Representatives of the canine family. Features of biology and distribution

Family Canidae (Canidae) The family unites typical predators, most of them of medium size, well adapted to actively catching animals, chasing them or hiding them. The body of all members of the family is elongated, resting on slender, tall or relatively short legs. Dogs have 5 toes on their front paws and 4 on their hind paws; Only the wild dog has 4 toes on its front paws, while domestic dogs sometimes have 5 toes on their hind paws. They are armed with strong but blunt claws. The head is elongated, with a more or less elongated muzzle, erect, usually pointed, sometimes very large ears. The tail of all species is densely covered with hair and long. The hair is thick, sometimes quite fluffy. The color of the coat is varied: plain, speckled, spotted, sometimes very bright. The white arctic fox is characterized by seasonal color changes.

In accordance with the carnivorous nature of nutrition, the dental system is of a pronounced cutting type: canines and carnassial teeth are highly developed. Most species have 42 teeth; in the genus Guon the last lower molars are absent and the total number of teeth is reduced to 40, and in the South American bush dog (Speothos) there are no posterior upper molars, so there are only 38 teeth. On the contrary, the African long-eared fox (Otocyon) has 4 molars in both jaws and the total number of teeth reaches 48. As a result, the dental formula takes the following form:

Representatives of the family are distributed across all continents, not excluding Australia, and inhabit all landscapes, from the Arctic tundra and taiga to steppes, deserts, savannas, tropical forests and mountains. They are especially numerous in open areas. They lead a single-family or group lifestyle. The latter is typical for predators actively pursuing large ungulates. Most species are carnivorous, but often feed on carrion, insects, and plant foods. Active all year round, with the exception of the raccoon dog, which in the northern areas of its habitat falls into a shallow winter sleep. Canines breed their offspring in burrows, natural shelters, or in dens on the surface of the earth. In most cases they are monogamous; They breed once a year and are highly fertile.

The family is of great practical importance: representatives of a number of canine species have valuable fur and are even bred in captivity; some are livestock pests and dangerous in terms of epidemics. The domestic dog with its numerous breeds and offspring belongs to the family.

The family contains (according to various sources) 3 subfamilies, up to 14 genera and about 35-37 species. Of these, 8 species and 4 genera are found in the USSR. Most of the species are included in the subfamily Caninae. Its central genus is the wolf (Canis), which unites wolves, coyotes, dogs, jackals - the largest and most typical representatives of the family.

Wolf

Common or gray wolf(Canis lupus). The entire appearance of this predator testifies to its power and excellent adaptability to tireless running, pursuit and attack on its victims.

In size, a seasoned wolf is larger than a large shepherd dog. Body length is on average 105-160 cm, tail - 35-50 cm, shoulder height 80-85 cm and up to 100 cm. Weight is usually 32-50 kg. The literature mentions wolves that supposedly had a mass of more than 90 kg, but among the many hundreds of accurately weighed wolves from different parts of the USSR there was not a single one heavier than 79 kg, and even those were only a few. The maximum weight of a wolf from North America also does not exceed 79 kg.

The color and size of wolves are subject to strong individual and geographic variability. In our country alone there are almost 8-9 subspecies of wolves, and there are even more of them in North America. The largest animals live in the Far North, small ones - in the south. The first ones are painted in very light colors, and in winter they turn almost completely white. The forest zone is characterized by wolves of the most intensely colored subspecies, while in the south, in the deserts, they are replaced by animals of a dull sandy color.

The wolf is quite widespread. It is found on the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, Poland, Scandinavia, Finland, almost throughout the entire territory of the Soviet Union, from a number of Arctic islands and the coast of the Arctic Ocean to the southern borders of the country (excluding Crimea) and all the way to the Pacific Ocean. There is no wolf on Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands. In Asia outside the USSR, it inhabits the Korean Peninsula, partly China and the Hindustan Peninsula, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, the Arabian Peninsula, and was destroyed in Japan. In North America, the wolf, once widespread throughout almost the entire continent, is now severely extirpated.

The wolf is distinguished by great ecological plasticity. It lives in a wide variety of landscapes, but prefers open steppes, semi-deserts, tundra, forest-steppe, avoiding continuous forest areas. The reason for this is the abundance of food, primarily the presence of wild and domestic ungulates, as well as the conditions for hunting them, especially in hungry winter times, when the distribution and number of predators is decisively influenced by the depth of the snow cover. The fact is that in the loose, deep snow in the forests the wolf sinks greatly and cannot catch up with the elk or deer. The situation changes only in the spring, during strong crusts that easily hold predators, but break under the weight of running ungulates. Wolf hunting in open spaces with little snow is incomparably more effective than in the taiga.

A family lifestyle is typical for wolves. They form pairs for an indefinitely long number of years, almost for their entire lives. The basis of the flock is a brood of young of the year with their parents, which can be joined by last year’s arrived animals and single males. There are only rarely more than 10-12 individuals in a flock. Wolves are very attached to a once chosen den and hunt within a known, fairly large area. If they are not pursued, they stubbornly stick to their favorite area. At the same time, the plots of individual families are isolated from one another, never overlap and are strictly guarded by their owners. Wolves mark the boundaries of their occupied territory by urinating or defecating at certain, clearly visible points - on individual hummocks, bushes, near trees, poles, etc. This “olfactory telephone” serves as an important and accurate means of mutual information between animals, preventing collisions between owners of the site and newcomers, and during the breeding season, on the contrary, facilitating the meeting of males and females.

The lair for wolves is usually one or another natural shelter - under the inverted roots of trees, among windbreaks, in niches, on the slopes of ravines, in rock crevices, etc. Sometimes wolves adapt the holes of badgers, marmots, arctic foxes and other animals, less often they dig them themselves . Predators locate their home in remote, hard-to-reach places, always close to water bodies, carefully camouflage it and, when approaching it, take all possible precautions so as not to reveal to enemies where the offspring are. In contrast, there are a number of cases where wolf cubs were found in completely unexpected places: in old stacks of straw left in the field; in stacks of firewood and snow shields near the road; in a grain field 300 m from the village; in a hemp field 10 le from the estate. It is characteristic that wolves never hunt close to their home, but at a distance of 7-10 km and further, which, of course, also contributes to the safety of the broods. After the wolf cubs grow up, the animals stop using a permanent den, but settle down to rest in different but reliable places.

