104-877: Caninae (whose members are known as canines ( / k eɪ n aɪ n z / ) is the only living subfamily within Canidae , alongside the extinct Borophaginae and Hesperocyoninae . They first appeared in North America, during the Oligocene around 35 million years ago, subsequently spreading to Asia and elsewhere in the Old World at the end of the Miocene , some 7 million to 8 million years ago. † Hesperocyoninae [REDACTED] † Borophaginae [REDACTED] Caninae [REDACTED] The genus Leptocyon (Greek: leptos slender + cyon dog) includes 11 species and
208-522: A baculum and a structure called the bulbus glandis that expands during copulation , forming a copulatory tie that lasts for up to an hour. Young canids are born blind, with their eyes opening a few weeks after birth. All living canids (Caninae) have a ligament analogous to the nuchal ligament of ungulates used to maintain the posture of the head and neck with little active muscle exertion; this ligament allows them to conserve energy while running long distances following scent trails with their nose to
312-532: A dental formula of: 3.1.4.2 3.1.4.3 . The bush dog has only one upper molar with two below, the dhole has two above and two below. and the bat-eared fox has three or four upper molars and four lower ones. 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 3.1.3 , molars being completely absent. Almost all canids are social animals and live together in groups. In general, they are territorial or have
416-562: A gestation of 50 to 60 days, while larger species average 60 to 65 days. The time of year in which the breeding season occurs is related to the length of day, as has been shown for several species that have been moved across the equator and experiences a six-month shift of phase. Domestic dogs and certain small canids in captivity may come into oestrus more often, perhaps because the photoperiod stimulus breaks down under conditions of artificial lighting. Canids have an oestrus period of 1 to 20 days, lasting one week in most species. The size of
520-457: A jackal–dog hybrid . There was 11–13% of ancient gene flow into the golden jackal from the population that was ancestral to wolves and dogs, and an additional 3% from extant wolf populations. Up to 15% of the Israeli wolf genome is derived from admixture with golden jackals in ancient times. In 2018, whole genome sequencing was used to compare members of the genus Canis . The study supports
624-493: A coloring once fairly common in Bengal. Unlike melanistic wolves and coyotes that received their dark pigmentation from interbreeding with domestic dogs, melanism in golden jackals probably stems from an independent mutation that could be an adaptive trait. What is possibly an albino specimen was photographed in southeastern Iran during 2012. The jackal moults twice a year, in spring and in autumn. In Transcaucasia and Tajikistan ,
728-437: A common ancestor), and they are only distantly related. The accuracy of the colloquial name "jackal" to describe all jackals is therefore questionable. Mitochondrial DNA (mDNA) passes along the maternal line and can date back thousands of years. Thus, phylogenetic analysis of mDNA sequences within a species provides a history of maternal lineages that can be represented as a phylogenetic tree . A 2005 genetic study of
832-536: A distinct entoconid cusp and the broadening of the talonid of the first lower molar , and the corresponding enlargement of the talon of the upper first molar and reduction of its parastyle distinguish these late Cenozoic canids and are the essential differences that identify their clade. The cat-like Feliformia and dog-like Caniformia emerged within the Carnivoramorpha around 45–42 Mya (million years ago). The Canidae first appeared in North America during
936-400: A diverse group of some 37 species ranging in size from the maned wolf with its long limbs to the short-legged bush dog. Modern canids inhabit forests, tundra, savannas, and deserts throughout tropical and temperate parts of the world. The evolutionary relationships between the species have been studied in the past using morphological approaches, but more recently, molecular studies have enabled
1040-450: A group breeds and a litter of young are reared annually in an underground den. Canids communicate by scent signals and vocalizations. One canid, the domestic dog, originated from a symbiotic relationship with Upper Paleolithic humans and is one of the most widely kept domestic animals . In the history of the carnivores, the family Canidae is represented by the two extinct subfamilies designated as Hesperocyoninae and Borophaginae, and
1144-539: A higher genetic diversity than European jackals. This is thought to be due to Israeli jackals having hybridized with dogs, gray wolves, and African golden wolves, creating a hybrid zone in Israel. Genetic analysis reveals that mating sometimes occurs between female jackals and gray wolves, producing jackal-wolf hybrids that experts cannot visually distinguish from wolves. Hybridization also occurs between female golden jackals and male dogs, which produces fertile offspring,
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#17328519793451248-487: A home range and sleep in the open, using their dens only for breeding and sometimes in bad weather. 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 dogs have packs which may consist of 20 to 40 animals and packs of fewer than about seven individuals may be incapable of successful reproduction. Hunting in packs has
1352-440: A home territory from which they drive out other conspecifics . Canids use urine scent marks to mark their food caches or warn trespassing individuals. Social behavior is also mediated by secretions from glands on the upper surface of the tail near its root and from the anal glands , preputial glands , and supracaudal glands . Canids as a group exhibit several reproductive traits that are uncommon among mammals as
1456-491: A jackal was found to be carrying Trichinella britovi . In northeastern Italy, the jackal is a carrier of the tick species Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus , and the smallest human fluke Metagonimus yokogawai that can be caught from ingesting infected raw fish. In Hungary, some jackals carry dog heartworm Dirofilaria immitis , and some have provided the first record in Hungary of Trichinella spiralis and
