Early Pleistocene epoch from 1.81 Mya—781,000 years ago, existing for approximately .....
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point... - Canis armbrusteri †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Canis arnensis (3.4 Ma, †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
) - Canis cautleyi †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Canis cedazoensisCanis cedazoensisCanis cedazoensis is an extinct species of smaller Canidae which was endemic to North America from the Blancan stage of the Pliocene epoch through the Irvingtonian stage of the Pleistocene epoch living 4.9 Ma—300,000 years ago. Canis cedazoensis existed for approximately .-Taxonomy:Canis...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point... - Canis dirus (Dire wolf), †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Canis donnezani (4.0-3.1 Ma †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
, probably ancestor of wolves) - Canis edwardiiCanis edwardiiCanis edwardii is an extinct species of Canidae which was endemic to most of North America from the Blancan stage of the Pliocene epoch through to the Irvingtonian stage of the Pleistocene epoch, living 4.9 Mya—300,000 years ago, existing for approximately...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
, first species of wolf in North America) - Canis (Eucyon) cipio (8.2 Ma †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
, probably first species of Canis genus) - Canis etruscus (3.4 Ma †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
) - Canis feroxCanis feroxCanis ferox is a species of canidae which was endemic to North America and lived from the Late Hemphillian stage of the Pliocene through the Miocene epoch .. Canis ferox existed for approximately...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point... - Canis gezi †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Canis lepophagusCanis lepophagusCanis lepophagus or Hare-eating Wolf is an extinct species of canidae which was endemic to much of North America and lived from the Miocene epoch through Early Pleistocene, 10.3—1.8 Mya. The species existed for approximately . It is one of the more basal species of Canis, having existed before most...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point... - Canis michauxi †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Canis mosbachensis (0.787 Ma †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
) - Canis nehringiCanis nehringiCanis nehringi is an extinct species of canid. Canis gezi, a poorly known small wolf from the Ensenadan of South America, appears to have given rise to Canis nehringi, a Lujanian species from Argentina. Betra’s analysis places Canis dirus and Canis nehringi as sister taxa and are the most derived...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Canis adoxus †
- Genus Cynotherium †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Sardinian dholeSardinian DholeThe Sardinian Dhole Cynotherium sardous was an endemic insular canid, that occurred on the Italian island of Sardinia and the French island of Corsica . It became extinct when humans began to settle on the island.When this canid became confined to the island, it faced a menu consisting of small and...
, Cynotherium sardous †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Sardinian dhole
- Genus TheriodictisTheriodictisTheriodictis is an extinct genus of small hypercarnivorous fox-like canid endemic to South America during the Pleistocene, living from 1.2 Ma-11,000 years ago and existing for approximately ....
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Theriodictis platensis (1.8 Ma †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
) - Theriodictis tarijensis (1.8 Ma †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
) - Theriodictis (Canis) proplatensis (2.1 Ma †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
)
- Theriodictis platensis (1.8 Ma †
- Genus ProtocyonProtocyonPrototcyon is an extinct genus of small omnivorous canid endemic to South America during the middle to Late Pleistocene living from 1.2 Ma to 11,000 years ago and existed for approximately .-Fossil distribution:...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Protocyon orcesi †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Protocyon scagliarum †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Protocyon troglodytes †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Protocyon orcesi †
- Genus DusicyonDusicyonDusicyon is a genus of extinct South American canids. The type species is Dusicyon australis, the extinct Falkland Islands Wolf. In 1914, Oldfield Thomas established the genus Dusicyon, in which he included the Culpeo and other South American foxes...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Dusicyon avus †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Dusicyon avus †
- Genus Cerdocyon
- Cerdocyon aviusCerdocyon aviusCerdocyon avius is an extinct species of omnivorous mammal of the family Canidae, which inhabited North America during the Pliocene from 4.9 Ma to approximately 11,000 years ago. It is similar to the modern Crab-eating Fox.-Taxonomy:...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point... - Cerdocyon ensenadensis †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Cerdocyon avius
- Genus SpeothosSpeothosSpeothos is a genus of canid found in Central and South America. The genus includes the living Bush Dog, Speothos venaticus, as well as an extinct Pleistocene species, Speothos pacivorus. Surprisingly, the fossil species was identified and named prior to the discovery of the extant species, with...
