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Both stabilizing and directional selection can be found in the canidae family. stabilizing selection is found when the average trait is favored, an example of this through coloring of the wolf and coyote to blend in with their environment. Directional selection is when the favored trait changes after a change in environment. When the Grey wolf's environment changed from all over North America to just northern US and Canada the wolves had to go through changes as well. moving north means more snow and the fur that they had does not help them camouflage in the north like it did in the south. The favored trait was the lighter color that could blend in with the snowy environment.

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Descent with modification is when a male and female organisms pass on half of their traits to their young. This occurs in canids when alpha male and females mate they pass on their genes to their young. When the alpha male and female are chosen they are the healthiest of the pack. These alpha canids give the pack the best chances to survive and evolve.

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http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Canidae

http://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/dogs-wolves-coyotes-jackals-and-foxes-canidae

http://www.wolfcountry.net/information/WolfReproduction.html

http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Vulpes_zerda/

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/f/fennec-fox/

http://fennecfoxes.net/about-fennecs/

http://www.defenders.org/gray-wolf/basic-facts

http://ielc.libguides.com/sdzg/factsheets/graywolf/characteristics

http://www.arkive.org/bush-dog/speothos-venaticus/

http://www.waza.org/en/zoo/visit-the-zoo/dogs-and-hyenas/speothos-venaticus

http://www.arkive.org/bush-dog/speothos-venaticus/image-G111592.html

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/f/fennec-fox/

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/gray-wolf/#gray-wolf-snow.jpg

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131114142134.htm

http://www.livescience.com/27691-dogs-domesticated-oldest-skull.html

https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2014/06/10/arctic_foxes_trace_ancestry_to_himalayas_in_tibet.html

http://www.nature.com/news/ancient-wolf-genome-pushes-back-dawn-of-the-dog-1.17607

http://www2.fiu.edu/~milesk/Genetics.htm

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Eukaryotic
Multicellular
Heterotrophic Organisms

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The classification of the organisms tells you how related the organisms are, the Grey Wolf, Fennec Fox, and the Bush Dog are all related in their family as Canidae but after that they are in different Genuses. This tells you that they all have a common ancestor that is a canidae.

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Canids have experienced gradual speciation, slowly over time the canids have evolved to what they are today. The anatomy of the canids have not changed, this can be shown through fossil evidence.

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Grey Wolf : Mating season is from January to April the alpha female and male are normally the only two to mate but sometimes depending on how harsh the environment is more than just the alpha male and female will mate. The alpha female will be in heat for only 5 days and she will take over the pack and become aggressive. It is common for wolves to mate for life but if a mate dies it is not uncommon for the female or male to find another mate.

Fennec Fox: Mating Season is from january to February, the dominant male and female most commonly are the ones to mate. Fennecs mate for life, mates are chosen based on social status and dominance.

Bush Dog: Bush dogs mate throughout the year and mate for life, the alpha female is the only one to mate and the other females take care of the pups.

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Canids live in packs and emigration and immigration will heavily affect them. The alpha male and female are the only ones to mate giving them a very small gene pool. If a new member was to come in and  fight for the alpha male or female position it would expand the gene pool.

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Keratin is one of the main proteins found in the paw pads of canids. This thick layer of keratin is found on the bottom of the feet of all canids to protect the feet against rough terrain, extremely hot, and extremely cold surfaces.

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The karyotypes of the dog and of the wolf are very similar because they are closely related species. Both karyotypes have 38 pairs of chromosomes. Like humans XX codes for females and XY codes for males.

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31,700 years
Upper Paleolithic

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11,000 years old
Neolithic

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Some natural variations that can be found in the canidae family are the height of the species and the length of their legs for different purposes. The grey wolf and the fennec fox can show this, the grey wolves are the largest and the fennec foxes are the smallest at only 2 pounds. A third Species that shows natural variation is the Arctic fox, the Arctic fox has very dense white fur that helps them camouflage into their surroundings and keep them warm in the harsh winters of the arctic.

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This phylogenetic tree can show how closely related the species are in the family of canidae. The tree also shows what species have a common ancestor. For example the Kit fox and the Arctic fox have a closely related common ancestor compared to the Arctic fox and the Gray wolf.

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All canids have a common ancestor that is identified as a wolf/dog hybrid. This ancestor was divided into new world and old world clades. The old world clade is broken up into old world wolves and ancestral dogs. At this divergence is where the wolf becomes different from the dog and fox. Dogs and foxes are more closely related than dogs and wolves are.