The wolf is a typical predator, obtaining food independently by actively searching for and pursuing victims. Everywhere, the basis of wolves' diet is made up of ungulates: in the tundra - wild and domestic reindeer; in the forest zone - elk, deer, roe deer, wild boars, domestic sheep, cows, horses; in the steppes and deserts - antelopes and domestic animals.

Along with large animals, small animals - hares, gophers, and mouse-like rodents - play an important role in the diet of wolves, especially during the years of their mass reproduction. In the warm season, wolves catch many voles, lemmings and other animals and on this food they fatten up well for the winter and even get fat. In summer, wolves do not miss the opportunity to eat a clutch of eggs, chicks sitting on the nests or feeding on the ground of grouse, waterfowl and other birds. In areas where molting geese and ducks gather, wolves also often catch them with great dexterity. Predators often prey on domestic geese as well. The prey of wolves is sometimes foxes, raccoon dogs, corsac dogs, as well as domestic dogs, which the wolves specifically hunt, boldly abducting them on village streets, right from the yard and almost in front of the hunters’ eyes. Occasionally, hungry wolves dare to attack bears sleeping in a den. Wolves are also prone to cannibalism. There are many known cases when they tore and ate weakened animals, wounded by hunters or seriously injured in an internecine fight during the rutting season.

Unlike some other predatory animals, wolves often return to the half-eaten remains of their own prey, especially during the hungry season. They do not disdain the corpses of livestock, and on the sea coasts - the carcasses of seals and other sea animals thrown up by the waves.

In the steppes and deserts, the usual food of wolves are all kinds of reptiles, beetles and locusts (during years of mass breeding).

Wolves, especially in the southern regions, also eat some plant foods - various berries, lily of the valley fruits, wild and garden fruits (carrion), even mushrooms. In the steppes, they often make raids on melon fields, watermelons and melons, satisfying not so much hunger as thirst, because they need regular, plentiful watering.

The wolf is known for its gluttony. Indeed, if he is hungry, he is able to eat up to 10 kg of meat. However, under normal conditions, the daily requirement of an adult animal is only about 2 kg; the rest of the meat is simply taken away and hidden in reserve, eaten later, which is not always taken into account and contributes to exaggerated ideas about the gluttony of the wolf. On the other hand, this animal has an amazing ability to starve without losing its vitality. In the Yamal tundra, a wounded wolf lay without changing place and without hunting, i.e., being hungry, for 17 days. He lost a lot of weight, but fully recovered from his wounds and ran as if he were healthy.

In the process of wolves hunting for large game, it is especially clear how highly developed predators they are and how complex their behavior is. Even when hunting together in the summer, wolves often practice division of duties, when one becomes a beater, and the other hides in ambush. The first of them acts very carefully, gradually, methodically directing the intended victim to his partner. In a pack chasing an elk, deer or saiga, often some predators run on the heels of the prey, while others run across them or trudge slowly and, having rested, replace the leaders. At the same time, predators display amazing tirelessness, merciless persistence and sooner or later achieve their goal. Sometimes they drive the wapiti into the rocks, “to settle,” and, having surrounded them, wait for him, tired, to try to break through and run away. Finally, wolves skillfully drive roe deer and deer onto the slippery bare ice of taiga rivers or kill them in deep, loose snow or on crust. However, under other conditions, predators cannot catch up with a healthy deer and, after a short chase, stop hunting.

The rut occurs in winter, in different areas of the range - from December to March. In old wolves, the rut usually proceeds in a fairly peaceful environment, unless their pair is preserved or unless another, single male appears. A group of males can gather near young and single old she-wolves. Fierce fights arise between them, sometimes with fatal consequences for the weaker ones, until a couple is formed. This is facilitated by the excess of males often observed in wolf populations in Eurasia and North America.

Pregnancy lasts from 62 to 75 days. In a brood there are on average 5-6 wolf cubs, occasionally up to 14-15, and sometimes only 1-2. They are born in the spring, blind, with closed ear openings, covered with sparse brown fur. They mature in 9-12 days; at 3 weeks of age they begin to crawl out of the den; They are fed milk for a month and a half, but even before that they begin to eat semi-digested meat regurgitated by the male, who all this time supplies the she-wolf and the cubs with food. They grow quickly: in the first 4 months their mass increases almost 30 times, but then the growth rate drops noticeably. Gradually, the wolf cubs learn to kill small animals that their parents bring to them, and then learn real hunting. Although adult wolves take very careful care of their offspring, many puppies die in the first year of life. The mortality rate of wolf cubs during this period can reach 60-80%. According to observations of Canadian tundra wolves, in addition to the parents, a single adult male, apparently related to them, often participates in raising wolf cubs.

Female wolves reach sexual maturity in the second year of life, and males only at the age of three, and even then they often do not find a mate. In nature, wolves live up to a maximum of 15-20 years, but already at 10-12 years they show signs of old age.

Wolves are active mainly at night, but sometimes they can be found during the day. They often make their presence known with a loud howl, which differs greatly in character among mature males, she-wolves and young ones, and also depending on the situation. The fact is that with the help of various kinds of howls, wolves exchange information about the presence of prey, the appearance of other wolves, people and other events that are important to them. The expressions of wolves' faces, body postures and movements, and the position of the tail are very diverse, which reflects the differences in the emotional state of the animals and is of paramount importance for establishing contacts between individuals or, conversely, preventing a collision. Of the analyzers, the wolf has the best developed hearing, somewhat weaker - vision and smell.

Well-developed higher nervous activity in wolves is combined with strength, agility, running speed and other physical characteristics that greatly increase the chances of this predator in the struggle for existence. If necessary, the wolf reaches speeds of up to 55-60 km/h, is capable of traveling up to 60-80 km per night, and on average travels more than 20 km per day (in the forest zone). A calmly walking or running wolf amazes with its ease of movement. It seems to spread over the ground; without changing his gait, he covers long distances without a hint of fatigue. If there are a pair or a group of wolves, then they walk in single file, stepping strictly one after the other, and only at a turn or at a resting place where the animals disperse can their number be determined. The paw prints on the ground are very distinct, which makes them different from the incomparably more vague footprints of large dogs.

