Wolf - etymology. Canidae Comparatively large carnivorous, fluffy mammal of the canine family

Doggy family- includes some of the smartest animals living in a strictly subordinate hierarchy and mostly in hunting packs. These predators are fast-footed, cunning and often fearless. Some of them are not afraid of humans or are easily tamed. They are real helpers in the fight against rodents and insects - the main pests of agricultural land, although sometimes they themselves harm livestock in search of food. In my Top 15 most beautiful canids (canines), I tried to highlight the most remarkable and beautiful predators.

15. Coyote (meadow wolf)

photo: David Davis

A predatory mammal of the canine family. The name comes from the Aztec coyotl, "divine dog". Latin name vida means "barking dog". In size, the coyote is noticeably inferior to an ordinary wolf, but its fur is longer than that of a wolf. The shape of the muzzle is more elongated and sharper than that of a wolf, and resembles a fox. Distributed in the New World, from Alaska to Panama. There are 19 subspecies. Coyote is characteristic of open plains occupied by prairies and deserts. He rarely runs into the woods. It is found both in uninhabited places and on the outskirts of large cities like Los Angeles. Easily adapts to anthropogenic landscapes. Attacks skunks, raccoons, ferrets, possums and beavers; eats birds (pheasants), insects. In the vicinity of major cities, domestic cats can make up up to 10% of the coyotes' diet. The main enemies are the puma and the wolf. The coyote cannot stand the presence of the red fox, its food competitor, on its territory. Sometimes coyotes interbreed with domestic dogs, occasionally with wolves.

14.

photo: Renato Rizzaro

Carnivorous mammal; only modern look kind. The generic name Cerdocyon in translation from Greek means "cunning dog", and the specific epithet thous - "jackal", since the Maikong outwardly somewhat resembles a jackal. It is a medium sized fox of a pale gray color with tan markings on the legs, ears and muzzle. Found in South America from Colombia and Venezuela to Uruguay and northern Argentina. Maikong inhabits mainly wooded and grassy plains, in the rainy season it also occurs in mountainous regions. He prefers to hunt at night, alone, less often in pairs. Almost omnivorous. The Maikong feeds on small rodents and marsupials, lizards, frogs, birds, fish, turtle eggs, insects, as well as crabs and other crustaceans (hence one of the names of the Maikong - "crab-eating fox"). Do not disdain carrion. They don't dig their own holes, they are occupied by strangers. Maykong is not a protected species. Its fur has no value; in drought, animals are shot as carriers of rabies.

13. Black-backed jackal

photo: Tarique Sani

One of the species of the genus of wolves. The black-backed jackal is of reddish-gray color, however, on the back of the individual, dark hair forms a kind of black saddle-cloth, stretching to the tail. This saddlecloth is a distinctive species characteristic that all subspecies of the black-backed jackal have inherited. Individuals of this species are longer than the common gray wolf, but shorter than it. It is found in South Africa and on the east coast of Africa from Nubia to the Cape of Good Hope. Throughout the entire length of the range, the jackal prefers places heavily overgrown with bushes, reed thickets near water bodies. Omnivorous. This jackal is very trusting, easily gets used to people and can even become almost tame. The fur of the black-backed jackal is thick and soft; in South Africa, fur carpets (the so-called kaross) are sewn from the skins of the black-backed jackal.

12. Shrub dog (savannah dog)

Carnivorous mammal of the canine family; the only species of the genus Speothos. Inhabits forests and humid savannas of Central and South America. One of the most unusual dogs, because it looks like an otter or other semi-aquatic animal. Her physique is heavy, dense, the body is elongated, the limbs are short. Membranes on the paws. Despite its extensive range, the bush dog is very rare. It was originally considered an extinct species, as it was known only from fossils found in Brazil. It most often settles in tropical rainforests and gallery forests, choosing the most sparse, open areas of the forest. Also found in savannas. Keeps close to water. Shrub dogs are nocturnal, spending the day in a burrow that they dig themselves, or in a natural shelter. Sometimes they occupy the burrows of other animals (armadillos). Shrub dogs are excellent swimmers and divers, which, in general, are uncharacteristic for canines. A flock can attack animals larger than themselves in mass - capybaras and rhea ostriches. Meat is swallowed without chewing, which is functionally associated with a decrease in the number of molars and poor development of the remaining ones. Refer to rare species; the density of their populations is low. Listed in the International Red Data Book as a vulnerable species. They are not hunted.

11. Red wolf (mountain wolf)

Carnivorous mammal of the canine family; the only species of the genus Cuon. A rare and endangered canine. In his appearance, the features of a wolf, a fox and a jackal are combined. The red wolf differs from the ordinary wolf in color, fluffy hair and a longer tail, almost reaching the ground. Based on the variability of color, fur density and body size, 10 subspecies of the red wolf have been described, 2 of them are found on the territory of Russia. In Russia, it was found mainly in the south of the Far East, where it probably entered from the adjacent territories of Mongolia and China.

