Canidae is a family of mammals in the order Carnivora, which includes domestic dogs, wolves, coyotes, foxes, jackals, dingoes, and many other extant and extinct dog-like mammals. A member of this family is called a canid; all extant species are a part of a single subfamily, Caninae, and are called canines. They are found on all continents except Antarctica, having arrived independently or accompanied human beings over extended periods of time. Canids vary in size, including tails, from the 2 meter (6 ft 7 in) wolf to the 46 cm (18 in) fennec fox. Population sizes range from the Falkland Islands wolf, extinct since 1876, to the domestic dog, which has a worldwide population of over 1 billion. [1] The body forms of canids are similar, typically having long muzzles, upright ears, teeth adapted for cracking bones and slicing flesh, long legs, and bushy tails. [2] Most species are social animals, living together in family units or small groups and behaving cooperatively. Typically, only the dominant pair in a group breeds, and a litter of young is reared annually in an underground den. Canids communicate by scent signals and vocalizations. [3] One canid, the domestic dog, entered into a partnership with humans at least 14,000 years ago and today remains one of the most widely kept domestic animals. [4]
The 13 extant genera and 37 species of Caninae are primarily split into two tribes: Canini, which includes 11 genera and 19 species, comprising the wolf-like Canina subtribe and the South American Cerdocyonina subtribe; and Vulpini, the fox-like canids, comprising 3 genera and 15 species. Not included in either tribe is the genus Urocyon , which includes 2 species, mainly comprising the gray fox and believed to be basal to the family. Additionally, one genus in Canini, Dusicyon , was composed of two recently extinct species, with Dusicyon avus going extinct around 400 years ago and the Falkland Islands wolf going extinct in 1876.
In addition to the extant Caninae, Canidae contains two extinct subfamilies designated as Hesperocyoninae and Borophaginae. Extinct species have also been placed into Caninae, in both extant and extinct genera; at least 80 extinct Caninae species have been found, as well as over 70 species in Borophaginae and nearly 30 in Hesperocyoninae, though due to ongoing research and discoveries the exact number and categorization is not fixed. The earliest canids found belong to Hesperocyoninae, and are believed to have diverged from the existing Caniformia suborder around 37 million years ago. [5]
Conservation status | |
---|---|
EX | Extinct (2 species) |
EW | Extinct in the wild (0 species) |
CR | Critically Endangered (0 species) |
EN | Endangered (4 species) |
VU | Vulnerable (0 species) |
NT | Near threatened (5 species) |
LC | Least concern (26 species) |
Other categories | |
DD | Data deficient (0 species) |
NE | Not evaluated (1 species) |
Conservation status codes listed follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the canid's range is provided. Ranges are based on the IUCN Red List for that species, unless otherwise noted. All extinct species (or subspecies) listed alongside extant species went extinct after 1500 CE, and are indicated by a dagger symbol: "†".
The family Canidae consists of 37 extant species belonging to 13 genera and divided into 194 extant subspecies, as well the extinct genus Dusicyon , comprising two extinct species, and 13 extinct wolf subspecies, which are the only canid species to go extinct since prehistoric times. This does not include hybrid species (such as wolfdogs or coywolves) or extinct prehistoric species (such as the dire wolf or Epicyon ). Modern molecular studies indicate that the 13 genera can be grouped into 3 tribes or clades.
Subfamily Caninae
The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by Mammal Species of the World (2005), with augmentation by generally accepted proposals made since using molecular phylogenetic analysis, such as the promotion of the African golden wolf to a separate species from the golden jackal, and splitting out the Lupulella genus from Canis . Range maps are based on IUCN range data. There are several additional proposals which are disputed, such as the promotion of the red wolf and eastern wolf as species from subspecies of the wolf, which are marked with a "(debated)" tag.