The wolf has not only speed and tirelessness in movement, but also great strength. Without apparent difficulty he can drag a sheep in his teeth, carrying it in front of him or throwing it on his back.

In the tundra, as well as in the mountains, wolves make seasonal migrations following herds of wild and domestic ungulates. Sometimes there is a noticeable increase in the number of predators in any area due to a sharp deterioration in living conditions in the neighborhood.

In North America, along with the common wolf, another species lives - red wolf(S. niger); it is smaller and red-brown in color. Its range is limited to the southern United States. In its lifestyle it is close to an ordinary wolf.

For open plains occupied by prairies and deserts in the west and central part of North America (up to Alaska) it is very typical coyote
, or coyote(S. latrans). In size it is noticeably inferior to an ordinary wolf. The length of its body is only 90 cm, the length of the tail is about 30 cm, the height at the shoulders is slightly more than 50 cm, and its weight does not exceed 13 kg. Like other wild dogs, the coyote has erect ears and a long fluffy tail, which, in contrast to the wolf, it holds down when running. The coat is thick, long, grayish or reddish-brown in color on the back and sides, very light on the belly. The end of the tail is black.

In the appearance and lifestyle of the coyote there is something close to jackals. In the biocenoses of the American prairies it occupies a similar place to them. He runs into the forests only by chance. It feeds on hares, rabbits, prairie dogs, small rodents and carrion, and also catches birds, lizards, insects, sometimes fish, and eats fruits. It attacks domestic sheep, goats, wild deer and pronghorn very rarely. It doesn’t bother people at all, but in national parks it sometimes gets so used to them that it even takes food out of their hands.

The coyote apparently mates for life. The rut occurs in January - February. Pregnancy lasts 60-65 days. There are 5-10, sometimes up to 19, cubs in a brood. They are born in some cave, a crevice among the rocks, in the hollow of a fallen tree or in a deep hole, and there is no bedding in the lair itself. Both parents participate in family care. During the first days, the female does not leave the hole at all, and the male gets food. He brings and leaves rodents at the entrance or regurgitates half-digested food. Sometimes the female does this too. In the future, both parents are forced to spend whole days hunting. At the age of 6 weeks, puppies begin to emerge from the shelter. In the fall they become independent, the brood breaks up and the young animals set off in search of their own hunting ground. Many of them die from hunger and enemies. Coyotes live up to approximately 13 years. They sometimes interbreed with domestic dogs.

There is a common belief among ranchers that the coyote is a harmful predator. In fact, it destroys a lot of harmful rodents.

The coyote is distinguished by highly developed higher nervous activity. It adapts well to a changing environment and, despite persecution, has even expanded its range somewhat in recent years. The coyote hunts both alone and in a pack, reaching speeds of up to 64 km/h. In the evenings on the prairies where coyotes live, their peculiar loud howl, which is an integral feature of this landscape, can be heard far away.

As we noted, jackals have biological characteristics similar to coyotes. In the fauna of Africa, South Asia and Southern Europe there are 4 species. The most widely distributed and studied Asian or common jackal(C. aureus). In some areas we call it chekalka. In appearance, the jackal looks like a small wolf.

Its body length is 71-85 cm, its tail is 20-36 cm, its shoulder height is 45-50 cm, its weight is from 7 to 13 kg. The color of the coat in winter is fawn, dirty yellow, with noticeable red and black shades; the tail is reddish-brown, with a black tip.

The jackal is distributed from Central Africa through the Middle East, Southeast Europe, Central Asia up to Hindustan. In the Soviet Union, it lives in the Caucasus, Central Asia, and sometimes appears in Moldova.

The jackal prefers dense thickets of bushes and reeds on the plains, near rivers, lakes and seas. It is less common in the foothills, not rising above 1000 m above sea level; very often lives near populated areas. As shelters, it usually uses various natural niches and depressions, crevices among stones, sometimes holes of badgers, porcupines, foxes, and occasionally digs them on its own. There is a known case when a jackal settled under a residential building. Clearly visible paths usually lead to its shelters.

The jackal feeds on a wide variety of food, mainly small animals and birds, as well as lizards, snakes, frogs, dead fish, locusts, beetles, other insects, snails, etc. An important role in its diet is played by carrion, the remains of prey of large predators, and all kinds of garbage. The jackal eats many fruits and berries, including grapes, watermelons, melons, plant bulbs, and wild sugar cane roots. In Tajikistan, in autumn and winter it feeds mainly on oleaster fruits. Living near villages, he sometimes carries chickens. In severe winters, when water bodies freeze, the jackal exterminates wintering waterfowl and acclimatized nutria in large numbers.

Pairs form for life, and the male takes an active part in constructing the burrow and raising the brood. The estrus of jackals living in the USSR is observed from January until February and even until March. The rut is similar to that described for a wolf. Pregnancy lasts 60-63 days. The young are born from late March to late May. There are usually 4-6 of them, occasionally up to 8. The female feeds the cubs with milk for 2-3 months, but already at 2-3 weeks of age she begins to feed them with burps. In autumn, the young become independent and hunt alone or in groups of 2-4. Females reach sexual maturity in about a year, and males in two. Life expectancy is unlikely to exceed 12-14 years.

The jackal is a very dexterous, one might even say, impudent predator. The latter property is especially characteristic of those animals that live near populated areas and constantly encounter people. It is active mainly at night, but often during the day. Before going out to hunt, the jackal emits a loud howl, similar to a high, whining cry, which is immediately picked up by all other individuals nearby. They begin to howl for other reasons, for example, when bells ring, sirens sound, etc. Jackals hunt more often alone, in pairs, and occasionally in small groups. They deftly sneak up on the prey and instantly grab it, and hunting together, they drive the prey against each other. The jackal conducts its hunting search at a shallow trot, often stopping to sniff and listen. Where there are large predators, jackals follow them in order to take advantage of the remains of their prey. Jackals are sedentary animals and do not make seasonal migrations, but sometimes they go far from their permanent place of residence in search of prey and appear in areas where there has been a massive loss of livestock or wild ungulates.