- Speothos pacivorusSpeothos pacivorusSpeothos pacivorus is an extinct relative of the Bush Dog whose fossils date from the late Pleistocene. When compared to the Bush Dog, S. pacivorus had an overall larger body size and a double-rooted second lower molar....
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Speothos pacivorus
- Genus NurocyonNurocyonNurocyon chonokhariensis , the only species in the genus Nurocyon is an extinct member of the dog family from the Pliocene of Mongolia. The teeth of Nurocyon show adaptations to an omnivorous diet, comparable to the living Raccoon Dog...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Nurocyon chonokhariensis †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Nurocyon chonokhariensis †
- Genus Xenocyon †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Xenocyon falconeri (2.6 Ma †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
) - Xenocyon lycaonoidesXenocyon lycaonoidesXenocyon lycaonoides is an extinct canid from the Pleistocene of Eurasia. It lived from 1.8 Ma to 126,000 years ago, existing for approximately .It preyed on antelope, deer, elephant calves, aurochs, baboons, wild horse and perhaps humans...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Xenocyon falconeri (2.6 Ma †
- Genus Canis
- Tribe Vulpini
- Genus VulpesVulpesVulpes is a genus of the Canidae family. Its members are referred to as 'true foxes', although there are species in other genera whose common names include the word 'fox'....
(7 Ma to present)- Vulpes alopecoides (2.6 Ma †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
) - Vulpes cf. alopecoides (2.6 Ma †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
) - Vulpes cf. vulpes (0.1275 Ma †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
) - Vulpes galaticus (4.2 Ma †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
) - Vulpes riffautaeVulpes riffautaeVulpes riffautae is an extinct species of fox from the late Miocene of Chad . Fossils of V. riffautae potentially represent the earliest record of the dog family in the Old World. V. riffautae was intermediate in size between the Rüppell's Fox and Fennec Fox ....
(7 Ma †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
)
- Vulpes alopecoides (2.6 Ma †
- Genus Vulpes
- Basal Caninae
- Genus NyctereutesNyctereutesNyctereutes is an east Asian genus of the family Canidae, consisting of just one living species, the Raccoon Dog. Nyctereutes appeared about 9.0 Ma, with all but one species becoming extinct before the Pleistocene.-Taxonomy:...
(7.1 Ma to present)- Nyctereutes cf. donnezani (7.1 Ma †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
) - Nyctereutes cf. megamastoides (3.158 Ma †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
) - Nyctereutes donnezaniNyctereutes donnezaniNyctereutes donnezani is an extinct relative of the Raccoon Dog. It has been found in Spain, Poland, Germany, and Turkey....
(3.4 Ma †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
) - Nyctereutes megamostoides (2.6 Ma †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
) - Nyctereutes sinensis (3.4 Ma †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
)
- Nyctereutes cf. donnezani (7.1 Ma †
- Genus Nyctereutes
- First Caninae
- Genus EucyonEucyonEucyon is an extinct genus of small omnivorous fox-like canid endemic to North America during the Miocene living from 10.3—5.3 Ma and existed for approximately .-Taxonomy:...
(8 Ma †)- Eucyon davisi (8.3 Ma †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
, probably ancestor of Canis) - Eucyon minor (8 Ma †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
) - Eucyon zhoui (8 Ma †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
) - Eucyon monticinensis(8 Ma †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
) - Eucyon odessanus †
- Eucyon davisi (8.3 Ma †
- Genus LeptocyonLeptocyonLeptocyon is a small extinct genus of canidae endemic to North America during the Oligocene through Miocene living from 24.8—10.3 mya, existing for approximately .Leptocyon was a small bodied, fox-like animal with a slender jaw.-Taxonomy:...