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population [lower-alpha 1] |
---|---|---|---|---|
Short-eared dog | A. microtis (Cabrera, 1940) Two subspecies
| Western Amazon rainforest in South America | Size: 72–100 cm (28–39 in) long, plus 24–35 cm (9–14 in) tail [6] Habitat: Wetlands, forest, and savanna [7] Diet: Fish, insects, and small mammals, as well as fruit, birds, and crabs [7] [8] | NT
|
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population [lower-alpha 1] |
---|---|---|---|---|
African wolf | C. lupaster Hemprich and Ehrenberg, 1832 Six subspecies
| North and northeastern Africa | Size: 100 cm (39 in) long, plus 20 cm (8 in) tail [9] Habitat: Grassland, shrubland, and savanna [10] Diet: Wild boar and livestock, as well as other mammals and fruit [10] [11] | LC
|
Coyote | C. latrans Say, 1823 Nineteen subspecies
| North America | Size: 100–135 cm (39–53 in) long, plus 40 cm (16 in) tail [12] Habitat: Forest, desert, shrubland, and grassland [13] Diet: Wide variety of foods, including both small and large mammals, fruit, and insects [13] | LC |
Dog | C. familiaris Linnaeus, 1758 | Worldwide | Size: Varies by breed Habitat: Domesticated Diet: Varied | NE
|
Ethiopian wolf | C. simensis Rüppell, 1840 Two subspecies
| Ethiopian Highlands | Size: 84–100 cm (33–39 in) long, plus 27–40 cm (11–16 in) tail [15] Habitat: Inland wetlands, grassland, shrubland, and rocky areas [16] Diet: Rodents as well as small mammals [16] [17] | EN
|
Golden jackal | C. aureus Linnaeus, 1758 Six subspecies
| Eastern Europe, Middle East, and southern Asia | Size: 60–132 cm (24–52 in) long, plus 20–30 cm (8–12 in) tail [18] Habitat: Forest, grassland, shrubland, and savanna [19] Diet: Wide variety of foods, including small to large mammals, birds, fish, fruit, and insects [19] [18] | LC
|
Wolf | C. lupus Linnaeus, 1758 37 subspecies
| Eurasia and northern North America | Size: 105–160 cm (41–63 in) long, plus 29–50 cm (11–20 in) tail [20] Habitat: Forest, desert, rocky areas, shrubland, grassland, and inland wetlands [21] Diet: Large ungulates, as well as small animals, carrion, and berries [21] [22] | LC |
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population [lower-alpha 1] |
---|---|---|---|---|
Crab-eating fox | C. thous (Linnaeus, 1766) Five subspecies
| Eastern and northern South America | Size: 64 cm (25 in) long, plus 28 cm (11 in) tail [24] Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, grassland, and inland wetlands [25] Diet: Crabs and insects, as well as rodents, birds, turtles, eggs, fruit, and carrion [24] [25] | LC
|
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population [lower-alpha 1] |
---|---|---|---|---|
Maned wolf | C. brachyurus (Illiger, 1815) | Central South America | Size: 100–130 cm (39–51 in) long, plus 45 cm (18 in) tail [26] [27] Habitat: Forest, wetlands, grassland, shrubland, and savanna [28] Diet: Fruit, arthropods, and small and medium vertebrates [28] | NT
|
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population [lower-alpha 1] |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dhole | C. alpinus (Pallas, 1811) Three subspecies
| Southeast Asia | Size: 90 cm (35 in) long, plus 40–45 cm (16–18 in) tail [29] Habitat: Forest, grassland, and shrubland [30] Diet: Ungulates, as well as small rodents and hares [30] | EN
|
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population [lower-alpha 1] |
---|---|---|---|---|
Falkland Islands wolf† | D. australis (Kerr, 1792) | Falkland Islands at tip of South America | Size: Unknown Habitat: Grassland and shrubland [31] Diet: Unknown [31] | EX |
South American fox† | D. avus (Burmeister, 1866) | Southern South America | Size: Unknown Habitat: Grassland and shrubland [32] Diet: Unknown [32] | EX |
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population [lower-alpha 1] |
---|---|---|---|---|
