Tag canine

Which animal was domesticated first – the cat or the dog?

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Which animal was domesticated first – the cat or the dog?

Domesticated animals are those that have been tamed and bred by humans. Humans began keeping animals as companion pets (such as cats and dogs), work animals (such as horses, donkeys, and camels to carry things), and livestock (such as cattle, sheep, pigs, and goats for food and skin, fur, or wool). 

It is not easy to tell exactly when different species of animals were domesticated. Domestication occurred gradually, so there is no exact moment in history.

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CREATURE FEATURE: Bush Dog

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The Bush Dog (Speothos venaticus) is a rare canine mammal in the Canidae family of dogs. It is most closely related to the Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) or the African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus). 

The Bush Dog has soft, long, brown-tan fur with a lighter reddish colour on its head, neck, back, and tail. It has a bushy tail. It has short legs. It has a short snout (nose) and small ears. It has 38 teeth. It has partially webbed toes, which enables it to swim. 

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Alaskan Wolf

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The Alaskan Wolf (Canis lupus pambasileus) is a mammal and subspecies of the Grey Wolf in the Canidae family of dogs, wolves, and jackals. It is a canid or canine mammal. It is also known as the Yukon Wolf.

The Alaskan Wolf is dog-like with thick tawny grey or rusty-tan fur with a mixture of black hair. It has a triangular-shaped face with a wide forehead and medium-sized ears and brown eyes.

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Golden Jackal

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The Golden Jackal (Canis aureus aureus) is a canid wolf-like mammal in the Canidae family. It is also called the Persian Jackal. It is related to the Coyote (Canis latrans) and the Grey Wolf (Canis lupus). 

The Golden Jackal can vary in colour from pale-yellow to dark-beige. Its underbelly is pale brown to pale grey. It has large pointed ears and a pointed snout (nose). It has pale legs.

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Steppe Wolf

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The Steppe Wolf (Canis lupus campestris) is a subspecies of the Grey Wolf. It is a canid or canine mammal. It is also known as the Caspian Sea Wolf. 

The Steppe Wolf is dog-like with thick light-grey fur, and a rusty-red-grey or brownish back with a mixture of black hair. It has a triangular-shaped face with a wide forehead and medium-sized ears and brown eyes. Its tail does not have much fur. 

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Iberian Wolf

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The Iberian Wolf (Canis lupus signatus) is a subspecies of the Grey Wolf, a canid or canine mammal in the Canidae family. It is also known as the Spanish Wolf. 

The Iberian Wolf is dog-like with thick, grey fur and a white stroke on its cheek that joins its white throat. It has white marks on its upper lips. It has a triangular-shaped face with a wide forehead, medium-sized ears, and dark orange-brown eyes. It has a reddish snout (nose). Its tail is long with dark markings. It also has dark markings on its front legs (signatus means ‘marked’). It has orange-brown eyes.

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Central European Wild Boar

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The Central European Wild Boar (Sus scrofa scrofa) is a medium-sized ungulate (hoofed) mammal, and a subspecies of the Wild Boar (Sus scrofa). It is also known as the Eurasian Wild Pig. Regionally, it is known as the Western Wild Boar. It is a suid.

The Central European Wild Boar is dark grey-black or rusty-brown in colour. Its fur is thick and coarse and it also has thick underwool. The male has a thin mane along his back, and the female does not have a mane. It has a high skull and a big head. It has a short, thick neck, and a hump behind its shoulders. Its eyes are small and dark. The male has canine teeth which protrude from its mouth, and the female has smaller canine teeth.

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Carnivore Teeth and Herbivore Teeth

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What’s the difference between the teeth of carnivores and the teeth of herbivores?

 

Carnivores – or carnivorous animals – eat the flesh (meat) of other animals.

Carnivores have specialized teeth for killing an animal and tearing its raw flesh. These long, sharp teeth are called canine teeth or carnassial teeth. Some carnassial teeth are so strong that they can cut through bone.

Carnivores also have powerful jaws, a short nose, a strong neck, and powerful legs. This is because carnivores need to actively hunt and catch their prey, so they must be fast and strong.

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Hippo teeth

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What are hippo’s teeth made of?

A hippopotamus is a large semi-aquatic mammal, with short, stumpy legs, and cylindrical bodies.

It has a large head, with a broad mouth that can open wide (like a crocodile).

Hippos are herbivores because they eat plants. Their incisor and canine teeth continue to grow throughout their lives.

Their teeth are like tusks and are made of ivory.

 

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM

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