The Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) is the largest canid in South America. The Maned Wolf resembles a large dog with reddish fur. The Maned wolves distribution includes southern Brazil, Paraguay, Peru and Bolivia east of the Andes. The Maned Wolf is an endangered species and … [Read more...]
Canids (Canidae)
Canids are a family of mammals that includes dogs, wolves, foxes and jackals. They are all carnivores, and most are predators. They have sharp teeth and strong jaws that allow them to kill prey.
Canids have long legs and flexible bodies that help them run fast and catch prey. They also have thick fur coats that protect them from the cold and keep them warm in the winter.
Canids are found all over the world, in every continent except Antarctica. They live in a variety of habitats, including forests, deserts, mountains and grasslands.
Some species, such as the domestic dog, have adapted to living in close proximity to humans.
Canids are generally social animals that live in packs.
The pack consists of a group of related individuals, such as a family, that work together to raise young and defend their territory.
The pack leader is the Alpha Male, who controls the pack through aggression and intimidation. The other members of the pack maintain their hierarchy through a system of dominance and submission.
Domestic dogs are further divided into different groups such as the hunting dogs, working dogs and herding dogs.
The hunting dogs include the hound dogs, which are used to track and chase prey, and the terriers, which are used to kill small animals.
The working dogs include the sled dogs, which are used to pull sleds, and the guard dogs, which are used to protect property.
The herding dogs include the sheepdogs, which are used to herd sheep, and the cattle dogs, which are used to herd cattle.
Canids communicate with each other through body language, vocalizations and scent marking. Body language includes postures and facial expressions.
Vocalizations include barks, howls and whines. Scent marking is used to communicate information about territory, social status and reproductive readiness.
Mexican Wolf
The Mexican Wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) is the rarest, most genetically distinct subspecies of the Grey Wolf in North America. Until recent times, the Mexican Wolf ranged the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts from central Mexico to western Texas, southern New Mexico and central … [Read more...]
Australian Dingo
Dingo The Dingo (Canis lupus dingo) is a member of the dog family and commonly described as an Australian Wild Dog. Dingoes are found in all parts of Australia (excluding Tasmania), although they did not originate from there. Dingoes did not arrive in Australia with Aboriginal … [Read more...]
Fennec Fox
The Fennec Fox (Vulpes zerda) is a small fox native to the Sahara Desert, the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, and the Arava and Negev deserts in Israel. They are most notable for their very large ears, which are used to both aid their hearing and to help them to control their body … [Read more...]
African Wild Dog
The African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus) is a mammal native only to Africa. It is a member of the canidae family which also includes dogs, coyotes, dingos, jackals and wolves. The African Wild Dog is known by other names such as the Painted Hunting Dog, African Hunting Dog, Cape … [Read more...]
Dog
A dog is a mammal in the order Carnivora.The history of dogs is an old tale indeed. You could say as long as there has been civilisation, there have been records of humans and dogs. Dogs were domesticated from wolves around 15,000 years ago. New evidence suggests that dogs … [Read more...]
Red Fox – Nature’s Original Artful Dodger
The Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a member of the Canidae family and is a part of the order Carnivora within the class of mammals.Members of the family are called 'canids' and include dogs, wolves, foxes, coyotes, dingoes, jackals and African Wild Dogs. Within this family, the … [Read more...]