(24-16 Ma †)- Leptocyon vafer (16 Ma †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
) - Leptocyon vulpinus (24 Ma †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
)
- Leptocyon vafer (16 Ma †
- Genus Eucyon
Borophaginae
†Extinction
In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
(Ma = million years ago) (million years = in existence)
-
- Genus ArchaeocyonArchaeocyonArchaeocyon is a small extinct genus of the Borophaginae within the family Canidae which inhabited most of North America during the Whitneyan stage through Geringian stage of the Oligocene epoch 33.3—26.3 Ma Archaeocyon existed for approximately .Species of Archaeocyon are among the earliest...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Archaeocyon falkenbachi †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Archaeocyon leptodus †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Archaeocyon pavidus †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Archaeocyon falkenbachi †
- Genus OtarocyonOtarocyonOtarocyon is an extinct genus "bone crushing dog" of the family Borophaginae and a terrestrial canine which was small in size endemic to North America during of the Oligocene epoch, ~33.9—20.6 Ma...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Otarocyon cooki †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Otarocyon macdonaldi †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Otarocyon cooki †
- Genus OxetocyonOxetocyonOxetocyon is an extinct genus of the subfamily Borophaginae and a terrestrial canine which inhabited North America during the Whitneyan stage — of the Oligocene epoch...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Oxetocyon cuspidatus †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Oxetocyon cuspidatus †
- Genus RhizocyonRhizocyonRhizocyon is an early member of the subfamily Borophaginae, an extinct subgroup of canids that were endemic to western North America during the Whitneyan and Arikareean stages) of the Oligocene epoch, living from ~33.3—20.6 Ma., existing for approximately .Rhizocyon was similar to a contemporary...
(30 Ma)- Rhizocyon oregonensis (30 Ma)
- Genus Archaeocyon
- Tribe PhlaocyoniniPhlaocyoniniPhlaocyonini † is a hypocarnivorous clade or tribe of Borophaginae. This is an extinct group of canids that were endemic to North America and which lived during the Oligocene epoch to the Miocene living ~33.3–5.3 Ma, existing for approximately . PhlaocyoniniThe clade includes Cynarctoides and...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Genus CynarctoidesCynarctoidesCynarctoides is an extinct genus of terrestrial canine of the family Borophaginae and tribe Phlaocyonini which inhabited most of North America during the Whitneyan stage of the Early Oligocene to the Barstovian stage of the Middle Miocene 33.3—13.6 Mya existing approximately .-Origin:Cynarctoides...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Cynarctoides acridensCynarctoides acridensCynarctoides acridens is an extinct species of Cynarctoides, belonging to the subfamily Borophaginae and tribe Phlaocyonini, a canine which inhabited most of west central North America from the Miocene epoch living 24.8—13.6 mya and existed for approximately .-Description:Borophaginae were...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point... - Cynarctoides emryiCynarctoides emryiCynarctoides emryi is an extinct species of Cynarctoides, belonging to the subfamily Borophaginae and tribe Phlaocyonini, a canid which inhabited most of west central North America from the Miocene epoch living 23.0–5.3 mya and existed for approximately .-Taxonomy:Cynarctoides emryi was named by...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point... - Cynarctoides gawnaeCynarctoides gawnaeCynarctoides gawnae is an extinct species of Cynarctoides, belonging to the subfamily Borophaginae and tribe Phlaocyonini, a canid which inhabited most of west central North America from the Miocene epoch living 23.0—5.3 mya and existed for approximately .-Taxonomy:Cynarctoides gawnae was named by...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point... - Cynarctoides harlowiCynarctoides harlowiCynarctoides harlowi is an extinct species of Cynarctoides, belonging to the subfamily Borophaginae and tribe Phlaocyonini, a canid which inhabited west central North America during the Late Oligocene to Miocene epoch living 24.8—20.6 mya and existed for approximately .-Taxonomy:Cynarctoides...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point... - Cynarctoides lemurCynarctoides lemurCynarctoides lemur is an extinct species of Cynarctoides, belonging to the subfamily Borophaginae and tribe Phlaocyonini, a canid endemic to various parts of central North America from the Late Oligocene to Miocene epoch living 24.8—20.6 mya and existed for approximately .Fossil evidence suggests...
(30 Ma) †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point... - Cynarctoides luskensisCynarctoides luskensisCynarctoides luskensis is an extinct species of Cynarctoides, belonging to the subfamily Borophaginae and tribe Phlaocyonini, a canid endemic to west central North America from the Late Oligocene to Miocene epoch living 24.8—20.6 Ma and existed for approximately .-Taxonomy:Cynarctoides luskensis...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point... - Cynarctoides roiiCynarctoides roiiCynarctoides roii is an extinct species of Cynarctoides, belonging to the subfamily Borophaginae and tribe Phlaocyonini, a canid which inhabited west central North America from the Late Oligocene to Miocene living 30.8—20.6 mya and existed for approximately .-Taxonomy:Cynarctoides roii was named by...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Cynarctoides acridens
- Genus PhlaocyonPhlaocyonPhlaocyon is an extinct genus of the Borophaginae and a terrestrial canine which inhabited most of North America during the Whitneyan stage of the Early Oligocene through Late Hemingfordian stage of the Early Miocene epoch 33.3—16.3 Mya existing for approximately .-Taxonomy:Phlaocyon was about in...