1560-407: A lack of removal, and this may have led to the expansion of their population. In Hungary, 55% of their diet is composed of common voles and bank voles , and 41% is composed of wild boar carcasses. Information on the diet of the golden jackal in northeastern Italy is scant, but it is known to prey on small roe deer and hares. In Israel, golden jackals are significant predators of snakes; during
1664-760: A large part in spreading coenurosis in sheep and cattle, and canine distemper in dogs. In Tajikistan, jackals may carry up to 12 tick species (which include Ixodes , Rhipicephalus turanicus , R. leporis , R. rossicus , R. sanguineus , R. pumilio , R. schulzei , Hyalomma anatolicum , H. scupense and H. asiaticum ), four flea species ( Pulex irritans , Xenopsylla nesokiae , Ctenocephanlides canis and C. felis ), and one species of louse ( Trichodectes canis ). In Iran, some golden jackals carry intestinal worms ( helminths ) and Echinococcus granulosus . In Israel, some jackals are infected with intestinal helminths and Leishmania tropica . In Romania,
1768-545: A large range of foods; this diet, together with its tolerance of dry conditions, enables it to live in different habitats. The jackal's long legs and lithe body allow it to trot over great distances in search of food. It is able to go without water for extended periods and has been observed on islands that have no fresh water. Jackals are abundant in valleys and along rivers and their tributaries, canals, lakes, and seashores, but are rare in foothills and low mountains. In Central Asia they avoid waterless deserts and cannot be found in
1872-422: A larger trigonid indicating a hypercarnivore and a larger talonid indicating a more omnivorous diet. Because of its low variability, the length of the lower carnassial is used to provide an estimate of a carnivore's body size. A study of the estimated bite force at the canine teeth of a large sample of living and fossil mammalian predators, when adjusted for their body mass, found that for placental mammals
1976-431: A light pale ginger to cream color. Individual specimens can be distinguished by their unique light markings on the throat and chest. The coats of jackals from high elevations tend to be more buff-colored than those of their lowland counterparts while those of jackals in rocky, mountainous areas may exhibit a grayer shade. The bushy tail has a tan to black tip. Melanism can cause a dark-colored coat in some golden jackals,
2080-445: A litter varies, with from one to 16 or more pups being born. The young are born small, blind and helpless and require a long period of parental care. They are kept in a den, most often dug into the ground, for warmth and protection. When the young 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. Where such pack involvement in
2184-521: A pale creamy yellow in summer to a dark tawny beige in winter. It is smaller and has shorter legs, a shorter tail, a more elongated torso, a less-prominent forehead, and a narrower and more pointed muzzle than the Arabian wolf . It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List due to its widespread distribution and high density in areas with plenty of available food and optimum shelter. Despite its name,
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#17328519793452288-566: A poisoning campaign against golden jackals there was an increase in human snakebite reports, but a decrease when the poisoning ceased. The jackal's competitors are the red fox, wolf, jungle cat, wildcat, and raccoon in the Caucasus, and the steppe wildcat in Central Asia. Wolves dominate jackals, and jackals dominate foxes. In 2017 in Iran, an Indian wolf under study killed a golden jackal. In Europe,
2392-1017: A potentially positive consequence of the jackal colonization of Europe. Some golden jackals carry diseases and parasites harmful to human health. These include rabies , and Donovan's Leishmania that is harmless to jackals but may cause leishmaniasis in people. Jackals in southwestern Tajikistan can carry up to 16 species of parasitic cestodes (flatworm), roundworms , and acanthocephalans (thorny-headed worms), these are: Sparganum mansoni , Diphyllobothrium mansonoides , Taenia hydatigena , T. pisiformis , T. ovis , Hydatigera taeniaeformis , Dipylidium caninum , Mesocestoides lineatus , Ancylostoma caninum , Uncinaria stenocephala , Dioctophyma renale , Toxocara canis , Toxascaris leonina , Dracunculus medinensis , Filariata and Macracanthorhynchus catulinum . Jackals infected with Dracunculus medinensis can infect bodies of water with their eggs, which cause dracunculiasis in people who drink from them. Jackals may also play
2496-585: A powerful killing bite compared with the Leptocyon which were designed for snatching small, fast-moving prey. The species L. delicatus is the smallest canid to have existed. At the close of their genus 9 million years ago one Leptocyon lineage resembled the modern fox. The various species of Leptocyon branched 11.9 Mya into Vulpini (foxes) and Canini (canines). The canines spent two-thirds of their history in North America, before dispersing 7 million years ago into Asia, Europe, and Africa. One of
2600-424: A scavenger than a hunter; its molars appear to be adapted for crushing bones and it may have gone extinct as a result of the extinction of the large herbivorous animals on whose carcasses it relied. In 2015, a study of mitochondrial genome sequences and whole-genome nuclear sequences of African and Eurasian canids indicated that extant wolf-like canids have colonized Africa from Eurasia at least five times throughout
2704-517: A scavenger, and an omnivorous and opportunistic forager with a diet that varies according to its habitat and the season. In Keoladeo National Park , India, over 60% of its diet was measured to consist of rodents, birds, and fruit. In the Kanha Tiger Reserve , 80% of its diet consists of rodents, reptiles and fruit. Vegetable matter forms part of the jackal diet, and in India they feed intensively on