Jackals cannot be considered harmful everywhere, given their sanitary function in nature. Only in intensive hunting farms, in particular in nutria and muskrat, as well as in wintering areas of game birds, can they be intolerant. We also have to take into account the fact that jackals are sometimes sources of dangerous diseases - rabies and canine distemper. Their value in the fur industry is negligible, since the skin is rough and has little value.

Not only puppies, but also adult jackals are well tamed. It is not without reason that in the distant past they probably gave rise to some primitive breeds of domestic dogs.

There are two other species of jackals living in Eastern and Southern Africa: black-and-white(S. mesomelas) and striped(S. adustus). In the northeast of this continent they are found together with the Asian jackal. Black-backed jackal

got its name from the black, saddle-like coloring of its back. The end of its tail is also black, while that of the striped jackal is white; in addition, the striped jackal has two dark and light stripes on the sides of its body.

In their lifestyle, these jackals are very similar to the Asian one. They live in savannas, hiding during the day in bushes and only occasionally in the depths of the forest. They hunt in pairs, mainly small vertebrates, including small antelope calves, and also feed on insects and plants. They hatch their cubs (2-7) in a burrow, which they often dig themselves. Pregnancy from 57 to 70 days. Puppies grow quickly and from 6 months they begin to accompany their parents on hunts. African jackals are constant companions and backbones of lions.

Black-backed jackals in some areas significantly harm poultry farming.

Dingo

Dingo(C. dingo) has long been a difficult mystery for zoologists, who have not yet come to a consensus about its origin and systematic position.

This unique wild, or more precisely, secondarily feral dog is the only predator in the native fauna of Australia. Apparently, dingoes were brought there back in the Stone Age by hunters and fishermen who came from the Malay Archipelago. It is no coincidence that dingoes are close to wild Sumatran and recently extinct Javanese dogs. In Australia, dingoes that escaped from their owners or were abandoned by them found excellent living conditions - a lot of game, a complete absence of enemies and competitors, multiplied and settled almost throughout the continent.

Due to what has been said about the probable origin of the dingo, some scientists consider it only as a subspecies of the domestic dog. However, most experts rightly consider the dingo to be a completely independent species.

The dingo is a well-built, medium-sized dog. He has a slender body, strong, straight legs, a proportional head with erect ears, and a not very long, bushy tail. The water cover is thick, but not long, and quite soft. Typical coloring is rusty-red or reddish-brown, with white ends of the paws and the end of the tail. However, sometimes there are individuals almost black in color, gray, white, and piebald.

Dingoes live primarily on open plains or in sparse forests. Here he hunts kangaroos and other game, alone, in pairs or as a family, acting like wolves. With the beginning of mass breeding of sheep, the dingo began to attack them, which led to its destruction by farmers.

The female brings 4-6 pups, which she gives birth to in a burrow or natural shelter in the forest or among rocks. The male participates in their upbringing. A purebred dingo does not bark, but only yelps and howls. The excellent hunting properties of the dingo and its beautiful exterior have repeatedly prompted efforts to domesticate it. However, even dingoes raised as puppies are usually characterized by such indiscipline and such restless behavior that it is impossible to keep them at home. Dingoes interbreed freely with domestic dogs.

In 1956, a wild dog similar to the dingo, but smaller, was discovered in the forests of New Guinea. It was named Canis dingo hallstromi. Unfortunately, the biology of this animal is unknown.

Dogs

The modern domestic dog (C. familiaris) belongs to the genus described. Despite the extraordinary diversity of its breeds, they all constitute one species. Apparently, domestic dogs descend from wolves, jackals and similar predators, which were domesticated back in the Stone Age. Typically, all breeds of domestic dogs (Tables 25 and 28) are divided into three main groups (depending on the purpose of the dogs or human use): service, hunting and decorative.

To official dogs include ancient mastiff dogs, sled dogs and reindeer huskies, shepherd dogs, Doberman pinscher, boxer, giant schnauzer, Airedale terrier, black terriers, etc. They are used to protect herds and various objects, to search for criminals, and to search for minerals. During the war, dogs searched for the wounded and took them out of battle, helped signalmen (sometimes they themselves played the role of signalmen), destroyed fascist tanks, and looked for mines. In the Far North, dogs go in sleds. People keep many service dogs for sport and as guard dogs.

Group hunting dogs include a large number of breeds of huskies, hounds, pointers, spaniels, miners, greyhounds, bred for various types of commercial and sport hunting of animals and birds.

Decorative dogs have no economic importance and are bred by pet lovers. In terms of the number and variety of breeds, this group ranks first. It includes all kinds of lapdog breeds, dwarf terrier breeds, poodles, Spitz dogs, Pekingese and Japanese dogs, pugs and many others.

Along with purebred dogs, there are many mongrels and crossbreeds. Sometimes domestic dogs can also go wild and lead the life of almost completely wild animals. Such, for example, are the numerous dogs living on some of the Kuril Islands, where at one time they were even mistaken for wolves. It is not uncommon for domestic dogs to be crossed with their worst enemies, wolves, and produce fertile offspring with mixed traits.

Despite the diversity of morphological characteristics and behavior of dogs, some common features can be noted, in particular with regard to the biology of reproduction. Their gestation period is on average 62-63 days. A litter usually consists of 6-8 puppies, which gain sight in 9 days, and begin to hear on the 12-14th day. Breastfeeding lasts one and a half months. Sexual maturity occurs at 10 months of age. Life expectancy is about 15 years.

In addition to their immediate practical value, dogs are used as laboratory animals. It is not without reason that a monument to the dog was erected in Leningrad (on the territory of the Institute of Experimental Medicine) as a sign of its invaluable services to humanity.

Foxes

The second, no less important genus of the canine family is the genus of foxes (Vulpes), which has 6 species. Unlike wolves, foxes have a long but squat body, a head with an elongated sharp muzzle, large pointed ears, and eyes with a vertical oval pupil. Females usually have 6 nipples.