(30-19 Ma)- Phlaocyon achorosPhlaocyon achorosPhlaocyon achoros is an extinct species of the genus Phlaocyon, belonging to the subfamily Borophaginae and tribe Phlaocyonini, a canid which inhabited the southeastern North America from the Late Oligocene to Miocene living 24.6—20.8 mya and existed for approximately .-Taxonomy:Phlaocyon achoros...
- Phlaocyon annectensPhlaocyon annectensPhlaocyon annectens is an extinct species of the genus Phlaocyon, belonging to the subfamily Borophaginae and tribe Phlaocyonini, a canid endemic to central and western North America from the Late Oligocene to Early Miocene living 24.6—20.8 mya and existed for approximately .-Taxonomy:Phlaocyon...
(22 Ma) - Phlaocyon latidensPhlaocyon latidensPhlaocyon latidens is an extinct species of the genus Phlaocyon, belonging to the subfamily Borophaginae and tribe Phlaocyonini, a canid which inhabited southeastern North America from the Late Oligocene to Miocene living 33.3—20.6 mya and existed for approximately .-Taxonomy:Phlaocyon latidens was...
(30 Ma) - Phlaocyon leucosteus (22 Ma)
- Phlaocyon mariaePhlaocyon mariaePhlaocyon mariae is an extinct species of the genus Phlaocyon, belonging to the subfamily Borophaginae and tribe Phlaocyonini, a canid which inhabited central western North America from the Miocene living 20.6—16.3 Ma., and existed for approximately ....
- Phlaocyon marslandensis (19 Ma)
- Phlaocyon minor (30 Ma)
- Phlaocyon multicuspus
- Phlaocyon taylori
- Phlaocyon yakolai (19 Ma)
- Phlaocyon achoros
- Genus Cynarctoides
- Tribe BorophaginiBorophaginiBorophagini is a clade or tribe of the subfamily Borophaginae. This is an extinct group of terrestrial canids that were endemic and widespread throughout North America and Central America which lived during the Geringian stage of the Oligocene epoch to the Zanclean age of the Early Pliocene living...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Genus CormocyonCormocyonCormocyon is an extinct genus of the Borophaginae and a terrestrial canine which inhabited most of North America during the Geringian stage of the Paleogene through Harrisonian stage of the Oligocene epoch living 30.8—20.6 Mya, existing for about ....
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Cormocyon copei †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Cormocyon haydeni †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Cormocyon copei †
- Genus DesmocyonDesmocyonDesmocyon is an extinct genus of the Borophaginae and a terrestrial canine which inhabited most of North America during the Harrisonian stage of the Late Oligocene through Early Hemingfordian stage of the Early Miocene epoch living 24.8—16.3 Mya existing for approximately .-Fossil record:It is a...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Desmocyon matthewi †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Desmocyon thompsoni †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Desmocyon matthewi †
- Genus MetatomarctusMetatomarctusMetatomarctus is an extinct genus of Borophaginae and a terrestrial canine which inhabited most of North America during the Early Hemingfordian stage of the Miocene epoch living 23.0—5.3 Mya, existing for approximately -Taxonomy:...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Metatomarctus canavus †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Metatomarctus sp. A (16 Ma)
- Metatomarctus sp. B (16 Ma)
- Metatomarctus canavus †
- Genus Eulopocyon (18-16 Ma)
- Eulopocyon brachygnathus (16 Ma)
- Eulopocyon spissidens (18 Ma)
- Genus PsalidocyonPsalidocyonPsalidocyon is an extinct genus of the Borophaginae and a small terrestrial canine which inhabited most of North America during the Hemingfordian stage of the Early Miocene subepoch through the Barstovian stage of the Middle Miocene subepoch 20.6—13.6 Ma, existing for about ..-Morphology:Fossil...
(16 Ma)- Psalidocyon marianae (16 Ma)
- Genus MicrotomarctusMicrotomarctusMicrotomarctus is an extinct genus of the Borophaginae and a small terrestrial canine which inhabited most of North America during the Whitneyan stage of the Early Miocene subepoch through the Barstovian stage of the Middle Miocene subepoch.Microtomarctus existed for approximately .Like other...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Microtomarctus conferta †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Microtomarctus conferta †
- Genus ProtomarctusProtomarctusProtomarctus is an extinct member of the Borophaginae and a small terrestrial canine which inhabited most of North America during the Burdigalian stage of the Miocene epoch 20.4—15.9 Mya, existing for approximately .-Taxonomy:...