2808-617: A separate species, Canis anthus ( African golden wolf ). According to a phylogeny derived from nuclear sequences, the Eurasian golden jackal ( Canis aureus ) diverged from the wolf/coyote lineage 1.9 Mya , but the African golden wolf separated 1.3 Mya. Mitochondrial genome sequences indicated the Ethiopian wolf diverged from the wolf/coyote lineage slightly prior to that. Wild canids are found on every continent except Antarctica, and inhabit
2912-457: A single jackal, 31%, two jackals, 35%, three jackals, 14%, and more than three jackals, 20%. Family groups of up to 4–5 individuals have been recorded. Scent marking through urination and defecation is common around golden jackal den areas and on the trails they most often use. Scent marking is thought to assist in territorial defense. The hunting ranges of several jackals can overlap. Jackals can travel up to 12–15 km (7.5–9.3 mi) during
3016-495: A whole. They are typically monogamous , provide paternal care to their offspring, have reproductive cycles with lengthy proestral and dioestral phases and have a copulatory tie during mating. They also retain adult offspring in the social group, suppressing the ability of these to breed while making use of the alloparental care they can provide to help raise the next generation. Most canid species are spontaneous ovulators, though maned wolves are induced ovulators . During
3120-404: A wide range of different habitats, including deserts , mountains , forests , and grasslands . They vary in size from the fennec fox, which may be as little as 24 cm (9.4 in) in length and weigh 0.6 kg (1.3 lb), to the gray wolf , which may be up to 160 cm (5.2 ft) long, and can weigh up to 79 kg (174 lb). Only a few species are arboreal —the gray fox ,
3224-577: A wolf, and Canis rufus appeared, possibly a direct descendant of C. edwardii . Around 0.8 Mya, Canis ambrusteri emerged in North America. A large wolf, it was found all over North and Central America and was eventually supplanted by the dire wolf, which then spread into South America during the Late Pleistocene. By 0.3 Mya, a number of subspecies of the gray wolf ( C. lupus ) had developed and had spread throughout Europe and northern Asia. The gray wolf colonized North America during
Caninae - Misplaced Pages Continue
3328-429: Is 45–50 cm (18–20 in) for both. In comparison, the smallest wolf is the Arabian wolf ( Canis lupus arabs ), which weighs on average 20 kg (44 lb). The skull is most like that of the dingo , and is closer to that of the coyote ( C. latrans ) and the gray wolf ( C. lupus ) than to that of the black-backed jackal ( L. mesomalas ), the side-striped jackal ( L. adustus ), and
3432-654: Is a biological family of dog-like carnivorans , colloquially referred to as dogs , and constitutes a clade . A member of this family is also called a canid ( / ˈ k eɪ n ɪ d / ). The family includes three subfamilies : the Caninae , and the extinct Borophaginae and Hesperocyoninae . The Caninae are known as canines, and include domestic dogs , wolves , coyotes , foxes , jackals and other species. Canids are found on all continents except Antarctica , having arrived independently or accompanied by human beings over extended periods of time. Canids vary in size from
3536-492: Is an extinct species of canine that was endemic to Mediterranean Europe during the Early Pleistocene around 1.9 million years ago. It is described as a small jackal-like dog and probably the ancestor of modern jackals. Its anatomy and morphology relate it more to the modern golden jackal than to the two African jackal species, the black-backed jackal and the side-striped jackal. The oldest golden jackal fossil
3640-493: Is composed of the South American canids , the fox-like canids , and the wolf-like canids . All species within the wolf-like canids share a similar morphology and possess 78 chromosomes , allowing them potentially to interbreed . Within the wolf-like canids is the jackal group, which includes the three jackals: the black-backed jackal ( Lupulella mesomela ), the side-striped jackal ( Lupulella adusta ), and
3744-414: Is described as probably belonging to the golden jackal, but its classification is not clear. The fossil is described as being slightly smaller and thinner than the cave lynx , similar to the fox, but too large, and similar to the wolf, but too small. As the golden jackal falls between these two in size, the fossil possibly belongs to a golden jackal. The absence of clearly identified golden jackal fossils in
3848-504: Is not clear. The results of allozyme and chromosome analyses have previously suggested several phylogenetic divisions: DNA analysis shows that the first three form monophyletic clades . The wolf-like canines and the South American canines together form the tribe Canini. Molecular data imply a North American origin of living Canidae some 10 Mya and an African origin of wolf-like canines ( Canis , Cuon , and Lycaon ), with
3952-403: Is only used for cutting. They use their molars for grinding except for the lower first molar m1 (the lower carnassial) that has evolved for both cutting and grinding depending on the canid's dietary adaptation. On the lower carnassial, the trigonid is used for slicing and the talonid is used for grinding. The ratio between the trigonid and the talonid indicates a carnivore's dietary habits, with
4056-501: Is similar to the gray wolf but is distinguished by its smaller size, lighter weight, more elongated torso, less-prominent forehead, shorter legs and tail, and a muzzle that is narrower and more pointed. The legs are long in relation to its body, and the feet are slender with small pads. Males measure 71–85 cm (28–33 in) in body length and females 69–73 cm (27–29 in). Males weigh 6–14 kg (13–31 lb) and females weigh 7–11 kg (15–24 lb). The shoulder height
4160-675: The African wolf being distinct from the golden jackal, and with the Ethiopian wolf being genetically basal to both. There is evidence of gene flow between African golden wolves, golden jackals, and gray wolves . One African wolf from the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula showed high admixture with the Middle Eastern gray wolves and dogs, highlighting the role of the land bridge between the African and Eurasian continents in canid evolution. There