Black-backed jackal | L. mesomelas (Schreber, 1775) Two subspecies
| Southern Africa and eastern Africa | Size: 60–95 cm (24–37 in) long, plus 16–40 cm (6–16 in) tail [34] Habitat: Marine intertidal, forest, desert, grassland, shrubland, and savanna [35] Diet: Small to medium-sized mammals and birds [35] [36] | LC
|
Side-striped jackal | L. adustus (Sundevall, 1847) Seven subspecies
| Central Africa | Size: 69–81 cm (27–32 in) long, plus 30–41 cm (12–16 in) tail [37] Habitat: Forest, shrubland, savanna, grassland, and inland wetlands [38] Diet: Small to medium-sized mammals and fruit, as well as birds, insects, grass, and carrion [38] [39] | LC |
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population [lower-alpha 1] |
---|---|---|---|---|
Culpeo | L. culpeo (Molina, 1782) Six subspecies
| Western South America | Size: 95–132 cm (37–52 in) long, plus 32–44 cm (13–17 in) tail [41] Habitat: Forest, rocky areas, grassland, shrubland, and savanna [42] Diet: Rodents and lagomorphs, as well as livestock and guanacos [42] [43] | LC
|
Darwin's fox | L. fulvipes (Martin, 1837) | Limited areas in southern Chile | Size: 48–59 cm (19–23 in) long, plus 18–26 cm (7–10 in) tail [44] Habitat: Forest and shrubland [45] Diet: Small mammals, insects, crabs, and fruit [44] [45] | EN
|
Hoary fox | L. vetulus (Lund, 1842) | South-central Brazil | Size: 49–71 cm (19–28 in) long, plus 25–38 cm (10–15 in) tail [44] Habitat: Savanna [46] Diet: Insects, as well as small rodents, birds, reptiles, and fruit [44] [46] | LC
|
Pampas fox | L. gymnocercus (Waldheim, 1814) Five subspecies
| Southern South America | Size: 51–74 cm (20–29 in) long, plus 25–41 cm (10–16 in) tail [44] Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and savanna [47] Diet: Small rodents, hares, birds, insects, and fruit, as well as carrion [44] [47] | LC
|
Sechuran fox | L. sechurae (Thomas, 1900) | Sechura Desert in southwestern Ecuador and northwestern Peru | Size: 50–78 cm (20–31 in) long, plus 27–34 cm (11–13 in) tail [44] Habitat: Forest, desert, grassland, and shrubland [48] Diet: Fruit and seeds, as well as small rodents, birds, reptiles, insects, scorpions, and carrion [44] [48] | NT |
South American gray fox | L. griseus (Gray, 1837) | Southern South America | Size: 50–66 cm (20–26 in) long, plus 12–34 cm (5–13 in) tail [44] Habitat: Forest, grassland, and shrubland [50] Diet: Small rodents, hares, and carrion [44] [50] | LC
|
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population [lower-alpha 1] |
---|---|---|---|---|
African wild dog | L. pictus (Temminck, 1820) Five subspecies
| Scattered areas of Africa. Extant regions in red; probably extant region in yellow. | Size: 76–112 cm (30–44 in) long, plus 30–42 cm (12–17 in) tail [44] Habitat: Forest, grassland, shrubland, savanna, and desert [51] Diet: Medium-sized antelope [51] | EN
|
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population [lower-alpha 1] |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bush dog | S. venaticus (Lund, 1842) Three subspecies
| Northern South America | Size: 57–75 cm (22–30 in) long, plus 12–15 cm (5–6 in) tail [52] Habitat: Shrubland, forest, grassland, and savanna [53] Diet: Small and medium mammals, as well as birds, reptiles, and fruit [53] | NT |
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population [lower-alpha 1] |
---|---|---|---|---|
Common raccoon dog | N. procyonoides (Gray, 1834) Four subspecies
| Mainland Eastern Asia, introduced to Central and Eastern Europe (note: map includes range of N. viverrinus) | Size: 49–71 cm (19–28 in) long, plus 15–23 cm (6–9 in) tail [44] Habitat: Forest, grassland, and shrubland [55] Diet: Insects, rodents, amphibians, birds, fish, and reptiles, as well as fruit, nuts, and berries [55] | LC |