(18 Ma)- Protomarctus optatus (18 Ma)
- Genus TephrocyonTephrocyonTephrocyon is an extinct genus of the Borophaginae and a small to medium sized terrestrial canine which inhabited most of North America during the Barstovian stage of the Middle Miocene 16.3—13.6 Ma, existing for approximately .-Morphology:...
(16 Ma)- Tephrocyon rurestris (16 Ma)
- Subtribe CynarctinaCynarctinaCynarctina is an extinct hypocarnivorous canine sub-tribe clade of Borophaginae . Cynarctina lived during the Hemingfordian stage of Early Miocene through Clarendonian stage of the Middle Miocene 20.6—10.3 Ma, existing for approximately ....
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Genus ParacynarctusParacynarctusParacynarctus is an extinct genus of the Borophaginae and a terrestrial canine which inhabited most of North America during the Early Hemingfordian stage of the Early Miocene subepoch through the Early Barstovian stage of the Middle Miocene subepoch 20.6—13.6 Ma, existing for approximately .As...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Paracynarctus kelloggi †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Paracynarctus sinclairi †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Paracynarctus kelloggi †
- Genus CynarctusCynarctusCynarctus is an extinct canid of the subfamily Borophaginae which inhabited most of North America during the Late Miocene subepoch . Cynarctus existed for approximately .-Taxonomy:...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Cynarctus crucidens †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Cynarctus galushai †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Cynarctus marylandica †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Cynarctus saxatilis †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Cynarctus voorhiesi †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Cynarctus crucidens †
- Genus Paracynarctus
- Subtribe Aelurodontina †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Genus TomarctusTomarctusTomarctus is a canine of the extinct subfamily Borophaginae which inhabited most of North America during the late Early Miocene to the Early Barstovian age of the Middle Miocene . Tomarctus existed for approximately ....
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Tomarctus brevirostris †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Tomarctus hippophaga †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Tomarctus brevirostris †
- Genus AelurodonAelurodonAelurodon is an extinct canine genus of the subfamily Borophaginae which lived from the Barstovian land mammal age of the middle Miocene to the Clarendonian age of the late Miocene...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Aelurodon asthenostylus †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Aelurodon ferox †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Aelurodon mcgrewi †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Aelurodon montanensis †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Aelurodon stirtoni †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Aelurodon taxoides †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Aelurodon asthenostylus †
- Genus Tomarctus
- Subtribe BorophaginaBorophaginaBorophagina is a hypocarnivorous subfamily or clade of Borophaginae, a group of terrestrial canines which inhabited most of North America during the Hemingfordian stage of the Early Miocene subepoch to the Zanclean stage of the Pliocene epoch 20.6—3.6 Mya existing approximately...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Genus ParatomarctusParatomarctusParatomarctus an extinct member of the Borophaginae, subtribe Borophagina, a terrestrial canine which inhabited most of North America from the Harrisonian stage to Early Barstovian stage of the Miocene epoch living 16.3—5.3 mya, existed for approximately .-Canid competitors:Paratomarctus was one...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Paratomarctus euthos (13 Ma)
- Paratomarctus temerarius (16 Ma)
- Genus CarpocyonCarpocyonCarpocyon is an extinct member of the Borophaginae, and a terrestrial canine which inhabited most of North America during the Barstovian stage of the Middle Miocene through the Hemphillian stage of the Late Miocene epoch 20.4—3.9 Mya. Carpocyon existed for approximately .-Taxonomy:Carpocyon was...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Carpocyon compressus †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Carpocyon limosus †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Carpocyon robustus †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Carpocyon webbi †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Carpocyon compressus †
- Genus ProtepicyonProtepicyonProtepicyon is an extinct genus of the family Borophaginae which lived during the Barstovian stage of the Middle Miocene subepoch living 16.3—13.6 mya, existing for approximately ....