There is no reliable evidence that the species constantly lives within Russia today. The red wolf differs from other representatives of the canine family in a reduced number of molars (2 in each half of the jaw) and a large number of nipples (6-7 pairs). They have a developed hearing, swim well and jump well - they are able to cover a distance of up to 6 m in length. Red wolves avoid people; they breed in captivity, but are not tamed. The red wolf is listed in the IUCN Red Book with the status of an endangered species, as well as in the Red Book of Russia.

10. Maned wolf

Carnivorous mammal of the canine family; the only member of the genus Chrysocyon. The largest canine in South America, the maned wolf has a unique appearance. It rather looks like a large fox with tall, slender legs than a wolf. Translated from Greek, its name means "short-tailed golden dog". Despite their long limbs, they cannot be called good runners. Inhabits mainly open grassy and bushy plains. They are nocturnal and twilight; during the day, they usually rest among dense vegetation, occasionally moving short distances. The diet contains almost equal proportions of food of animal and plant origin.

He hunts mainly for small animals: rodents (agouti, paka, tuko-tuko), rabbits, armadillos. It also eats birds and their eggs, reptiles, snails and insects; eats bananas, guava and nightshade plant. The population density of the maned wolf is low: according to studies, 1 animal is found on about 300 km². However, the maned wolf is not an endangered species. They are also susceptible to diseases, in particular parvovirus infection (distemper). Despite the external resemblance to foxes, the maned wolf is not their close relative. In particular, it lacks the characteristic vertical pupil of a fox. Apparently, it is a relict species that survived the extinction of large South American canines at the end of the Pleistocene.

9. Hyena dog (hyena dog)

photo: Blake Matheson

A predatory mammal of the canine family, the only species of the genus Lycaon. Its scientific name means: Lycaon - translated from Greek "wolf", and pictus - translated from Latin "painted". Being the closest relative of the red wolf, the hyena-like dog is more like a hyena - its physique is light and lean, its legs are high and strong, and its head is large. The ears are large, oval in shape, similar to those of a hyena. The jaws are powerful, the teeth (premolars) are larger than those of other canines and are adapted to gnaw bones.

Due to the developed skin glands, the hyena dog emits a very strong musky odor. This wild dog was once ubiquitous in the African steppes and savannas south of the Sahara - from southern Algeria and Sudan to the extreme southern tip of the continent. Now its range has become mosaic; it has been preserved mainly in national parks and in landscapes undeveloped by man. Inhabits savannas, scrub wastelands and mountainous areas. Not found in the jungle. It is most typical for savannas with their abundance of ungulates, which are the main prey for this predator. They live and hunt in flocks. The main enemies of hyena dogs are hyenas and lions. They are not very afraid of people, but they gradually disappear from the populated areas, where they are exterminated. The hyena dog is included in the IUCN Red List as a rare endangered species.

8. Wild

A second feral domestic dog, the only placental predator in the fauna of Australia before the arrival of Europeans. The name "dingo" dates back to the early European colonization of New South Wales and is most likely derived from "tingo", a term used by the Port Jackson aborigines to describe their dogs. Judging by the fossil remains, the dingo was brought to Australia not by settlers (about 40,000-50,000 years ago), as previously thought, but by people from Southeast Asia. Usually the dingo is considered a subspecies of the domestic dog, but many experts consider it to be a completely independent species. It is believed that the dingo is an almost purebred descendant of the domesticated Indian wolf, which in the wild is still found on the Indian subcontinent and in Baluchistan. Purebred dingoes do not bark, but they can growl and howl like a wolf, and are predominantly nocturnal animals.

Their main habitats in Australia are the edges of humid forests, dry eucalyptus thickets, arid semi-deserts in the interior of the mainland. They make their dens in caves, empty holes, among the roots of trees, usually not far from water bodies. In Asia, dingoes keep close to human habitation and feed on garbage. Approximately 60% of the diet of Australian dingoes is made up of small mammals, in particular, rabbits. They hunt kangaroos and wallabies; to a lesser extent, they feed on birds, reptiles, insects and carrion. Initially, the attitude of settlers towards the dingo was tolerant, but the situation quickly changed in the 19th century, when sheep farming became an important branch of the Australian economy. Dingoes hunting sheep were caught with traps, shot and poisoned. At the end of the 19th century, in New South Wales alone, farmers spent several tons of strychnine annually to combat wild dogs. In some countries, keeping dingoes as pets is prohibited.

