Canis
Wolf ( Canis lupus)
The wolf and jackal -like (Canis, also colloquially simply called wolves and jackals ) are a genus of dogs ( Canidae ). It includes the large wild dogs from the wolf and jackal type.
General
The animals of this genus are characterized by relatively long legs and a cylindrical, bushy tail. These animals can reach a body length 45-160 cm, a tail length of 20 to 55 centimeters and a shoulder height of 30 to 80 centimeters, weight varies 6-80 kilograms.
The natural distribution of the genus Canis includes Eurasia, Africa and North and Central America. Thanks to the people they are spread throughout the world today in the form of the domestic dog and the dingo.
System
The systematics of the genus Canis is not yet finally resolved. Three types are called " Jackal", but this is not a systematic name. Controversial is the species status of Rotwolfs; the resident dog is no longer performed contrary to previous classifications as a separate species. Maybe the genus Canis is paraphyletic with respect to the Dhole and the African wild dog.
The following types are distinguished:
- Wolf ( Canis lupus ), including the domestic dog and the dingo
- Red Wolf (Canis rufus) with unclear systematic status
- Coyote (Canis latrans )
- Golden jackal (Canis aureus)
- Black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas )
- Striped Jackal (Canis adustus )
- Ethiopian Wolf ( Canis simensis )
- Canis dirus; extinct about 10,000 years ago
African Wild Dog ( Lycaon pictus)
Dhole ( Cuon alpinus )
Ethiopian Wolf (C. simensis )
Golden jackal (C. aureus)
Koyote (C. latrans )
Wolf (C. lupus)
Domestic dog ( C. lupus familiaris)
Black-backed jackal (C. mesomelas )
Striped Jackal (C. adustus )
As part of the presentation of the genome sequence of the domestic dog was of Lindblad - Toh et al. 2005 Phylogenetic analysis of the dogs ( Canidae ) published. Under this representation, the monophyly of the genus Canis has been questioned on the basis of molecular data. Accordingly represent the striped Jackal and the jackal sister species, the species as basalste all other members of the genus, and in addition the Dhole ( Cuon alpinus ) and the African Wild Dog ( Lycaon pictus) are compared. These two types should be included according to the genus Canis, so that they as a monophyletic genus endures. Also Zrzavý and Řičánková 2004 came to this conclusion and suggested the separation of the two jackals of the genus Canis; Following its proposal of striped Jackal of the monotypic genus Schaeffia as Schaeffia adusta and the jackal of the genus Lupulella should be classified as Lupulella mesomelas.
History of development
The genus Canis seems to have emerged first from about the late Miocene epoch, about 6 million years ago. The oldest finds are from the southern United States and Mexico. An ancestor is one assumes the jackal large genus Eucyon that occurred in the Miocene of North America.