4264-658: The Asiatic wildcat . It is expanding beyond its native grounds in Southeast Europe into Central and Northeast Europe into areas where there are few or no wolves. The word 'jackal' appeared in the English language around 1600. It derives from the Turkish word çakal , which originates from the Persian word šagāl . It is also known as the common jackal . The biological family Canidae
Caninae - Misplaced Pages Continue
4368-505: The Beringian land bridge allowed members of the genus Eucyon a means to enter Asia from North America and they continued on to colonize Europe. The Canis , Urocyon , and Vulpes genera developed from canids from North America , where the canine radiation began. The success of these canids was related to the development of lower carnassials that were capable of both mastication and shearing. Around 5 million years ago, some of
4472-480: The Caucasus region and Transcaucasia , areas where the species currently resides, indicates that the species is a relatively recent arrival. A haplotype is a group of genes found in an organism that is inherited from one of its parents. A haplogroup is a group of similar haplotypes that share a single mutation inherited from their common ancestor. The mDNA haplotypes of the golden jackal form two haplogroups:
4576-818: The Karakum Desert nor the Kyzylkum Desert , but can be found at their edges or in oases . On the other hand, in India they can be found living in the Thar Desert . They are found in dense thickets of prickly bushes, reed flood-lands and forests. They have been known to ascend over 1,000 m (3,300 ft) up the slopes of the Himalayas ; they can withstand temperatures as low as −25 °C (−13 °F) and sometimes −35 °C (−31 °F). They are not adapted to snow, and in snow country they must travel along paths made by larger animals or humans. In India, they will occupy
4680-810: The Late Eocene (37.8-33.9 Mya). They did not reach Eurasia until the Late Miocene or to South America until the Late Pliocene . This cladogram shows the phylogenetic position of canids within Caniformia , based on fossil finds: (bears, procyonids, pinnipeds, etc.) [REDACTED] (various † Miacis spp.) [REDACTED] ( Mesocyon , Enhydrocyon , Hesperocyon , and other basal canines, e.g. Cynodictis ) [REDACTED] ( Aelurodon , cynarctins , and others) [REDACTED] (all modern canids and extinct relatives) [REDACTED] The Canidae are
4784-409: The mandible teeth . Teeth are numbered using one side of the mouth and from the front of the mouth to the back. In carnivores , the upper premolar P4 and the lower molar m1 form the carnassials that are used together in a scissor-like action to shear the muscle and tendon of prey. Canids use their premolars for cutting and crushing except for the upper fourth premolar P4 (the upper carnassial) that
4888-524: The maned wolf ( Chrysocyon brachyurus ), the short-eared dog ( Atelocynus microtis ), the bush dog ( Speothos venaticus ), the crab-eating fox ( Cerdocyon thous ), and the South American foxes ( Lycalopex spp.). The monophyly of this group has been established by molecular means. During the Pleistocene , the North American wolf line appeared, with Canis edwardii , clearly identifiable as
4992-569: The 19th century, when they started to expand slowly. Jackals were recorded in Hungary with the nearest population known at that time being found in Dalmatia, some 300 kilometers away. This was followed by rapid expansion of jackals towards the end of the 20th century. Golden jackals from both Southeast Europe and the Caucasus are expanding into the Baltic . In the Middle East, golden jackals from Israel have
5096-407: The 2-metre-long (6.6 ft) gray wolf to the 24-centimetre-long (9.4 in) fennec fox . 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. They are mostly social animals , living together in family units or small groups and behaving co-operatively. Typically, only the dominant pair in
5200-415: The Ethiopian wolf ( C. simensis ). Compared with the wolf, the skull of the golden jackal is smaller and less massive, with a lower nasal region and shorter facial region; the projections of the skull are prominent but weaker than those of the wolf; the canine teeth are large and strong but relatively thinner; and its carnassial teeth are weaker. The golden jackal is a less specialized species than
5304-471: The Last Glacial Maximum, 25,000 to 18,000 years ago, the warmer regions of India and Southeast Asia provided a refuge from colder surrounding areas. At the end of the Last Glacial Maximum and the beginning of the warming cycles, the golden jackal lineage expanded out of India and into Eurasia to reach the Middle East and Europe. Outside of India, golden jackals in the Caucasus and Turkey demonstrate
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#17328519793455408-621: The Old World Eucyon evolved into the first members of Canis , In the Pliocene , around 4–5 Mya, Canis lepophagus appeared in North America. This was small and sometimes coyote-like. Others were wolf-like. C. latrans (the coyote) is theorized to descend from C. lepophagus . The formation of the Isthmus of Panama , about 3 Mya, joined South America to North America, allowing canids to invade South America , where they diversified. However,
5512-501: The Pliocene and Pleistocene, which is consistent with fossil evidence suggesting that much of African canid fauna diversity resulted from the immigration of Eurasian ancestors, likely coincident with Plio-Pleistocene climatic oscillations between arid and humid conditions. When comparing the African and Eurasian golden jackals, the study concluded that the African specimens represented a distinct monophyletic lineage that should be recognized as
5616-597: The advantage that larger prey items can be tackled. Some species form packs or live in small family groups depending on the circumstances, including the type of available food. In most species, some individuals 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
