Canidae - Definition and Overview

Canidae is the family of carnivorous and omnivorous mammals commonly known as canines. It includes dogs, wolves, foxes, coyotes, and jackals. These animals are all digitigrades.

A classification of dogs

Note that the subdivision of Canidae into "foxes" and "true dogs" may not be in accordance with the actual relations, and that the classification of several canines is disputed. Examples include the Domestic Dog which is listed by some authorities as Canis familiaris and others (including the Smithsonian Institution and the American Society of Mammalogists) as a subspecies of the Wolf (i.e., Canis lupus familiaris); the Red Wolf, which may or may not be a full species; and the Dingo, which is variously classified as Canis lupus dingo, Canis dingo and Canis familiaris dingo.

• True dogs - Tribe Canini
  • Genus Canis
    • Coyote, Canis latrans
    • Wolf, Canis lupus
      • Domestic Dog, Canis lupus familiaris
      • Dingo, Canis lupus dingo
      • many other proposed subspecies
    • Red Wolf, Canis rufus
    • Ethiopian Wolf, Canis simensis (also called Abyssinian Wolf, Simien Fox and Simien Jackal)
    • Jackal
      • Golden Jackal, Canis aureus
      • Side-striped Jackal, Canis adustus
      • Black-backed jackal, Canis mesomelas
  • Genus Lycaon
    • African Hunting Dog, Lycaon pictus (also called African Wild Dog)
  • Genus Cuon
    • Dhole, Cuon alpinus
  • Genus Nyctereutes
    • Raccoon Dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides
  • Genus Atelocynus
    • Short-eared Dog, Atelocynus microtis
  • Genus Speothos
    • Bush Dog, Speothos venaticus
  • Genus Chrysocyon
    • Maned Wolf, Chrysocyon brachyurus
  • (Genus Dusicyon extinct)
    • (Falkland Island Fox, Dusicyon australis extinct)
  • Genus Pseudalopex
    • Culpeo, Pseudalopex culpaeus
    • Argentine Grey Fox, Pseudalopex griseus
    • Pampas Fox, Pseudalopex gymnocercus
    • Sechura Fox, Pseudalopex sechurae
    • Hoary Fox, Pseudalopex vetulus
  • Genus Cerdocyon
    • Crab-eating Fox, Cerdocyon thous
• Foxes - Tribe Vulpini
  • Genus Vulpes
    • Red Fox, Vulpes vulpes
    • Swift Fox, Vulpes velox
    • Kit Fox, Vulpes macrotis
    • Corsac Fox, Vulpes corsac
    • Cape Fox, Vulpes chama
    • Pale Fox, Vulpes pallida
    • Bengal Fox, Vulpes bengalensis
    • Tibetan Fox, Vulpes ferrilata
    • Blandford's Fox, Vulpes cana
    • Rueppel's Fox, Vulpes rueppelli
    • Steppe Fox, Vulpes corsac
    • Fennec, Vulpes zerda (former Fennecus zerda)
  • Genus Alopex
    • Arctic Fox, Alopex lagopus
  • Genus Otocyon
    • Bat-eared Fox, Otocyon megalotis
  • Genus Urocyon
    • Gray Fox, Urocyon cinereoargenteus
    • Island Fox, Urocyon littoralis