(16 Ma)- Protepicyon raki (16 Ma)
- Genus EpicyonEpicyonEpicyon is a large extinct canid genus of the subfamily Borophaginae , native to North America. It lived from the Hemingfordian age of the Early Miocene to the Hemphillian of the Late Miocene Epicyon ("near dog") is a large extinct canid genus of the subfamily Borophaginae ("bone-crushing dogs"),...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Epicyon aelurodontoides †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Epicyon haydeni †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Epicyon saevus †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Epicyon aelurodontoides †
- Genus BorophagusBorophagusBorophagus is an extinct genus of the subfamily Borophaginae, a group of canids endemic to North America from the early Miocene epoch through the Zanclean stage of the Pliocene epoch 23.3—3.6 Mya. Borophagus existed for approximately .-Overview:Borophagus, like other borophagines, are loosely...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Borophagus diversidensBorophagus diversidensBorophagus diversidens is an extinct species of the genus Borophagus of the subfamily Borophaginae, a group of canids endemic to North America from the early Miocene epoch through the Pliocene epoch 4.9—1.8 Ma. Borophagus dudleyi existed for approximately .-Overview:Borophagus diversidens was...
(5 Ma) †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point... - Borophagus dudleyiBorophagus dudleyiBorophagus dudleyi is an extinct species of the genus Borophagus of the subfamily Borophaginae, a group of canids endemic to North America from the late Hemphillian of the Miocene epoch through the Pliocene epoch...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point... - Borophagus hilliBorophagus hilliBorophagus hilli is an extinct species of the genus Borophagus of the subfamily Borophaginae, a group of canids endemic to North America from the early Miocene epoch through the Pliocene epoch . Borophagus dudleyi existed for approximately .-Overview:Borophagus hilli was named by C. S. Johnston...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point... - Borophagus littoralisBorophagus littoralisBorophagus littoralis is an extinct species of the genus Borophagus of the subfamily Borophaginae, a group of canids endemic to North America from the early Miocene epoch through the Pliocene epoch...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point... - Borophagus orcBorophagus orcBorophagus orc is an extinct species of the genus Borophagus of the subfamily Borophaginae, a group of canids endemic to North America from the late Zanclean stage of the Pliocene epoch through the Hemphillian stage of the Miocene epoch...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point... - Borophagus parvusBorophagus parvusBorophagus parvus is an extinct species of the genus Borophagus, of the subfamily Borophaginae, a group of canids endemic to North America from the late Hemphillian of the Miocene epoch through the Pliocene epoch 10.3—4.9 Ma., existing for approximately .-Overview:Borophagus, like other...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point... - Borophagus pugnatorBorophagus pugnatorBorophagus pugnator is an extinct species of the genus Borophagus of the subfamily Borophaginae, a group of canids endemic to North America from the early Miocene epoch through the late Miocene epoch 23.3—4.9 Ma...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point... - Borophagus secundusBorophagus secundusBorophagus secundus is an extinct species of the genus Borophagus of the subfamily Borophaginae, a group of canids endemic to North America from the Early Miocene epoch through the Late Miocene epoch...
†ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
- Borophagus diversidens
- Genus Paratomarctus
- Genus Cormocyon
Hesperocyoninae
†Extinction
In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
(Ma = million years ago)
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- Genus CynodesmusCynodesmusCynodesmus is an extinct genus of omnivorous canine which inhabited North America during the Oligocene living from 33.3—-26.3 Ma and existed for approximately ....
(32-29 Ma)- Cynodesmus martini (29 Ma)
- Cynodesmus thooides (32 Ma)
- ?Genus CaedocyonCaedocyonCaedocyon is an extinct genus of bone crushing omnivorous mammal similar to a dog of the family Canidae) which inhabited western North America during the Oligocene living from 30.8—20.6 Ma and existed for approximately ....
- Caedocyon tedfordi
- Genus EctopocynusEctopocynusEctopocynus is an extinct genus of small bone crushing carnivorous mammal similar to a dog of the family Canidae) which inhabited North America during the Oligocene living from 33.3—16.0 Ma and existed for approximately ....
(32-19 Ma)- Ectopocynus antiquus (32 Ma)
- Ectopocynus intermedius (29 Ma)
- Ectopocynus siplicidens (19 Ma)
- Genus EnhydrocyonEnhydrocyonEnhydrocyon is an extinct genus of bone crushing dog which inhabited North America exclusively during the Oligocene living from around 28.7—22.0 Ma and existed for approximately ....
(29-25 Ma)- Enhydrocyon basilatusEnhydrocyon basilatusEnhydrocyon basilatus is an extinct species of bone crushing hesperocyonid dog that lived during the Late Oligocene to Miocene living from 24.8—20.6 Ma and existed for approximately ....
