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 Scientists have determined that about 60 million years ago a small mammal
called Miacis, the genus that became the ancestor of the animals we know
today as dogs, jackals, wolves, and foxes, The canids.
Miacis did not leave direct descendants, but
doglike canids evolved from it. By about 30 to 40 million years ago Miacis
had evolved into the first true dog called Cynodictis.
Next in evolutionary line from Miacis was an Oligocene animal called
Cynodictis, which somewhat resembled the modern dog. Cynodictis lived about
20 million years ago. Its fifth toe, which would eventually become the
dewclaw. Cynodictis also had 42 teeth.
After a few more intermediate stages the evolution of the dog moved on to
the extremely doglike animal called Tomarctus, which lived 10 million years
ago during the late Miocene epoch. Tomarctus probably developed the strong
social instincts that still prevail in the dog.
It is believed that early dogs dating from about 12,000 - 14,000 years
ago came from a strain of grey wolf that inhabited India. Thereafter, this
wolf--known as Canis lupus pallipes--was widely distributed throughout
Europe, Asia, and North America. It is also possible that some of the dogs of
today descended not from the wolf but rather from the jackal.
Nobody knows when the first dog became a
companion of humans, but its likely wild canids were scavengers
near tribal campsites.
Birds
Beasts
Serpents
Pigs
Chickens
Ducks
Cattle
Dogs
Smooth Snake Adder
Grass Snake
Sand Lizard Slow Worm
Viviparous Lizard
Newt
Red Squirrel
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