How A Wolf Became Man's Best Friend
The
dog (Canis Familiaris) is generally believed to be man's oldest
companion and was first domesticated around 15,000 years ago. A
descendant of the wolf (Canis Lupus), the dog has since evolved into
hundreds of breeds, varying enormously in size, shape and appearance.
This knol provides an overview of the dog's evolution, geographical
development and its early relationship with human society.
From Wolf To Dog: Evolution
Geneticists have traced the
ancestry of the dog back to the period around 40-50 million years ago
when modern carnivores emerged from two “superfamilies”, known as
canoidea and feloidea.
The Canoidea clan evolved into a wide
range of species, from canines like the dog, jackal and Arctic fox to
such diverse mammals as the skunk, giant panda and the walrus. [1]
The Canoidea clan evolved into a wide range of species, from canines like the dog, jackal and Arctic fox to such diverse mammals as the skunk, giant panda and the walrus. [1]