5720-428: The basic social unit of which consists of a breeding pair and any young offspring. It is very adaptable, with the ability to exploit food ranging from fruit and insects to small ungulates . It attacks domestic fowl and domestic mammals up to the size of domestic water buffalo calves. Its competitors are the red fox , steppe wolf , jungle cat , Caucasian wildcat , the raccoon in the Caucasus and in Central Asia, and
5824-471: The bite force at the canines was greatest in the extinct dire wolf (163), followed among the modern canids by the four hypercarnivores that often prey on animals larger than themselves: the African wild dog (142), the gray wolf (136), the dhole (112), and the dingo (108). The bite force at the carnassials showed a similar trend to the canines. A predator's largest prey size is strongly influenced by its biomechanical limits. Most canids have 42 teeth , with
5928-494: The black-backed and side-striped jackals, members of the genus Lupulella and the most basal members of this clade . Results from two recent studies of mDNA from golden jackals indicate that the specimens from Africa are genetically closer to the gray wolf than are the specimens from Eurasia. In 2015 a major DNA study of golden jackals concluded that the six C. aureus subspecies found in Africa should be reclassified under
6032-433: The canids found that the gray wolf and dog are the most closely related on this tree. The next most closely related are the coyote ( Canis latrans ), golden jackal, and Ethiopian wolf ( Canis simensis ), which have all been shown to hybridize with the dog in the wild. The next closest are the dhole ( Cuon alpinus ) and African wild dog ( Lycaon pictus ), which are not members of genus Canis . These are followed by
6136-577: The characteristics that distinguished them from the Borophaginae and Hesperocyoninae was their possession of less weight in their limbs and more length in their legs, which may have aided their dispersion. The first canine to arrive in Eurasia was the coyote-sized Canis cipio , whose scant fossils were found in Spain. However, the assignment of C. cipio within the canines to the genus Canis or genus Eucyon
6240-457: The climate supports shrublands in high elevations. The Estonian population, which marks the only population of this species adapted to the boreal region, largely inhabits coastal grasslands , alvars , and reed beds , habitats where wolves are seldom present. The golden jackal fills much the same ecological niche in Eurasia as the coyote does in North America ; it is both a predator and
6344-438: The closely related island fox and the raccoon dog habitually climb trees. All canids have a similar basic form, as exemplified by the gray wolf, although the relative length of muzzle, limbs, ears, and tail vary considerably between species. With the exceptions of the bush dog, the raccoon dog and some domestic dog breeds , canids have relatively long legs and lithe bodies, adapted for chasing prey. The tails are bushy and
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#17328519793456448-462: The cones of common medlars . The jackal is implicated in the destruction of grape , watermelon , muskmelon , and nut crops. Near the Vakhsh River , their spring diet consists almost exclusively of plant bulbs and the roots of wild sugar cane , while during winter they feed on wild stony olives . Around the edges of the Karakum Desert , jackals feed on gerbils , lizards, snakes, fish, muskrats ,
6552-503: The coyote-sized Mesocyon of the Oligocene (38–24 Mya). These early canids probably evolved for the fast pursuit of prey in a grassland habitat; they resembled modern viverrids in appearance. Hesperocyonines eventually became extinct in the middle Miocene. One of the early Hesperocyonines, the genus Hesperocyon , gave rise to Archaeocyon and Leptocyon . These branches led to the borophagine and canine radiations . Around 8 Mya,
6656-472: The ear). Prohesperocyon probably had slightly longer limbs than its predecessors, and also had parallel and closely touching toes which differ markedly from the splayed arrangements of the digits in bears . Canidae soon divided into three subfamilies, each of which diverged during the Eocene: Hesperocyoninae (about 39.74–15 Mya), Borophaginae (about 34–32 Mya), and Caninae (about 34–30 Mya;
6760-404: The extant subfamily Caninae. This subfamily includes all living canids and their most recent fossil relatives. All living canids as a group form a dental monophyletic relationship with the extinct borophagines, with both groups having a bicuspid (two points) on the lower carnassial talonid , which gives this tooth an additional ability in mastication . This, together with the development of
6864-401: The feeding of the litter occurs, the breeding success rate is higher than is the case where females split from the group and rear their pups in isolation. Young canids may take a year to mature and learn the skills they need to survive. In some species, such as the African wild dog, male offspring usually remain in the natal pack, while females disperse as a group and join another small group of
6968-404: The first identifiable member of the dog family had arisen. Named Prohesperocyon wilsoni , its fossils have been found in southwest Texas. The chief features which identify it as a canid include the loss of the upper third molar (part of a trend toward a more shearing bite), and the structure of the middle ear which has an enlarged bulla (the hollow bony structure protecting the delicate parts of
7072-469: The first record in Europe of Echinococcus multilocularis . A golden jackel from Iran was found to be a host of an intestinal acanthocephalan worm, Pachysentis canicola . Golden jackals exhibit flexible social organization depending on the availability of food. The breeding pair is the basic social unit, and they are sometimes accompanied by their current litter of pups. In India, their distributions are
7176-437: The forefeet, but the pollex (thumb) is reduced and does not reach the ground. On the hind feet are four toes, but in some domestic dogs, a fifth vestigial toe, known as a dewclaw , is sometimes present, but has no anatomical connection to the rest of the foot. In some species, slightly curved nails are non-retractile and more-or-less blunt while other species have sharper, partially-retractile claws. The canine penis contains