7. Korsak (steppe fox)

photo: Marc Baldwin

A predatory mammal of the genus of foxes of the canine family. It is similar to the common fox, but noticeably smaller, with larger ears and higher legs. The corsac differs from the common fox by the dark end of the tail, from the Afghan fox - by the less long tail. Korsakov run very fast, they are able to overtake the car. Distributed in steppes, semi-deserts and partly in the deserts of Southeast Europe and Asia. In Russia, it occurs: in the west - occasionally comes in the Don region and in the North Caucasus. Has a good sense of smell, eyesight and hearing.

The corsac feeds mainly on small rodents (voles, pies, mice, jerboas), reptiles, insects, birds and their eggs. Rarely hunts gophers, hedgehogs, hares. With a lack of food, it eats carrion and all kinds of garbage. The main enemies are the wolf and the fox. Korsak is an object of fur trade (winter skin is used). Benefits in the extermination of rodents. There are no exact data on the number of Korsak. Korsak species is listed in the international Red Book.

6. Raccoon dog (Ussuri fox, Ussuri raccoon)

photo: Maxime Thué

A predatory omnivorous mammal of the canine (canine) family. An animal the size of a small dog. The natural habitat of the raccoon dog is the forest and mountain-forest areas of Northeastern Indochina, China, Japan and the Korean Peninsula. In Russia, it was originally found only in the Ussuri region and in the southern part of the Amur region. The favorite habitats of the raccoon dog are wet meadows with swampy lowlands, overgrown river floodplains and riverside forests with dense undergrowth. She is unpretentious in the choice of housing. The burrows of badgers and foxes (often inhabited) usually serve as shelters. Active at dusk and at night.

By the way of collecting food, this is a typical gatherer, exploring all kinds of secluded places in search of food. Omnivorous. It feeds on animal and plant foods. It is worth noting that the raccoon dog is the only one of the canine family, which, in case of danger, if it can, prefers not to fight, but to hide, pretending to be dead, which often helps it out. The only member of the canine family that hibernates for the winter. Many raccoon dogs are destroyed by wolves, as well as lynx, stray dogs... She sometimes carries the rabies virus.

5. Common fox (red fox)

photo: Vittorio Ricci

A predatory mammal of the canine family, the most common and largest species of the genus foxes. Distributed very widely: throughout Europe, North Africa (Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, northern Tunisia), most of Asia (up to northern India, southern China and Indochina) , in North America from the Arctic zone to the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The fox was acclimatized in Australia and has spread throughout the continent, with the exception of some northern regions with a humid subequatorial climate.

Foxes inhabit all landscape-geographical zones, from the tundra and subarctic forests to the steppe and deserts, including mountain ranges in all climatic zones. Foxes living near hiking trails, boarding houses, in places where hunting is prohibited, quickly get used to the presence of humans, are easy to feed and can begging. Is of great economic importance as a valuable fur animal, as well as a regulator of the number of rodents and insects. In southern Europe, wild foxes are the largest carrier of the rabies virus.

4. Big-eared fox

photo: Nicola Williscroft

A predatory mammal of the canine family, the only species of the genus. The scientific name of this animal is translated from Greek as "big-eared dog with big ears". Similar to an ordinary fox, but smaller and disproportionately big ears... It is found in two regions of Africa: from Ethiopia and southern Sudan to Tanzania, and from southern Zambia and Angola to South Africa. This distribution is associated with the habitat of its main food - herbivorous termites. Inhabits arid lands - dry savannas and semi-deserts, sometimes close to human habitation.

The diet consists mainly of insects and their larvae: 50% - termites, the rest - beetles and locusts; less than 10% is accounted for by lizards, small rodents, and bird eggs. The big-eared fox is quite numerous, there is even an expansion of its former range. The main threats to the population of long-eared foxes are hunting (its meat is edible and its fur is used by local residents).

3. Arctic fox (polar fox)

photo: Julian Rossi

A predatory mammal of the canine family, the only representative of the arctic fox genus. A small predatory animal resembling a fox. The only representative of the canine family, which is characterized by pronounced seasonal dimorphism in color. By color, they distinguish between ordinary white (in winter - pure white, in summer - dirty brown) and blue fox. Distributed beyond the Arctic Circle, on the coast and islands of the Arctic Ocean, in the tundra and forest-tundra zones. In Russia, it is a typical representative of the fauna of the mainland tundra and forest-tundra. On sandy hills and coastal terraces, it digs holes, complex underground labyrinths with many (up to 60-80) entrances. The Arctic fox is omnivorous, its food includes about 125 species of animals and 25 species of plants.

photo: Cecilie Sønsteby

However, it is based on small rodents, especially lemmings, as well as birds. It feeds on both washed ashore and caught fish, as well as plant foods: berries (blueberries, cloudberries), herbs, algae (seaweed). Doesn't refuse to fall. The Arctic fox has well developed hearing and sense of smell; slightly weaker - vision. Arctic foxes are chased by larger predators. It is attacked by foxes, wolverines and wolves; young polar foxes are grabbed by eagles and white owls. Young animals often die from helminthic invasions, adults - from encephalitis and rabies. An important game animal, a source of valuable fur; in the north, it forms the basis of the fur trade. Particularly appreciated are the skins of the blue fox, which is also an object of cage breeding.