The most common and well known is the ordinary red fox(V. vulpes). Its dimensions are larger than those of other representatives of the genus: body length is barely 60-90, tail - 40-60 cm, weight - 6-10 kg. In most cases, the color of the back is bright red, with an unclear dark pattern, the belly is white, but sometimes black.

The coloration of animals from the southern regions of the range is dull. Along with the typically colored fireflies, there are individuals with darker fur: gray lions, crosses, and black-brown ones. Albinos are rarely seen.

The fox is distributed very widely: in Europe, North Africa, most of Asia (up to Northern India, Southern China and Indochina), in North America south to the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

It was previously believed that a special related species (V. fulvus) was found in America, but now it is considered only as a subspecies of the red fox.

The color and size of foxes are highly variable geographically. Only on the territory of the USSR there are 14-15 subspecies, and for the rest of the range more than 25 subspecies are known, not counting many others described by taxonomists, but dubious forms. In general, to the north the foxes become larger and brighter, to the south they become smaller and duller in color. In northern regions with harsh climatic conditions, black-brown and other melanistic forms of coloration are more common.

The noted diversity in color and size of the fox is associated with the vastness of its range and the large differences in living conditions in its individual parts. Suffice it to say that the fox inhabits, albeit with varying densities, all landscape-geographical zones, from the tundra and forests to the steppes and deserts, including mountains. Moreover, the fox is found not only in the wild, but also in cultural landscapes, including the immediate vicinity of villages and cities, including large industrial centers. Moreover, sometimes in areas developed by humans, the fox finds a particularly favorable environment for itself.

Everywhere, the fox prefers open areas, as well as those areas where there are separate groves, copses, as well as hills and ravines, especially if in winter the snow cover there is not too deep and loose. Therefore, on the territory of our country, most foxes live not in forests, but in forest-steppes, steppes and foothills of the European and Asian parts.

The fox, although it belongs to typical predators, feeds on a wide variety of foods. Among the food it eats in our country there are more than 300 species of animals alone, not counting several dozen species of plants. Everywhere, its diet consists of small rodents, mainly voles. We can say that the well-being of the populations of this predator largely depends on their abundance and availability. Larger mammals, in particular hares, play a much smaller role, although in some cases foxes catch them, especially hares, quite often, and during the hare pestilence they eat their corpses. Sometimes foxes attack small roe deer cubs. Birds in the fox's diet are not as important as rodents, although the predator will never miss an opportunity to catch any of them found on the ground (from the smallest to the largest - geese, wood grouse, etc.), as well as to destroy the clutch and chicks. The fox does not even kidnap domestic birds as often and not in such large numbers as is commonly thought.

In the southern regions of the USSR, foxes often hunt for reptiles; in the Far East, living near rivers, they feed on salmon fish that died after spawning; Almost everywhere in the summer months they eat a lot of beetles and other insects. Finally, they willingly use all kinds of carrion, and in times of famine, various refuse.

Plant foods - fruits, fruits, berries, and less often vegetative parts of plants - are included in the food of almost all foxes, but especially in the south of their range. In general, the nature of nutrition and the species composition of food vary greatly not only in different geographical areas, but also among individuals of adjacent populations inhabiting different habitats.

An individual plot occupied by a couple or family should provide the animals not only with sufficient food, but also with comfortable, safe places to build burrows. Foxes dig them themselves or (and very often) occupy those belonging to badgers, marmots, arctic foxes and other animals, adapting them to their needs. Most often, foxes settle on the slopes of ravines or hills, choosing areas with well-drained sandy soil, protected from flooding by rain, melt and groundwater. Even if the burrow is dug independently, not to mention badgers and arctic foxes, it usually has several entrance holes leading through more or less long, inclined tunnels into a vast nesting chamber. Sometimes foxes use natural shelters - caves, rock crevices, hollows in thick fallen trees. In most cases (but not always) the dwelling is well hidden in dense thickets. But it is unmasked by far-stretching trails, and nearby there are large outbursts of soil near the entrances, numerous food remains, excrement, etc. Lush weed vegetation often develops in fox towns.

As a rule, foxes use permanent dwellings only during the period of raising young ones, and during the rest of the year, in particular in winter, they rest in open dens in the snow or in grass and moss. However, to escape persecution, foxes often burrow at any time of the year, hiding in the first hole they come across, of which there are many in their habitats.

Like the wolf, the fox is a monogamous species that breeds only once a year. Her estrus occurs from December to March in different regions of the USSR and lasts only a few days for each female. The time of the rut and its effectiveness depend on the weather and the fatness of the animals. There are years when up to 60-70% of females are left without offspring. Pregnancy in foxes lasts from 49 to 58 days. In a litter there are 4-6 and up to 12-13 puppies, covered with dark brown down. At two weeks of age, they begin to see, hear, and their first teeth erupt. For a month and a half, the fox cubs are fed with milk, but even before that they appear near the burrows and are gradually accustomed by their parents to regular food, as well as to getting it. In general, from the time of the rut to the final exit of the fox cubs, about 6 months pass. Both parents participate in their upbringing. Grown-up puppies begin to leave the “home” early and are often found far from it, while still very small. By autumn they are fully grown. Some females begin to reproduce as early as the next year and, in any case, reach sexual maturity at the age of two. In captivity, foxes live up to 20-25 years, but in the wild only a few years.

The fox is quite settled. In most areas it is not characterized by regular migrations. They are known only in the tundra, deserts and mountains. For example, one of the foxes tagged in the Malozemelskaya tundra was caught 600 km to the southwest. Young, spreading animals in the central zone of the USSR were caught at a distance of 2-5 to 15-30 km, and one fox went 120 km from the banding site.

Foxes hunt at different times of the day and, where they are not pursued, are found during the day, and do not show any concern at the sight of people. In other cases, the fox is distinguished by extreme caution and an amazing ability, when escaping from pursuit, to confuse its tracks and resort to all sorts of tricks to deceive the dogs. The fox also displays amazing habits when hunting. It is not without reason that in the folklore of almost all peoples familiar with the fox, it invariably serves, so to speak, as a symbol of cunning and dexterity. Indeed, in the conditions of a severe struggle for existence, the fox developed very complex forms of behavior, and in some individuals they reached great perfection.

