Dogs, in a biological and taxonomic context, correspond to the genus Canis, which comprises medium to large carnivorous mammals in the family Canidae, including species such as Canis lupus (gray wolf), Canis latrans (coyote), and the domestic dog, Canis lupus familiaris (a subspecies). Members of Canis are characterized by a digitigrade stance, non-retractile claws, well-developed social behavior, and dentition adapted for an omnivorous–carnivorous diet. They exhibit complex vocal and olfactory communication, flexible social structures, and broad ecological adaptability across diverse habitats in the Northern Hemisphere and, via human-mediated dispersal, globally.
The bond between humans and dogs is one of nature's most enduring partnerships, but exactly when it began has long been a mystery. Now, a new study has turned back the clock. The study, titled "Dogs were widely distributed ...
Evolution
Mar 28, 2026
0
46
Coyotes may be building dens and having litters of pups near you, according to new research from the University of Georgia. But chances are you won't see them—even if they are denning right next door. In one of the first ...
Plants & Animals
Mar 16, 2026
0
215
Deep in the heart of Martu Country lies Karlamilyi National Park. Red rock and red sand stretch as far as the eye can see. Within some of these rocky outcrops, live a small population of wiminyji (northern quolls). But they ...
Plants & Animals
Feb 25, 2026
0
14
There aren't any native lion or tiger populations living in Japan today, but this was not always the case. Fossil evidence indicates that at least one species of large cat roamed the archipelago during the Late Pleistocene—a ...
Reducing wolves to protect endangered caribou doesn't always deliver the expected results, and the shape of the land may be the deciding factor.
Plants & Animals
Feb 7, 2026
0
242
A spotted gray wolf has left his California pack and trotted across Silver State lines, wildlife biologists say.
Plants & Animals
Feb 4, 2026
0
187
Researchers from the Center for Paleogenetics have managed to analyze the genome from a 14,400-year-old woolly rhinoceros, recovered from a tissue sample found preserved inside the stomach of an ancient wolf.
Molecular & Computational biology
Jan 14, 2026
0
179
Management of gray wolves (Canis lupus) has a reputation for being one of the most contentious conservation issues in the United States. The topic often conjures stark images of supporters versus opponents: celebratory wolf ...
Plants & Animals
Jan 6, 2026
0
18
A judge has ordered the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to pay $115,220 in attorney's fees to a retired Anchorage lawyer and wildlife advocate who successfully sued the state over a wolf-killing policy on the southern ...
Plants & Animals
Jan 5, 2026
0
28
A long-term study examining wolf–human interactions in Türkiye reveals the delicate balance between ecology and society.
Plants & Animals
Jan 5, 2026
0
16