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The anatomy of the hind leg of canids is an example of a homologous structure. All canids have hind legs that work in the same way, the pelvis is connected to the femur, femur is connected to the fibula and tibia , connected to the Tarsus, to the Metatarsus, to the Phalange. In different species of canids the size and position of each of these bones differs. For example the hind leg of the Grey wolf differs greatly from a Dachshund. Taller canids such as the Grey Wolf have longer bones with less severe angles. In the Dachshund the bones are much shorter and have severe angles between the pelvis, Femur and Tibia creating hind legs that are short and compact but can still run fast. The Dachshund was bred to scent chase and flush badgers out of underground tunnels. The Grey wolf’s long legs are designed for speed and to pounce. The results of the severe hind legs of the dachshund are not completely natural. Selective breeding plays into any characteristic of modern domesticated dogs.

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In canids there are similarities between the organisms. Anatomically the organisms in the family have similar jaws because of their similar diets. The organisms also all have 4 legs that are built for speed and agility depending on the size of the organism.  All canids have a similar head structure where the muzzle is elongated with well developed jaws evolved for eating meat.

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These fossils show that over time the organisms in the canidae family have evolved to be domesticated by humans. This can show the evolution from the wolf to the domesticated dog that we know today. There are also apparent changes in the jaws of the dogs that show how their diet could have change depending on the habitat they lived in.

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35,000 years old
Upper Paleolithic

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15,000 years old
Mesolithic

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33,000 years old
Upper Paleolithic

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8,500 years old
Neolithic

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Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chorodata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Canidae
Genus: Speothos
Species: Venaticus

habitat

Always close to water

Lowland forest and semi deciduous forest

Physical characteristics

Short legs, short bushy tail, rounded muzzle and ears,

Webbed feet

Dark brown fur that is short and coarse

Behavioral characteristics

Little is known because they are elusive and rare

Often seen in pairs when hunting

Active during the day

Live in packs of up to 12

Live in dens either made by other animals or fallen tree trunks

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Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chorodata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Canidae
Genus: Canis
Species: Lupus

Habitat

Found throughout Canada,Alaska, the Great Lakes, Northern Rockies, and Pacific Northwest

Used to live all across North America but in the 1930’s they were exterminated to just the most north areas and national parks

Require large areas of forest and mountainous terrain

Must have large access to prey and areas for dens and shelter

Physical characteristics

42 total teeth (largest are canines)

Dense undercoat with overlaying guard hair (come in shades or black- gray, graying as they get older

Large paws with non retracting claws, large heel pad

Long legs for speed and ability to move in deep snow

Largest non domesticated canine

Behavioral characteristics

Live and travel in packs of 7-8 lead by an alpha male and female

Strong bonds with pack

Communicate by barking, whining, growling, and howling

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Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chorodata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Canidae
Genus: Vulpes
Species: Zerda

Habitat

Found in Sahara and in North Africa

Nocturnal, helps them deal with heat of the desert

Live in dens

Physical

Large batlike ears- radiate body heat and keep the foxes cool

Long thick hair insulates them during cold nights and protects them from the sun during the day

Hairy feet act as a barrier between sensitive feet and the hot sun

Weight: 2.2-3.3 lbs

Behavioral characteristics

Live in communities around 10 individuals

Mark territory with urine and are aggressive during mating season

Can be domesticated and act similar to domestic dogs

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1. Found all over the world

2. Found in arctic and in Australia

3. need adequate food, water, and shelter such as dens

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1. Acute senses of hearing and smell

2. Have children once a year (1-16 depending on species)

3. Born young and helpless

4. Live together in groups

5. Most experienced lead the pack

6. Only dominant females and males mate

7. Mark territory with urine

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Physical characteristics that all canids have

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Physical characteristics that all canids have

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1. 4 toes on hind feet

2. 5 toes on front feet

3. Fur over body

4. similar bone structure

5.  Paws made of keratin

6. Jaws made for eating meat

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What are some organisms in the Canidae family?

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What are some organisms in the Canidae family?

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Fennec Fox - Vulpes zerda
Coyote- Canis latrans
Gray Wolf- Canis lupus
Bush Dog- Speothos venaticus
Red Wolf- Canis rufus
African Wild Dog- Lycaon pictus
Golden Jackal- Canis aureus
Ethiopian Wolf- Canis simensis
Dingo- Canis lupus dingo

Domestic Dog- Canis lupus familiaris