A calmly walking fox follows in a straight line, leaving a clear chain of footprints in the snow. When frightened, it can run very quickly, at a gallop, or literally spread out over the ground and stretch its tail far out. A wonderful sight is presented by a fox engaged in mowing in winter, that is, hunting for voles, somewhere in a snow-covered field. Getting excited, she either listens to the squeak of rodents under the snow, then makes a graceful jump and begins to quickly rummage, scattering snow dust around, trying to overtake and grab her prey. At the same time, the predator sometimes gets so carried away that she lets her get very close to her. However, the fox’s vision is not sharp and it can run up almost close to a standing or sitting person. But the sense of smell and hearing are very well developed and serve as the main analyzers.

During the rut or in a state of excitement, the fox emits a rather loud, abrupt bark, like a yelp. Fighting or angry animals squeal shrilly.

The number of foxes in nature fluctuates noticeably from year to year. Its condition is affected by the abundance of rodents, meteorological conditions, and mass diseases. In years of famine, not only does the fertility of females decrease and few young survive, but conditions also arise that promote the spread of epizootics, sometimes covering vast areas. These are epizootics of rabies, canine distemper, scabies and a number of unknown diseases. Sometimes dozens of corpses of animals are found, and the quality of the fur of the survivors sharply deteriorates.

The fox is of great practical importance as a valuable fur-bearing animal and an energetic enemy of harmful rodents and insects. The damage caused to poultry and game cannot be compared with the benefits brought by this predator.

In fur procurement in the USSR, fox pelts are in fourth place in terms of their value (on average, more than 480,000 fox pelts are harvested annually). A very large number of them are mined in other countries, especially in the USA and Canada.

At the end of the 19th century. A breed of silver-black fox was artificially created. Through selection, not only was the quality of the skins of silver-black foxes significantly improved, but also completely new breeds were developed - platinum, Bakurian, etc.

In the steppes, semi-deserts and partly in the deserts of Asia and South-Eastern Europe, along with the red fox, there is a very small, dull-colored fox corsac(V. corsac). The length of its body is only 50-60 cm, the tail is 25-35 cm, the height at the shoulders is about 30 cm. The ears are large and wide at the base. Winter wool is very fluffy, silky and, despite its light color, beautiful.

In the European part of the USSR, the corsac is distributed to Volgograd and the southern regions of the Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, and in the Asian part - in Kazakhstan, Central Asia and Transbaikalia. From here, individual individuals sometimes run to the north. Outside the USSR, the corsac dog is found from Northern Iran and Afghanistan to Mongolia and Northeast China.

Corsac belongs to the typical inhabitants of semi-deserts and dry lowland steppes, with little snow in winter or with compacted snow cover. Here the corsac hunts primarily on animals no larger than young hares and marmots, and in the summer months it also eats birds, reptiles, and insects, but almost does not touch plant food. Of the rodents, the corsac's prey is mainly voles, parrots, ground squirrels, jerboas, etc. When they are deficient, it eats carrion and all kinds of garbage. Like other predators, the corsac dog withstands hunger and even after a week or even two it fully retains its activity. He doesn't need water.

For housing, the corsac uses marmot holes, adapts gopher holes, occasionally occupies those belonging to badgers and foxes, and digs them only as an exception. There are usually no emissions of soil near the entrances, since it is leveled. Sometimes burrows are located in groups, but only one of them is residential.

The corsac hunts mainly at dusk, but often during the day, unless (in summer) it is too hot. He carefully, gradually looks out of the hole, then sits down near it, looking around, and only then goes fishing. The corsac dog has a good sense of smell and hearing. When hunting, it walks slowly or trots against the wind and, sensing prey, hides it or strives to overtake it. The corsac sometimes allows a person, and even more so a car, to get very close. Sometimes, unable to hide, he very cleverly pretends to be dead, but at the first opportunity he runs away.

This small and weak predator often has a hard time, especially after a snowfall, as it gets very stuck in the snow. Therefore, in many areas in the fall, corsacs migrate to the south, sometimes following herds of saigas, which trample down the snow and thus make it easier for corsacs to move and hunt. Mass eviction of corsacs can also be caused by steppe fires, catastrophic extinction of rodents, etc. During such migrations, corsacs appear far beyond their range and even run into cities.

Corsac is monogamous. The resulting pairs apparently last a lifetime and break up only if one of the animals dies. The rut is observed in January - February, usually at night, and is accompanied by barking males. Mating occurs in the burrow. The duration of pregnancy is not precisely established, but is probably 52 days. There are usually 3-6 puppies in a litter, but there is a known case when 16 cubs of the same age were dug out of a hole. Newborn puppies are covered with light brown, plump hair. They begin to see the light on the 14th-16th day; At the age of one month they begin to eat meat. Corsachats grow quickly and disperse early. However, with the onset of cold weather, they gather together again, so that several are found in one hole. Females become sexually mature the following year.

The beautiful, fluffy skin of a corsac dog has significant value. In addition, the corsac brings considerable benefits, exterminating many harmful rodents.

In the extreme south of the Turkmen SSR, surprisingly small Afghan fox(V. glanders). The length of its body is only 40-50 cm, the tail is 33-41 cm, the height of the ear is about 9 cm. The color of the winter coat is brownish-gray, with a noticeable black coating, spreading along the top of the very long fluffy tail.

The Afghan fox, apparently, comes into our country only occasionally. It is mainly distributed in Eastern Iran, Afghanistan and Northwestern Hindustan. Its biology has not been studied at all; there are no complete skulls and very few skins in the collections. Therefore, any information about this animal is of great interest.

American dwarf foxes (V. velox, V. macrotis) are somewhat similar to the corsac fox and the Afghan fox. The length of their body is only 38-50 cm, the tail is 23-30 cm, the height at the shoulders is about 30 cm, and their weight is up to 3 kg. In dwarf foxes, especially dwarf agile fox(V. macrotis), very large ears, almost like a fennec cat. The coat color is brownish-yellow, the end of the tail is white. Pygmy foxes inhabit the short grass plains of western North America. They are nocturnal, very timid, and in case of danger they quickly run away, constantly changing direction instantly. These indiscriminate predators feed on rats, rabbits, birds, insects and other small animals. They live all year round in deep, long burrows, sometimes with several entrances. Here, usually in April, 3-7 cubs will be born. They feed on milk for about 10 weeks. Both parents participate in upbringing, with whom the fox cubs do not part until the end of summer - beginning of autumn.