Japanese raccoon dog | N. viverrinus (Temminck, 1838) | Japan | Size: 49–71 cm (19–28 in) long, plus 15–23 cm (6–9 in) tail [44] Habitat: Forest, grassland, and shrubland [55] Diet: Insects, rodents, amphibians, birds, fish, and reptiles, as well as fruit, nuts, and berries [55] | NE
|
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population [lower-alpha 1] |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bat-eared fox | O. megalotis (Desmarest, 1822) Two subspecies
| Southern and Eastern Africa | Size: 46–61 cm (18–24 in) long, plus 23–34 cm (9–13 in) tail [44] Habitat: Grassland, shrubland, and savanna [57] Diet: Harvester termites as well as other arthropods [57] | LC
|
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population [lower-alpha 1] |
---|---|---|---|---|
Arctic fox | V. lagopus (Linnaeus, 1758) Five subspecies
| Arctic North America and Eurasia | Size: 50–75 cm (20–30 in) long, plus 25–43 cm (10–17 in) tail [44] Habitat: Grassland [58] Diet: Lemmings, as well as other rodents, birds, and reindeer [58] | LC
|
Bengal fox | V. bengalensis (Shaw, 1800) | India | Size: 39–58 cm (15–23 in) long, plus 25–32 cm (10–13 in) tail [44] Habitat: Grassland and shrubland [59] Diet: Arthropods, rodents, reptiles, fruit, and birds [59] | LC
|
Blanford's fox | V. cana Blanford, 1877 | The Middle East and Central Asia | Size: 34–47 cm (13–19 in) long, plus 26–36 cm (10–14 in) tail [44] Habitat: Desert and rocky areas [60] Diet: Fruit and insects [60] | LC
|
Cape fox | V. chama (A Smith, 1833) | Southern Africa | Size: 45–61 cm (18–24 in) long, plus 25–41 cm (10–16 in) tail [44] Habitat: Rocky areas, grassland, shrubland, and savanna [61] Diet: Fruit and insects [61] | LC
|
Corsac fox | V. corsac (Linnaeus, 1768) Three subspecies
| Central Asia | Size: 45–60 cm (18–24 in) long, plus 19–34 cm (7–13 in) tail [44] Habitat: Desert, grassland, and shrubland [62] Diet: Insects and small rodents [62] | LC
|
Fennec fox | V. zerda (Zimmermann, 1780) | Northern Africa | Size: 33–40 cm (13–16 in) long, plus 13–23 cm (5–9 in) tail [44] Habitat: Desert and marine coastal/supratidal [63] Diet: Rodents, insects, birds, eggs, and rabbits [63] | LC
|
Kit fox | V. macrotis Merriam, 1888 Two subspecies
| Western North America | Size: 46–54 cm (18–21 in) long, plus 25–34 cm (10–13 in) tail [44] Habitat: Shrubland, savanna, and grassland [64] Diet: Rodents, rabbits, invertebrates, birds, lizards, and snakes [64] | LC
|
Pale fox | V. pallida (Cretzschmar, 1827) Five subspecies
| Upper middle Africa | Size: 38–55 cm (15–22 in) long, plus 23–29 cm (9–11 in) tail [44] Habitat: Desert, grassland, shrubland, and savanna [65] Diet: Plants and berries as well as rodents, reptiles, and insects [65] | LC
|
Rüppell's fox | V. rueppellii (Schinz, 1825) | Northern Africa and the Middle East | Size: 35–56 cm (14–22 in) long, plus 25–39 cm (10–15 in) tail [44] Habitat: Desert, shrubland, and marine coastal/supratidal [66] Diet: Small mammals, lizards, birds, and insects, as well as fruit and succulents [66] | LC
|
Red fox | V. vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758) 44 subspecies
| North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia | Size: 62–72 cm (24–28 in) long, plus 40 cm (16 in) tail [67] Habitat: Shrubland, grassland, inland wetlands, forest, and desert [68] Diet: Small rodents, as well as birds, larger mammals, reptiles, insects, and fish [68] | LC
|
Swift fox | V. velox (Say, 1823) | Western grasslands of North America | Size: 48–54 cm (19–21 in) long, plus 25–34 cm (10–13 in) tail [44] Habitat: Grassland [69] Diet: Rabbits, mice, ground squirrels, birds, insects and lizards, as well as grasses and fruit [69] | LC
|
Tibetan fox | V. ferrilata Hodgson, 1842 | High plateaus in Nepal and western China | Size: 49–70 cm (19–28 in) long, plus 22–29 cm (9–11 in) tail [44] Habitat: Desert, rocky areas, grassland, and shrubland [70] Diet: Pikas, as well as carrion and other small mammals [70] | LC
|
