Canis
Canis is a genus with seven to ten living species.[1] It incudes the domestic dog, wolves, coyotes, and jackals, and various extinct species. 'Canis' means "dog" in Latin.
| Canis Temporal range: Miocene–present (6 million years ago)
| |
|---|---|
| File:Canis.jpg | |
| Gray wolf (top), coyote and African golden wolf (top middle), Ethiopian wolf and golden jackal (bottom middle), black-backed jackal and side-striped jackal (bottom) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Canidae |
| Subfamily: | Caninae |
| Tribe: | Canini |
| Genus: | Canis Linnaeus, 1758 |
| Type species | |
| Canis familiaris Linnaeus, 1758
| |
| Extant species | |
Their canine teeth are adapted for killing, and their molar teeth can crunch bone. They are able to chase prey over long distances, far more so than felines.
Canis Media
- Dogs, jackals, wolves, and foxes (Plate IX).png
Dogs, jackals, wolves, and foxes (Plate IX)
- Dogs, jackals, wolves, and foxes (Plate V) C. l. rufus mod.png
Dogs, jackals, wolves, and foxes (Plate V) C. l. rufus mod
- Dogs, jackals, wolves, and foxes (Plate V).png
Dogs, jackals, wolves, and foxes (Plate V)
- Dogs, jackals, wolves, and foxes (Plate I).png
Dogs, jackals, wolves, and foxes (Plate I)
- 202104 Dog.svg
- Dog
Dogs, jackals, wolves, and foxes (Plate VI)
Skulls of dire wolf (Aenocyon dirus), gray wolf (C. lupus), eastern wolf (C. lycaon), red wolf (C. rufus), coyote (C. latrans), African golden wolf (C. lupaster), golden jackal (C. aureus) and black-backed jackal (Lupulella mesomelas)
Diagram of a wolf skull with key features labelled
References
- ↑ Wilson D.E. & Reeder D.M. eds 2005. Genus Canis. Mammal species of the world. 3rd ed, Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0