2. Wolf (gray wolf or common wolf)

photo: Jens Hauser

A predatory mammal of the canine family, it is also the direct ancestor of the domestic dog, commonly regarded as a subspecies of the wolf, according to DNA sequencing and gene drift studies. The wolf is the largest animal in its family. Once upon a time, the wolf was much more widespread in Eurasia and North America. In our time, its range and the total number of animals have decreased markedly, mainly as a result of human activity: changes in natural landscapes, urbanization and mass extermination. As one of the key predators, wolves play a very important role in the balance of ecosystems in biomes such as temperate forests, taiga, tundra, mountain systems and steppes. In total, about 32 subspecies of wolves are distinguished, differing in size and shades of fur. It lives in a wide variety of landscapes, but prefers steppes, semi-deserts, tundra, forest-steppe, avoiding dense forests.

Lives in flocks, settled in certain areas, the boundaries of which are indicated by odorous marks. Ungulates are the main food for wolves: in the tundra - reindeer; in the forest zone - moose, deer, roe deer, wild boars; in the steppes and deserts - antelopes. Wolves also attack domestic animals (sheep, cows, horses), including dogs. They are active mainly at night. The wolf harms livestock and hunting, but on the other hand, plays an important role in the ecosystem, controlling the number of animals and destroying the weak and sick individuals. Wolf hunting is conducted all year round and without special permits. This is done in order to reduce the population of animals that harm livestock.

1. Fenech

A miniature fox of a peculiar appearance that lives in the deserts of North Africa. Sometimes it belongs to the special genus Fennecus. This animal got its name from the Arabic fanak, which means "fox". The smallest member of the canine family, it is smaller in size domestic cat... The largest population of Fenechs lives in central Sahara, although they are found from northern Morocco to the Sinai and Arabian Peninsulas, and in the south to Niger, Chad and Sudan. It inhabits sandy deserts, where it prefers to keep thickets of grass and sparse bushes, which provide it with shelter and food. He lives in holes with a large number of secret passages, which he digs himself; is nocturnal. They live in family groups, the number of individuals in which reaches 10. Fenech is omnivorous and most digs up feed from sand and earth.

Fenech feeds on small vertebrates, eggs, insects (including locusts), carrion, plant roots and fruits. Huge ears allow him to pick up the lightest rustle produced by his victims. It can go without water for a long time, getting liquid from meat, berries and leaves. Makes food supplies. Fenech displays great agility and liveliness, the ability to jump high and far - up to 0.7 m up. Its protective coloration allows it to blend in with the sandy landscape. The exact number of Fenechs is unknown. They are hunted, killed for their fur, and caught and sold as pets.

In your house, wake up like a meek lamb, but the opposite
wake the enemy like a predatory wolf and like a fearful lion
I. T. Pososhkov. Fatherly testament to his son (1718-1725)

A predatory mammal of the canine family, together with the coyote and jackal, it makes up a small genus of wolves (Canis). Biologists consider the wolf to be the direct ancestor of the domestic dog, which is generally regarded as a subspecies of it. There are different theories of wolf domestication, according to the first - the initiative of domestication belonged to humans, according to the second - the wolf itself began to develop a new ecological niche near the sites of primitive man, where there was food waste, i.e. his "self-domestication" took place.

* Dictionary of the Russian Academy of 1789
Wolf. “The beast is fierce, predatory, carnivorous, looks like big dog; the coat is gray-yellowish with black, the skull and snout are thicker in comparison with the dog, the log (tail) is fluffy, straight. "

According to the general opinion of researchers, packs of wolves terrorized the rural population until the 18th century, relations between wolves and humans have always been "tense" due to the constant threat posed by the predator to the lives of humans and domestic animals. The threat of wolf attacks declined in the 19th century due to extensive road construction, population growth and deforestation.

In publications on the "wolf" theme, there are other views on this predator, some researchers believe that the "wolf problem" is exaggerated, and wolves do not attack people. On this occasion, in the 80s, there was a discussion in the press, incl. Norwegian, where Friends of the Wolves accused Soviet zoologists of incompetence.

1) Existing etymology

A) Wiktionary

Wolf. The root is the wolf. Meaning - a relatively large predatory fluffy mammal of the canine family.