7280-455: The fringes of jackal territory. There is however one record of a male golden jackal interacting peacefully with multiple red foxes in southwestern Germany. Striped hyenas prey on golden jackals, and three jackal carcasses were found in one hyena den. A 2022 study indicated that the presence of golden jackals in portions of Eastern Europe leads to a decrease in the population of invasive raccoon dogs ( Nyctereutes procyonoides ), indicating
7384-415: The fruits of buckthorn , dogbane , Java plum , and the pods of mesquite and the golden rain tree . The jackal scavenges off the kills made by the lion, tiger, leopard, dhole, and gray wolf. In some regions of Bangladesh and India, golden jackals subsist by scavenging on carrion and garbage, and will cache extra food by burying it. The Irish novelist, playwright and poet, Oliver Goldsmith , wrote about
7488-407: The fruits of wild stony olives, mulberry , dried apricots , watermelons, muskmelons, tomatoes , and grapes. In Dalmatia , the golden jackal's diet consists of mammals, fruits, vegetables, insects, birds and their eggs, grasses and leaves. Golden jackals change their diet to more readily available foods. In Serbia, their diet is primarily livestock carcasses that are increasingly prevalent due to
7592-556: The golden jackal ( Canis aureus ). These three species are approximately the same size, possess similar dental and skeletal morphology, and are identified from each other primarily by their coat color. They were once thought to have different distributions across Africa with their ranges overlapping in East Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania). Although the jackal group has traditionally been considered as homogenous, genetic studies show that jackals are not monophyletic (they do not share
7696-522: The golden jackal expanded from India around 20,000 years ago, towards the end of the last Last Glacial Maximum . The oldest golden jackal fossil, found at the Ksar Akil rock shelter near Beirut , Lebanon, is 7,600 years old. The oldest golden jackal fossils in Europe were found in Greece and are 7,000 years old. There are six subspecies of the golden jackal. It is capable of producing fertile hybrids with both
7800-429: The golden jackal is not closely related to the African black-backed jackal or side-striped jackal , which are part of the genus Lupulella . It is instead closer to wolves and coyotes . The ancestor of the golden jackal is believed to be the extinct Arno river dog that lived in southern Europe 1.9 million years ago . It is described as having been a small, jackal-like canine. Genetic studies indicate that
7904-621: The golden jackal: ... Although the species of the wolf approaches very near to that of the dog, yet the jackal seems to be placed between them; to the savage fierceness of the wolf it adds the impudent familiarity of the dog ... It is more noisy in its pursuits even than the dog, and more voracious than the wolf. In the Caucasus and Transcaucasia, golden jackals primarily hunt hares and mouse -like rodents, and also pheasants , francolins , ducks , coots , moorhens , and passerines . Vegetable matter eaten by Jackals in these areas includes fruits, such as pears , hawthorn , dogwood , and
8008-526: The gray wolf and the African wolf. Jackal–dog hybrids called Sulimov dogs are in service at the Sheremetyevo Airport near Moscow, where they are deployed by the Russian airline Aeroflot for scent-detection. The golden jackal is abundant in valleys and beside rivers and their tributaries, canals, lakes, and seashores; however, the species is rare in foothills and low mountains. It is a social species,
8112-564: The gray wolf, and these skull features relate to the jackal's diet of small birds , rodents , small vertebrates, insects, carrion, fruit, and some vegetable matter. It was once thought that golden jackals could develop a horny growth on the skull referred to as a " jackal's horn " which usually measured approximately 13 mm ( 1 ⁄ 2 in) in length and was concealed by fur. Although no evidence of its existence has been found, belief in it remains common in South Asia. This feature
8216-434: The gray wolf, the coyote and the red fox, for sport. Canids such as the dhole are now endangered in the wild because of persecution, habitat loss, a depletion of ungulate prey species and transmission of diseases from domestic dogs. Canis aureus The golden jackal ( Canis aureus ), also called the common jackal , is a wolf-like canid that is native to Eurasia . The golden jackal's coat varies in color from
8320-436: The ground. However, based on skeletal details of the neck, at least some of the Borophaginae (such as Aelurodon ) are believed to have lacked this ligament. Dentition relates to the arrangement of teeth in the mouth, with the dental notation for the upper-jaw teeth using the upper-case letters I to denote incisors , C for canines , P for premolars , and M for molars , and the lower-case letters i, c, p and m to denote
8424-605: The investigation of phylogenetics relationships. In some species, genetic divergence has been suppressed by the high level of gene flow between different populations and where the species have hybridized, large hybrid zones exist. Carnivorans evolved after the extinction of the non-avian dinosaurs 66 million years ago. Around 50 million years ago, or earlier, in the Paleocene , the Carnivora split into two main divisions: caniform (dog-like) and feliform (cat-like). By 40 Mya,