Arctic fox

A special genus of arctic foxes (Alopex) includes only one species - arctic fox(A. lagopus). In some countries it is called polar fox. This is a relatively small animal: body length 50-75 cm, tail - 25-30 cm, shoulder height about 30 cm, weight in winter about 6 "g, and in rare cases even 10-11 kg.

Unlike the fox, the arctic fox's body is more squat, its muzzle is shortened, its ears are short, rounded, and weakly protruding from the winter fur. The Arctic fox is the only representative of the canine family that is characterized by pronounced seasonal color dimorphism. In summer, the animal is dressed in short fur that is dirty brown on top and yellowish-gray below. In winter, the vast majority of individuals wear lush snow-white hair, and only a few, the so-called blue foxes (Table 26), have a dark winter outfit, in different shades - from sand and light coffee to dark gray with a bluish tint and even brown with silver The blue coloration represents a dark, ancestral phase that has no taxonomic significance.

Blue foxes are found in all populations, but on the continents they are very rare, and on some islands, on the contrary, they predominate.

Arctic fox
- a typical representative of the fauna of the Arctic and Subarctic with a circumpolar distribution. It inhabits the continental tundra, starting from the Scandinavian and Kola Peninsulas through all of polar Eurasia and North America, as well as Greenland, Spitsbergen, Novaya Zemlya, many islands of the Arctic Ocean and the Canadian archipelago. On the other hand, arctic foxes permanently live on the Pribilof Islands, Aleutian and Commander Islands. During winter migrations, they go far into the Polar Basin and run south all the way to Southern Finland, almost to the latitude of Moscow, the southern part of the Baikal region, the lower reaches of the Amur, not to mention many northern taiga regions. In this vast space, the arctic fox forms only 3 subspecies within the USSR, and 7 more beyond its borders. Such weakly expressed geographic variability is due to the high mobility of arctic foxes and the constant mixing of different populations.

The most typical habitats for the arctic fox are open tundras with hilly terrain. On sandy hills, high watersheds and coastal terraces, it digs holes that represent complex underground labyrinths with many entrance holes. There are few suitable places for building holes in the tundra, so arctic foxes use them from year to year, sometimes for 15-20 years in a row, and counting intermittently for hundreds and even thousands of years, expanding and improving their homes, so that some hills are completely dug up connecting passages with many (up to 60-80) inputs, of which 10-12 are used. In such vast towns, 2-3 families can live at the same time. However, usually residential burrows are located no closer than 200 m from one another. On soil discharges near burrows, fertilized with food remains and excretions of animals, a variety of herbaceous vegetation develops, standing out as bright greenery among the general dull background of the tundra landscape. In winter, the arctic fox is often content with a simple den in the snow, and during snowstorms and severe frosts, it digs a hole in a snowdrift and sometimes does not leave it for several days in a row.

The Arctic fox eats a wide variety of foods. For the territory of the USSR alone, it has been established that arctic foxes eat 125 species of animals and 25 species of plants. However, for mainland Arctic foxes, the basis of existence is lemmings, the abundance and availability of which determine the number, distribution, sedentary behavior and other features of the predator’s ecology.

The breeding season for Arctic foxes begins in April. As a rule, these animals are monogamous, although sometimes (especially on the Commander Islands) cases of polygamy are observed. 1-2 males run after the female. The female's estrus lasts 4-5 days. With an abundance of food and good nutrition of the animals, the rut proceeds smoothly, most of the females bear offspring, so sometimes there are not even enough holes and some are forced to whelp right on the surface of the earth, under the protection of grass and bushes. Pregnancy 49-56 days. 1-2 weeks before giving birth, the female looks for a hole and begins to clean and renew it. Mass appearance of puppies in May - June, but sometimes in April and July. Arctic foxes are very fertile. On average they give birth to 8-9 cubs. In favorable years, there are up to 22-24 embryos in the uterus, and up to 20 puppies in the burrows.

It must, however, be borne in mind that females often raise several offspring, and in large burrows two families can unite, and then in one such colony there are up to 40 or more young animals.

Arctic fox cubs grow and develop quickly (faster than fox cubs). They can reproduce as early as the next year, although they reach full development only in the second year.

Living conditions in the tundra are very harsh. Although arctic foxes are perfectly adapted to them, in some years they find themselves in a very difficult situation. Periods of sharp decline in the number of lemmings, when predators are deprived of their main food, have a particularly detrimental effect on arctic foxes. These depressions recur quite regularly after several years and almost invariably entail a corresponding drop in the number of Arctic foxes over large areas. Migration has a great influence on the size of local Arctic fox populations. Every autumn, many animals inhabiting the tundra of north-eastern Europe and Asia head along the sea coasts and rivers to the south, concentrating in many hundreds and thousands in some areas lying on their way. In spring, Arctic foxes gradually return. During famine years, these migrations take on a particularly massive scale. If Arctic foxes usually descend to the south several hundred kilometers, then, as the results of tagging have shown, sometimes they find themselves thousands of kilometers from “home.” For example, one arctic fox, ringed in Taimyr, was caught in Alaska, i.e., about 5000 km away. Of course, many of these nomadic animals die.

Among arctic foxes, especially if they are weak from hunger, an epizootic of feralization - viral arctic encephalitis of animals - often breaks out.

In the tundra, the arctic fox serves as the main object of the fur trade.

In the sandy deserts of North Africa, the Sinai and Arabian Peninsulas lives a surprisingly unique, miniature fox from the genus Fennec (Fennecus) - fennec(F. zerda).

The weight of the animal is only 1.5 kg. Its body length does not exceed 41 cm, height - 31 cm, while its ears reach 15 cm or more. The fennec's coat is delicate, long, reddish-cream, fawn or almost white on top, white below; The tip of the fluffy tail is black.