Etymology according to Max Fasmer

From praslav. form * vьlkъ, from which, among other things, originated: Old Russian. volk, art-slav. vlk (Zogr., Supp.), Russian. wolf, ukr. Vovk, bulg. volk, serbohorv. vuk, Slovensk. vo; k, Czech., Slovak. vlk, Polish. wilk, V.-puddles. wjelk, n.-puddles. welk. Praslav. * vьlkъ goes back to the Praindoevr. * wlqwos / * lukwos; primordially lit. vil; kas, Latvian. v; lks, Old-Ind. v; kas, avest. v; hrka-, gotsk. wulfs, alb. ulk, Greek. l; kos, lat. lupus (borrowed from Sabinsk.). First. meaning "Tearing apart", dragged here. The assumption about the root * vel is unreliable - “brown, gray-yellow”.

B) Etymological Dictionary... Semenov A.V.

Old Russian - volk. Old Slavic - vlk. Common Slavic - vъlkъ. The word "wolf" was borrowed from the Old Slavonic (which, in turn, came from the Common Slavic) in the 11th century. and means "predatory animal, akin to a dog." The original source is the Indo-European basis with lexical meaning"Drag". It follows that the ancient Slavic word is translated as “the one who carries” (for example, livestock). Words with similar sounding and semantic content are found in Lithuanian (vilkas - "wolf"), German (Wolf), Gothic (wulfs).

2) Wolf in the Old and New Testaments

The fauna of Israel in the biblical era was rich and varied, the types of large animals are described accurately and in detail, the lion (arye, leviya, shahal, gur - the symbol of the tribe of Judah), the wolf (ZEEB - the symbol of the tribe of Benjamin) and the jackal (tan) are mentioned.

* Isaiah 65:25: “The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion, like an ox, will eat straw, and for the snake, dust will be food: they will not cause harm and harm on all My holy mountain, says the Lord”; hence, the wolf was seen as a source of "evil and harm."

The wolf was considered a vile animal for predation, cruelty and wild disposition; caused great damage to the flock, destroyed more sheep than he could eat them. Even less, in national symbolism, we find the image of a wolf both among the Jews and among other peoples, for example, among the Turks and Romans (the she-wolf nursed Romulus and Remus), who derived their origin from the wolf.

3) Term in Russian

A) In the Russian chronicle (XII century), the established biblical image of the wolf is correlated with the characteristics of Prince Igor Rurikovich (914-945). In 945, at the request of the squad, dissatisfied with their material content, Igor went to the Drevlyans and imposed an unbearable tribute on them, artificially creating a threat of hunger. In the Tale of Bygone Years under the year 945, this situation is described: “The Drevlyans, having heard that it was coming again, held advice with their prince Mal:“ If the wolf gets into the habit of the sheep, it will carry out the whole flock until they kill him; so this one: if we do not kill him, then we will all ruin. "

B) National corpus of the Russian language

* On the reasons for the death of kingdoms (1600-1610): "Then the wolf, having taken away his fear and fear, did not only eat all the beast until his satiety, but at his own will he sharpened and ate not only the beast, but the shepherds themselves."

* A conspiracy from adversaries (1625-1650): “31) they would have been dark, they would have had an ox tongue, a black hair would have a mustache and a mind, the gray hare would be a commotion, they would run away from me, like gray rabbits and sheep, but would chased after them, like a gray wolf, and would have bitten them on the hind leg.

4) Generalization and conclusion

So, we found out that the wolf belongs to the canine family, or canine, or wolf (lat. Canidae) - a family of mammals of the order of carnivores. The term is recorded in early Russian chronicles, liturgical documents and secular acts, a common Old Russian surname and nickname.

The term V.L.K. (K.L.V.), probably initially (we can only assume, there are no sources) characterized in Russian the whole family of canines (there were quite a few wild and feral dogs), without division into subspecies, with the development literary language the concept of a dog and a dog was distinguished.

* Dictionary of the Russian language of the XI-XVII century (Academy of Sciences, M., 1975),. See http://etymolog.ruslang.ru/doc/xi-xvii_2.pdf

A) A dog (play) and a dog. Dog, dog. It is good to take away bread with a child and baptize it with a dog (Matt. 15:26) Ostromir Gospel, 1057; in the Hebrew text Matt. 15:26 the word "kelev" (dog, dog) is used.

B) Wolf (volk, volk), The Tale of Bygone Years under 945 (according to the researchers, P.V.L. was written at the beginning of the 12th century, preserved in the lists of the 14th century).

C) Dog. “And my hounds and dogs in their villages eat half a meal” (Document 1475).