(25 Ma) - Enhydrocyon crassidens (25 Ma)
- Enhydrocyon pahinsintewkpa (29 Ma)
- Enhydrocyon stenocephalus (29 Ma)
- Enhydrocyon basilatus
- Genus HesperocyonHesperocyonHesperocyon is an extinct genus of canids, family of Canidae and subfamily Hesperocyoninae which was endemic to North America from southern Canada to appearing during the Uintan age-Bridgerian age of the Mid-Eocene 42.5 mya—31.0 Ma. . Hesperocyon existed for approximately .-Taxonomy:Hesperocyon...
(39.74-34 Ma)- Hesperocyon coloradensis
- Hesperocyon gregarius (37 Ma)
- Genus MesocyonMesocyonMesocyon is an extinct genus of terrestrial carnivore within the family Canidae, subfamily Hesperocyoninae, which inhabited North America from the Early Oligocene 33.9—20.6 Ma, existing for approximately ....
(34-29 Ma)- Mesocyon brachyops (29 Ma)
- Mesocyon coryphaeus (29 Ma)
- Mesocyn temnodon
- Genus OsbornodonOsbornodonOsbornodon is an extinct genus of bone-crushing canid that were endemic to North America and which lived from the Orellan age of the Early Oligocene to Early Miocene epoch 33.9—15.97 Ma and existed for approximately ....
(32-18 Ma)- Osbornodon brachypus
- Osbornodon fricki (18 Ma)
- Osbornodon iamonensisOsbornodon iamonensisOsbornodon iamonensis is an extinct species of bone-crushing Hesperocyoninae, a predecessor of modern dogs that were endemic to North America and which lived from the Orellan age of the Early Oligocene to Early Miocene epoch 23.6—16.3 Ma and existed for approximately .O. iamonensis was named by E. H...
(21 Ma) - Osbornodon renjiei (33 Ma)
- Osbornodon scitulus
- Osbornodon sesnoni (32 Ma)
- Osbornodon wangi
- Genus ParaenhydrocyonParaenhydrocyonParaenhydrocyon is an extinct genus of bone crushing omnivorous mammal similar to a dog of the family Canidae which inhabited North America during the Oligocene living from 33.3—20.6 Ma and existed for approximately ....
(30-25 Ma)- Paraenhydrocyon josephiParaenhydrocyon josephiParaenhydrocyon josephi is an extinct species of the genus Paraenhydrocyon, a somewhat small bone crushing omnivorous mammal similar to a dog of the family Canidae which inhabited North America during the Oligocene living from 33.3—20.6 Ma and existed for approximately .-Taxonomy:Paraenhydrocyon...
(30 Ma) - Paraenhydrocyon robustus (25 Ma)
- Paraenhydrocyon josephi
- Genus PhilotroxPhilotroxPhilotrox is an extinct genus of bone crushing omnivorous mammal similar to a dog of the family Canidae) which inhabited North America during the Oligocene living from 30.8—26.3 Ma and existed for approximately .-Taxonomy:...
(29 Ma)- Philotrox condoni (29 Ma)
- Genus ProhesperocyonProhesperocyonProhesperocyon " is an extinct genus of physically small terrestrial carnivores of the family Miacidae endemic to North America appearing during the Late Eocene around 36.6—36.5 mya . The time of extinction is unknown....
(36 Ma)- Prohesperocyon wilsoni (36 Ma)
- Genus SunkahetankaSunkahetankaSunkahetanka is an extinct genus of small bone crushing omnivorous mammal similar to a dog of the family Canidae) which inhabited North America during the Oligocene living from 30.8—26.3 Ma and existed for approximately .-Taxonomy:...
(29 Ma)- Sunkahetanka geringensis (29 Ma)
- Genus Cynodesmus
Canids and humans
Among canids, only the gray wolf has been known to prey on humans. There are at least two records of coyotes killing humans, and two of golden jackals killing children. Some canid species have also been trapped and hunted for their fur and, especially the gray wolf and the red fox, for sport. Some canids are now endangered in the wild due to hunting, habitat loss, and the introduction of diseases from domestic dogs.
General references
- Xiaoming Wang, Richard H. Tedford, Mauricio Antón, Dogs: Their Fossil Relatives and Evolutionary History, New York : Columbia University Press, 2008; ISBN 978-0-231-13528-3