8528-2509: The jackals being the most basal of this group. The South American clade is rooted by the maned wolf and bush dog, and the fox-like canines by the fennec fox and Blanford's fox. The gray fox and island fox are basal to the other clades; however, this topological difference is not strongly supported. The cladogram below is based on the phylogeny of Lindblad-Toh (2005) modified to incorporate recent findings on Canis , Vulpes , Lycalopex species, and Dusicyon . Canis latrans (coyote) [REDACTED] Canis rufus (red wolf) [REDACTED] Canis lycaon (algonquin wolf) [REDACTED] Canis lupus (gray wolf) [REDACTED] Canis familiaris (domestic dog) [REDACTED] Canis anthus (African wolf) [REDACTED] Canis simensis (Ethiopian wolf) [REDACTED] Canis aureus (golden jackal) [REDACTED] Cuon alpinus (dhole) [REDACTED] Lycaon pictus (African wild dog) [REDACTED] Lupulella adusta (side-striped jackal) [REDACTED] Lupulella mesomelas (black-backed jackal) [REDACTED] Speothos venaticus (bush dog) [REDACTED] Chrysocyon brachyurus (maned wolf) [REDACTED] † Dusicyon australis (Falkland Islands wolf) Lycalopex vetulus (hoary fox) [REDACTED] Lycalopex sechurae (Sechuran fox or Peruvian desert fox) Lycalopex fulvipes (Darwin's fox) Lycalopex gymnocercus (pampas fox) [REDACTED] Lycalopex griseus (South American gray fox or chilla) Lycalopex culpaeus (culpeo or Andean fox) [REDACTED] Cerdocyon thous (crab-eating fox) [REDACTED] Atelocynus microtis (short-eared dog) [REDACTED] Otocyon megalotis (bat-eared fox) [REDACTED] Nyctereutes (raccoon dogs) [REDACTED] Vulpes zerda (fennec fox) [REDACTED] Vulpes cana (Blanford's fox) [REDACTED] Vulpes chama (Cape fox) [REDACTED] Vulpes vulpes (red fox) [REDACTED] Vulpes rueppellii (Ruppell's fox) [REDACTED] Vulpes corsac (corsac fox) [REDACTED] Vulpes ferrilata (Tibetan sand fox) [REDACTED] Vulpes macrotis (kit fox) [REDACTED] Vulpes lagopus (Arctic fox) [REDACTED] Urocyon littoralis (island fox) [REDACTED] Urocyon cinereoargenteus (gray fox) [REDACTED] Canidae Canidae ( / ˈ k æ n ɪ d iː / ; from Latin, canis , " dog ")
8632-412: The jackals were detected. In Europe, there are an estimated 12,000 wolves. The jackal's recent expansion throughout eastern and western Europe has been attributed to the extermination of the local wolf populations. The present diffusion of the jackal into the northern Adriatic hinterland is in areas where the wolf is absent or very rare. In the past, jackals competed with tigers and leopards , feeding on
8736-488: The last common ancestor of the South American canids lived in North America some 4 Mya and more than one incursion across the new land bridge is likely given the fact that more than one lineage is present in South America. Two North American lineages found in South America are the gray fox ( Urocyon cinereoargentus ) and the now-extinct dire wolf ( Aenocyon dirus ). Besides these, there are species endemic to South America:
8840-484: The late Rancholabrean era across the Bering land bridge, with at least three separate invasions, with each one consisting of one or more different Eurasian gray wolf clades. MtDNA studies have shown that there are at least four extant C. lupus lineages. The dire wolf shared its habitat with the gray wolf, but became extinct in a large-scale extinction event that occurred around 11,500 years ago. It may have been more of
8944-545: The length and quality of the pelage vary with the season. The muzzle portion of the skull is much more elongated than that of the cat family. The zygomatic arches are wide, there is a transverse lambdoidal ridge at the rear of the cranium and in some species, a sagittal crest running from front to back. The bony orbits around the eye never form a complete ring and the auditory bullae are smooth and rounded. Females have three to seven pairs of mammae . All canids are digitigrade , meaning they walk on their toes. The tip of
9048-520: The new species C. anthus (African wolf), reducing the number of golden jackal subspecies to seven. The phylogenetic tree generated from this study shows the golden jackal diverging from the wolf/coyote lineage 1.9 million years ago and the African wolf diverging 1.3 million years ago. The study found that the golden jackal and the African wolf shared a very similar skull and body morphology and that this had confused taxonomists into regarding these as one species. The study proposes that
9152-586: The next highest genetic diversity, while those in Europe indicate low genetic diversity, confirming their more recent expansion into Europe. Genetic data indicates that the golden jackals of the Peloponnese Peninsula in Greece and the Dalmatian coast in Croatia may represent two ancient European populations from 6,000 years ago that have survived into modern times. Jackals were absent from most of Europe until
9256-483: The nose is always naked, as are the cushioned pads on the soles of the feet. These latter consist of a single pad behind the tip of each toe and a more-or-less three-lobed central pad under the roots of the digits. Hairs grow between the pads and in the Arctic fox the sole of the foot is densely covered with hair at some times of the year. With the exception of the four-toed African wild dog ( Lycaon pictus ), five toes are on
9360-477: The oldest haplogroup is formed by golden jackals from India, and the other, younger, haplogroup diverging from this includes golden jackals from all of the other regions. Indian golden jackals exhibit the highest genetic diversity , and those from northern and western India are the most basal , which indicates that India was the center from which golden jackals spread. The extant golden jackal lineage commenced expanding its population in India 37,000 years ago. During
9464-475: The only surviving subfamily). Members of each subfamily showed an increase in body mass with time and some exhibited specialized hypercarnivorous diets that made them prone to extinction. By the Oligocene , all three subfamilies (Hesperocyoninae, Borophaginae, and Caninae) had appeared in the fossil record of North America. The earliest and most primitive branch of the Canidae was Hesperocyoninae, which included
9568-544: The opposite sex to form a new pack. One canid, the domestic dog , entered into a partnership with humans a long time ago. The dog was the first domesticated species. The archaeological record shows the first undisputed dog remains buried beside humans 14,700 years ago, with disputed remains occurring 36,000 years ago. These dates imply that the earliest dogs arose in the time of human hunter-gatherers and not agriculturists . The fact that wolves are pack animals with cooperative social structures may have been