It is advisable to consider the term in connection with biblical vocabulary and images.
The Slavic origin of the term "wolf" is incredible, there is no lexical and historical basis, the vocabulary is spread in a certain ideological system, isn't it? There are no written records of the "Slavic" language; you cannot rely on what is not created, does not exist.

5) Hebrew terminology and biblical image

Let us bring the term into a form close to the grammar of the Hebrew language, read it the other way around (as in Hebrew) - WOLF (other. Obviously, the common root will be the combination of letters - K.L.V. We instantly reveal a rational (logic and common sense) the Hebrew term KELEV, in a letter without vowels (vowels) - K.L.V.

* WOLF = read the other way around - Hebrew. KELEV dog, dog.

* encyclopedic Dictionary Brockhaus and Efron

“The source of the Proto-Slavic vowel sound b is most often the Indo-European short I (cf. Sanskrit snusha, sunus, Old Slavic snha, son, Russian daughter-in-law, son), less often unstressed O (cf. Russian. in a few cases b appeared in place of the Proto-Slavic b (before the combination of l + consonant, compare, for example, Proto-Slavic and Old Russian Valk from the even more ancient * Vlk / Lithuanian vilkas). " Thus, linguists already in the 19th century noted that the Russian letter EP (b) expressed the sound I or O; those. volk ​​= wolves (wolf).

* The dog is mentioned in Old Testament, 1 Sam. 17:43: “And the Philistine said to David, Why are you coming at me with a stick? Am I a dog (kelev)? " The term dog (kelev) is used 32 times in 31 verses of the Bible, meaning: dog, pagan sacrifice, also has the meaning - male prostitute.

* In the New Testament (Hebrew text): Matthew 15:26: "It is not good to take bread from children and throw it to the dogs (kelev)." Dogs in Judaism were considered unclean animals, they were allowed to be used only to guard herds, they were not kept in houses.
Thus, the Russian term "wolf" (VLK = KLV)) is obviously derived from the Hebrew root KLV. by transliteration - translation of characters from one alphabet to another, excellent.

The dog has been with humans for over 36,000 years. We evolved with this pet, shared our food and shelter with him. But not all canids are as beneficial to humans. Among the variety of species, there are both small and cute, and dangerous to human life.

Canine family: representatives

Chromosomal analysis classifies the following phylogenetic divisions as members of the family:

1. Wolf(dogs, jackal, red, gray, oriental wolves, etc.);
2. Foxes(red fox, arctic fox, fennec fox, etc.);
3. South American canines(Brazilian fox, bush dog, Maikong, maned wolf);
4. All kinds of monotypic taxa(raccoon dog, as well as big-eared and gray foxes).

All members of the family are predators. The first species appeared about 43 million years ago. Approximately 11, 9 million years ago, there was a branching into foxes and dogs.

During evolution, two subfamilies became extinct - hesperocytic and borophage.

To date, a total of 34 species are known. Their wild varieties live on all continents except Antarctica. The habitat is diverse, including deserts, mountains, forests and grasslands.

The size ranges from 24 cm (fenech) to 160 cm (gray wolf) in length.

They are distinguished by high intelligence in comparison with other types of animals. Long domesticated by humans and ranked second (after cats) in popularity as a pet.

Brief characteristics of the species

Despite the large number and diversity, all species belonging to the family have a number of common features:

• Have a similar shape; only the relative length of the muzzle, limbs, ears and tail differs significantly from species to species;
• The cheekbones are broad, with a lambdoid ridge at the back of the skull. In some species, there is a median (sagittal) ridge from the forehead to the back of the head;
• The bony orbits around the eyes never form a complete ring;
• The paws of all species, without exception, are divided into fingers. In most cases, there are five fingers, and the last (thumb) does not touch the ground when moving. The exception is the African hunting dog, which is four-fingered;
• The nails are slightly curved, relatively blunt and never retracted;
• The pads on the soles of the feet are soft;
• The surface of the skin around the external openings of the nostrils is always bare;
• Thick tails;
• The length and quality of wool varies with the season;
• Newborn puppies are born blind, their eyes open a few weeks after birth;
• The number of teeth in most cases is 42.

Canine social behavior

Almost all canines are social animals: they cannot imagine their life without cooperation with representatives of their own species. The laws of the flock have been studied by zoologists for a long time and do not constitute any secret:

• They live outdoors. They have a kennel or hole only to find a refuge in bad weather or for breeding;
• Males and females form "married" pairs. Representatives of such a union go hunting together, raise offspring together;
• However, some species live in large family groups. For example, for the African wild dog, their number ranges from 20 to 40 individuals. With small numbers (less than seven), successful reproduction is impossible;
• There is a clearly built hierarchy in the flock. The dominant representative (the most powerful and experienced) leads everyone else;
• The communication system is quite complex. To convey information, smell, visual cues, gestures, simple vocalization (barking, howling, growling) are used;
• The flock lives only on its territory, which is marked with the help of urinary secretions. Representatives of other flocks are to be expelled.