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population [lower-alpha 1] |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gray fox | U. cinereoargenteus (Schreber, 1775) Sixteen subspecies
| North America and Central America | Size: 53–66 cm (21–26 in) long, plus 28–44 cm (11–17 in) tail [44] Habitat: Forest and shrubland [71] Diet: Rabbits, voles, shrews, and birds, as well as insects and fruit [71] | LC
|
Island fox | U. littoralis (Baird, 1857) Six subspecies
| Channel Islands of California | Size: 46–63 cm (18–25 in) long, plus 12–32 cm (5–13 in) tail [44] Habitat: Marine intertidal, forest, grassland, and shrubland [72] Diet: Fruit, insects, birds, eggs, crabs, lizards, and small mammals [72] | NT
|
The Falkland Islands wolf, also known as the warrah and occasionally as the Falkland Islands dog, Falkland Islands fox, warrah fox, or Antarctic wolf, was the only native land mammal of the Falkland Islands. This endemic canid became extinct in 1876, the first known canid to have become extinct in historical times.
The culpeo, also known as culpeo zorro, Andean zorro, Andean fox, Paramo wolf, Andean wolf, and colpeo fox, is a species of South American fox. Regardless of the name, it is not a true fox, but more closely related to wolves and jackals. Its appearance resembles that of foxes due to convergent evolution.
Dusicyon is an extinct genus of South American canids.
The South American foxes (Lycalopex), commonly called raposa in Portuguese, or zorro in Spanish, are a genus from South America of the subfamily Caninae. Despite their name, they are not true foxes, but are a unique canid genus more closely related to wolves and jackals than to true foxes; some of them resemble foxes due to convergent evolution. The South American gray fox, Lycalopex griseus, is the most common species, and is known for its large ears and a highly marketable, russet-fringed pelt.
The Ethiopian wolf, also called the red jackal, the Simien jackal or Simien fox, is a canine native to the Ethiopian Highlands. In southeastern Ethiopia it is also known as the horse jackal. It is similar to the coyote in size and build, and is distinguished by its long and narrow skull, and its red and white fur. Unlike most large canids, which are widespread, generalist feeders, the Ethiopian wolf is a highly specialised feeder of Afroalpine rodents with very specific habitat requirements. It is one of the world's rarest canids, and Africa's most endangered carnivore.
The pale fox is a species of fox found in the band of African Sahel from Senegal in the west to Sudan in the east. It is one of the least studied of all canid species, in part due to its remote habitat and its sandy coat that blends in well with the desert-like terrain.
Dusicyon avus is an extinct species of cerdocyonine canid in the genus Dusicyon, native to South America during the Pleistocene and Holocene epochs. It was medium to large, about the size of a German shepherd. It was closely related to the Falkland Islands wolf (Dusicyon australis), which descended from a population of D. avus. It appears to have survived until very recently, perhaps 400 years ago.
Cerdocyonina is an extant subtribe of the canines and is exclusively endemic to the Americas. Often described to be "fox-like" in appearance and behavior, they are more closely related to the wolf-like canids such as Canis than they are to the fox genus Vulpes. Its members are colloquially known as the South American canids and there are 10 extant species. They are sometimes referred to as South American foxes in the older literature, but the term zorro has been recommended by mammalogists to avoid confusion with the true foxes of the tribe Vulpini, which includes the genus Vulpes.
Lupulella is a genus of canine found in Africa. This genus consists of only two extant species, the black-backed jackal and the side-striped jackal.