9672-558: The proestral period, increased levels of estradiol make the female attractive to the male. There is a rise in progesterone during the estral phase when female is receptive. Following this, the level of estradiol fluctuates and there is a lengthy dioestrous phase during which the female is pregnant. Pseudo-pregnancy often occurs in canids that have ovulated but failed to conceive. A period of anestrus follows pregnancy or pseudo-pregnancy, there being only one oestral period during each breeding season. Small and medium-sized canids mostly have
9776-428: The range of wolves and jackals is mutually exclusive, with jackals abandoning their territory with the arrival of a wolf pack. One experiment used loudspeakers to broadcast the calls of jackals, and this attracted wolves at a trotting pace to chase away the perceived competitors. Dogs responded to these calls in the same way while barking aggressively. Unleashed dogs have been observed to immediately chase away jackals when
9880-613: The reason that the relationship developed. Humans benefited from the canid's loyalty, cooperation, teamwork, alertness and tracking abilities, while the wolf may have benefited from the use of weapons to tackle larger prey and the sharing of food. Humans and dogs may have evolved together. Among canids, only the gray wolf has widely been known to prey on humans. Nonetheless, at least two records of coyotes killing humans have been published, and at least two other reports of golden jackals killing children. Human beings have trapped and hunted some canid species for their fur and some, especially
9984-489: The remains of their kills and, in one case, on a dead tiger. Leopards and tigers once hunted jackals, but today, the leopard is rare, and the tiger is extinct in the jackal's range. Eurasian lynxes have also been known to hunt jackals. Red foxes and golden jackals share similar diets. Red foxes fear jackals, which are three times bigger than them. Red foxes will avoid close proximity to jackals and fox populations decrease where jackals are abundant. Foxes can be found only at
10088-415: The spring moult begins at the end of winter. If the winter has been warm, the spring moult starts in the middle of February; if the winter has been cold, it begins in the middle of March. The spring moult lasts for 60–65 days; if the animal is sick, it loses only half of its winter fur. The spring moult commences with the head and limbs, extends to the flanks, chest, belly and rump, and ends at the tail. Fur on
10192-475: The surrounding foothills above arable areas, entering human settlements at night to feed on garbage, and have established themselves around hill stations at 2,000 m (6,600 ft) height above mean sea level . They generally avoid mountainous forests, but may enter alpine and sub-alpine areas during dispersal. In Turkey, the Caucasus, and Transcaucasia they have been observed up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft) above mean sea level, particularly in areas where
10296-491: The underparts is absent. The autumn moult occurs from mid-September with the growth of winter fur; the shedding of the summer fur occurs at the same time. The development of the autumn coat starts with the rump and tail and spreads to the back, flanks, belly, chest, limbs and head, with full winter fur being attained at the end of November. The golden jackal inhabits Europe and Southwest, Central, South, and Southeast Asia. The golden jackal's omnivorous diet allows it to eat
10400-501: The very similar skull and body morphology is due to both species having originated from a larger common ancestor. Domestic dog [REDACTED] Gray wolf [REDACTED] Coyote [REDACTED] African wolf [REDACTED] Golden jackal [REDACTED] Ethiopian wolf [REDACTED] Dhole [REDACTED] African wild dog [REDACTED] Side-striped jackal [REDACTED] Black-backed jackal [REDACTED] The Arno river dog ( Canis arnensis )
10504-1133: Was evidence of gene flow between golden jackals and Middle Eastern wolves, less so with European and Asian wolves, and least with North American wolves. The study proposes that the golden jackal ancestry found in North American wolves may have occurred before the divergence of the Eurasian and North American wolves. The golden jackal was taxonomically subordinated to the genus Canis by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 publication Systema Naturae . 13 subspecies were described since then. C. a. aureus Nominate subspecies [REDACTED] hadramauticus (Noack, 1896) kola (Wroughton, 1916) lanka (Wroughton, 1916) typicus (Kolenati, 1858) vulgaris (Wagner, 1841) C. a. cruesemanni [REDACTED] C. a. indicus [REDACTED] C. a. moreoticus [REDACTED] graecus (Wagner, 1841) balcanicus (Brusina, 1892) caucasica (Kolenati, 1858) dalmatinus (Wagner, 1841) C. a. naria [REDACTED] C. a. syriacus [REDACTED] The golden jackal
10608-591: Was found at the Ksar Akil rock shelter located 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Beirut , Lebanon. The fragment of a single tooth is dated approximately 7,600 years ago. The oldest golden jackal fossils found in Europe are from Delphi and Kitsos in Greece and are dated 7,000–6,500 years ago. An unusual fossil of a heel bone found in Azykh Cave , in Nagorno-Karabakh , dates to the Middle Pleistocene and
10712-404: Was once associated with magical powers by the people of Sri Lanka . The jackal's fur is coarse and relatively short, with the base color golden, varying seasonally from a pale creamy yellow to a dark tawny. The fur on the back is composed of a mixture of black, brown, and white hairs, sometimes giving the appearance of the dark saddle like that seen on the black-backed jackal. The underparts are
10816-511: Was the first primitive canine. They were small and weighed around 2 kg. They first appeared in Sioux County, Nebraska in the Orellan era 34-32 million years ago, which was the beginning of the Oligocene . This was the same time as the appearance of the Borophaginae with whom they share features, indicating that these were two sister groups. Borophaginae skull and dentition were designed for
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