How does reproduction take place?

The reproductive qualities of canines are quite unique to mammals:

• Typically, these animals show monogamy (one partner to create a family) and long-term parental care for their offspring;
• In ovulating females who did not have the opportunity to conceive, the phenomenon of an imaginary pregnancy occurs (there are external symptoms in the absence of fertilization);
• The breeding period depends on the size of the animal: in large species it ranges from 60 to 65 days, in small and medium - from 50 to 60;
• The time of year in which mating takes place depends on the length of daylight hours in a particular climatic zone (it has been proven when individuals move across the equator). Domesticated dogs are much more likely to be in heat than wild dogs, probably due to exposure to artificial lighting;
• The number of puppies varies from one to sixteen per female. They grow in a kennel dug in the ground. They are helpless for a long time: it takes up to several years to become full-fledged members of the pack.

Foxes: the canine family

The genus of foxes is one of the most numerous in the canine family. It has about 12 different types foxes (they are all named for their habitat):

1. Arctic;
2. Indian (or Bengali);
3. American;
4. Steppe;
5. Afghan;
6. African;
7. Tibetan;
8. South African;
9. Sandy;
10. Fenech;
11. Dwarf agile;
12. Ordinary.

Among the characteristic features of the genus:

• The bone structure is similar to other relatives in the family. However, there are some differences: the limbs of canines are usually adapted for fast running - foxes, on the other hand, avoid sprinting behavior. They are more suited to jumping quickly and grabbing prey. Therefore, the hind legs are much more developed than the front ones;
• They are omnivorous. Invertebrates, small vertebrates and plants are most often preferred as food;
• They usually live in forests, but often come close to human dwellings.

Dog, wolf, fox, jackal, coyote, scribe belong to the family of species named after the most famous representative - canines. Thanks to their unusual physical abilities, coupled with an outstanding animal intelligence, they conquered five of the six continents. Only a person is able to cope with these rebellious beasts.

Video: Complete List of Canids

In this video, Alina Denisova will show all the animals that are part of the canine family:

Mn. 1. The family of mammals, which includes dogs, wolves, foxes, jackals, arctic foxes, etc. 2.dep. Greyhound breed with long wavy hair; canine sighthounds. Efremova's Explanatory Dictionary. T.F. Efremova. 2000 ... Modern dictionary Russian language Efremova

Yh; pl. The family of carnivorous mammals, which include dogs, wolves, foxes, arctic foxes, jackals, etc. * * * canines are the same as wolves. * * * HUNSILE HUNDRED, the same as wolf (see WOLF) ... encyclopedic Dictionary

canines- šuniniai statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas šeima apibrėžtis Šeimoje 11 genčių. Kūno ilgis - 40 160 cm. atitikmenys: lot. Canidae angl. canids; dogs; dogs and allies vok. Hunde; Hundeartige; hundeartige Raubtiere rus. wolves; ... ... Žinduolių pavadinimų žodynas

Canine (Canidae), a family of mammals of the order of carnivores. Body length from 50 cm (small foxes) to 160 cm (wolf). The head is elongated, the muzzle is sharp, the ears are erect; the tail is long, fluffy. On the front legs, 5 fingers, on the hind legs, 4; claws ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

- (Canidae) see Dogs ... Encyclopedic Dictionary of F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

The same as the wolf. . (Source: "Biology. Modern Illustrated Encyclopedia." Ed. A. P. Gorkin; Moscow: Rosmen, 2006.) ... Biological encyclopedic dictionary

The same as the wolf ... Natural science. encyclopedic Dictionary

canines- s; pl. A family of carnivorous mammals, which include dogs, wolves, foxes, arctic foxes, jackals, etc. Dictionary of many expressions

- (Canidae) ** * * The family includes 16 modern genera and 36 species. Canids are widespread in Eurasia, Africa, North and South America, New Guinea and Australia have penetrated with humans. With the exception of one species, they have more ... ... Animal life

Books

• Russian hound. History. Standards. Education. Nagging
• Russian Hound, Konkova E.Yu .. An integral part of the unique Russian culture, along with literature, music and painting, is the heritage of Russian hunting. Hunting was a passion of ancient Russian princes. Canines ...

Canine family(Canidae) consists of 10 genera, which unite 35 species. Distributed throughout the world, with the exception of some areas (for example, Madagascar, New Zealand), where only a domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) has been imported by humans.

The evolution of canines was in the direction of improving the pursuit of prey on flat terrain, as evidenced by their anatomy. Although representatives of 35 species, belonging to 10 genera, vary in size from a tiny fenech to a large gray wolf, most of them have a similar structure - a strong and flexible body, a long fluffy tail, long limbs. Canids are finger-walking animals; their hind legs are four-fingered; non-retractable claws. The only exception is the bushy dog, which has a squat body with relatively short limbs. The smallest of the canines, Fenech, lives in arid zones, poor in food resources, while the largest (and wolves) live in places where there is enough prey.

Canids originated in North America in the Eocene (55–34 million years ago); in the sediments of that time, five fossil genera were found. Two forms of ancient canines - Hesperocyon from North America and Cynodictis from Europe - resembled civets in structural details. Elongated body and relatively short legs they were similar to Miacoidea, from which all carnivores are descended. The evolutionary flowering of the family coincided with the end of the formation of all the characteristics of modern canines: there were 19 genera in the Oligocene (34-24 million years ago), and 42 genera in the Miocene (24-5 million years ago).

The ridge of the predatory tooth in most canines has two peaks, but in the bush dog, hyena dog, and red wolf it has only one. The species within the three largest genera Canis, Vulpes and Disicyon are quite similar to each other, and differences between genera may also be small. The most specific external features are the hyena dog, bush dog, big-eared fox, raccoon dog, red wolf, maned wolf, arctic fox. All of them belong to monotypic genera.

Life in a flock

The most surprising trait of canines is their flexible and adaptive behavior. This is most noticeable in the complexity of their social organization... As for food preferences, the intraspecific variability is not inferior to the interspecific variation. Hyena dogs, and possibly red wolves and bush dogs, hunt large prey in packs, pairs, or family groups. Gray wolves, coyotes and jackals do the same: but they eat everything - from the meat of freshly harvested animals and fell to berries. This is probably why their lifestyle varies from solitary to gregarious. So, depending on the predominance of a particular type of food, gray wolves can live in isolated monogamous pairs or flocks of up to 20 individuals.

In general, canines, even such as arctic foxes and foxes, prefer to keep in groups, even if they hunt alone. This is explained by a lot of reasons: joint protection of territories or large carcasses, taking care of calves, competition with neighbors. This is clearly shown for the Ethiopian jackal, which lives in packs but almost never hunts cooperatively.

Canids are endangered

Despite their high adaptability, the canines can be very vulnerable to the destruction of their habitual biotopes. The short-eared fox and bush dog appear to be so rare that it raises concerns about their future. The number of Ethiopian jackals is less than 500 individuals, hyena dogs - about 3000-5500, and the maned wolf from the Brazilian and Argentine pampas - only 1000-2000 animals. All of these species are endangered. The position of highly socialized canines is especially deplorable, since they are victims of the so-called Ollie effect: if their numbers are low, they are doomed to extinction. The life of hyena dogs depends on successful hunting in conditions of close interaction of individuals in a large flock. Therefore, flocks of less than 5 members fall into decay: animals cannot hunt at the same time, protect prey from other predators and take care of cubs. Despite the number of 3,000 individuals, hyena dogs are more threatened than previously named species: it turns out that no more than 600 viable flocks live on the African continent.

Skulls and teeth

Canids have long muzzles and well-developed jaws; they are characterized by the dental formula I 3/3, C 1/1, P 4/4, M 2/3 = 42 (an example is the gray wolf). Three species avoid this type: the big-eared fox (48 teeth), the red wolf (40) and the bush dog (38). Cutting predatory teeth (P4 / M1) and grinding molars are well developed; these are the largest teeth (the exception is the big-eared fox).

Domestication (domestication) of canines

Various hypotheses have been put forward about the origin of the domestic dog; it was not excluded that in different time more than one species of canines were tamed to one degree or another. Even so, the wolf is considered the most likely ancestor of the modern domestic dog. The domestic dog is known scientifically as a subspecies of the wolf Canis lupus familiaris. The earliest archaeological evidence to support the existence of a domestic dog approximately 14,000 years ago is found in Germany: it is a single jaw. In comparison with the wolf, it is shortened, with compactly located teeth. Other early remains, over 11,000 years old, believed to have belonged to domestic dogs, are known from Kun in Iran. These discoveries show that the wolf became the first human companion, ahead of other animal species, even before the beginning of human cultivation of food plants. Indeed, recent molecular evidence has confirmed that dogs were domesticated over 10,000 years ago.

How domestication took place is not completely clear what was the subject of all kinds of speculation. Various theories have been put forward for the use of wolves by our ancestors: for hunting, protecting homes, disposing of food debris and garbage around settlements, and even as food in times of famine. Perhaps domestication happened by accident: the hunters of the tribe brought wolf cubs, released them at their site and raised them simply as pets.

Chihuahua, a domestic dog breed from Mexico that was bred by the Aztecs before colonization by the Spanish in 1519.