Fenech does not tolerate prolonged direct sunlight and therefore spends the day in a hole, and at night it displays great agility and the ability to jump high and far. In case of danger, it instantly buries itself in the sand. Huge ears allow him to catch the slightest rustle made by his victims. The fennec fox feeds on small rodents, birds and their eggs, lizards, insects (in particular, locusts), carrion, and plants. When necessary, he digs up prey from the sand. It drinks water willingly, but apparently can go without it for a long time, since it is often found far from watering places. In March - April, after a pregnancy lasting 50-51 days, the female gives birth to 2 - 5 cubs in a burrow with a nesting chamber lined with grass, feathers and wool.

Of great interest are the characteristic American fauna gray foxes(species: Urocyon cinereoargenteus li U. littoralis). In appearance, they resemble ordinary foxes, but only with a shorter muzzle and ears.

The upper part of the body, head and tail are gray, with a black tint, condensing on the ridge and tail into a black belt. A rusty color is developed on the sides of the head, neck and body, and the entire bottom is white. The first of the species mentioned is larger; its body length is 53-69 cm, its tail is 28-45 cm, its weight is up to 7 kg.

The typical gray fox is distributed from the US-Canada border all the way to Panama. The second species mentioned inhabits some of the islands of California. Gray foxes live only where there are trees. They are the only representatives of the canine family that can climb trees well. In some places they are even called tree foxes. They freely climb up the trunk to the crown, walk along the branches, rest there, hide from persecution, and, on occasion, destroy the nests of squirrels and birds. However, the main shelters for gray foxes are holes, crevices among stones and rocks, caves, and hollows in fallen trees.

These predators hunt mainly at night. They feed on all kinds of small animals, birds, insects, and sometimes carry chickens. More than other types of foxes, they have a penchant for plant foods, so sometimes fruits and green parts of plants even predominate in their diet.

After 63 days of pregnancy, the female brings up to 7 puppies covered with black fur in the spring. After a month and a half, they begin to eat regular food, and in late summer or early autumn they begin to live independently, while their parents continue to live together.

In the forests of Southeast Asia, an animal from the genus Nyctereutes, original in appearance and ecology, is quite widespread - raccoon dog(N. procyonoides), usually called the Ussuri raccoon by our hunters. Judging by the color of the muzzle and some structural features of the skull, this predator really looks like the American striped raccoon. A raccoon dog of medium size, with a stocky body on thin short legs, a rather short tail, a small sharp muzzle, and pointed ears. The winter coat is extremely long, dense, but coarse; Tanks are developed on the sides of the head. The general color tone is dirty grayish-brown with a black coating. A dark pattern in the form of a mask, like that of a striped raccoon, is clearly visible on the face.

The natural range of the raccoon dog within the USSR is very small. It occupies only the Ussuri region and the southern part of the Amur region. Basically, it inhabits the forest areas of North-Eastern Indochina, China, some Japanese islands and the Korean Peninsula. Since 1934, the raccoon dog has been released several times in the European part of the USSR. Here it acclimatized well and populated a vast area from Karelia to the Caucasus, and then penetrated into Finland, Sweden, Poland, Romania, Czechoslovakia, the GDR and the Federal Republic of Germany. Similar experiments in the Asian part of the USSR did not bring success, although in some places in Central Asia, Kazakhstan and Siberia raccoon dogs have taken root in small numbers.

From a biological point of view, the experience of acclimatization of a raccoon dog is of great interest.

The raccoon dog’s shelters are usually holes that belonged to badgers, foxes or dug themselves, as well as niches among roots, rock crevices, etc. Such shelters are located in remote, overgrown ravines, on hillsides, often close to roads and villages. In areas of former military operations, raccoons often settle in old dugouts and trenches. In peat bogs, residential nests were found in piles of peat, heaps of cut down trees and bushes. In a word, the raccoon dog is unpretentious when choosing housing.

She is also very indiscriminate when it comes to food. In essence, the raccoon dog eats any living creature that it finds while snooping around its grounds. However, the most important role is played by mouse-like rodents, and only then by birds, their eggs, frogs and some reptiles, insects, mollusks, dead fish, carrion, etc. Berries, fruits, grains of oats and other crops are used in large quantities.

The raccoon dog is active mainly at dusk and at night, but is often seen during the day. During one hunt in the warm season, she sometimes travels up to 10-12 km, while in winter it is only a few hundred meters. Unlike a fox, a raccoon dog usually does not walk in a straight line, but every now and then turns to the side, slowly exploring all sorts of secluded places where there is hope of profiting from something. She often wanders through shallow waters off the shores of forest reservoirs. The predator gets very stuck in the snow and plows through it with its belly and short paws. When caught by a person or a dog, he prefers not to fight, but to hide, squeal, etc., so even an ordinary mongrel can quickly deal with him.

An unusual property of the raccoon dog among the canines is hibernation. In the fall, she fattens heavily, so that her weight increases by 2 g or more. During warm winters in its homeland and in some southern areas of acclimatization, the raccoon dog stays awake all winter, staying in the shelter only on days of severe frosts and snowstorms. In the Far East, during severe winters, and in the North every year from December - January to February - early March, animals fall into a sleepy state, but come out during thaws. They do not have real hibernation, but still the metabolic rate decreases by about 25%, which makes it easier to live on internal fat resources.

Raccoon dogs are monogamous. They form pairs in October - November, and therefore the rut in February - April is usually paired, rarely accompanied by fights between males. The female's estrus lasts no more than 6 days, but repeats after 20-24 days. Pregnancy on average lasts 59 days, but sometimes it lasts up to 70 days, and according to some reports, even up to 79 days. Pupping usually occurs in May, occasionally in April or, conversely, in June. It happened that newborn cubs were found even in September. On average there are 6-7 of them, sometimes up to 16. Fertility varies greatly depending on the fatness of the animals and weather conditions.

Many raccoon dogs are destroyed by wolves, as well as lynx, fox, and stray dogs. Epizootics of piroplasmosis produce massive devastation. There are known cases of rabies. High, prolonged spring floods can cause great damage to the population of raccoon dogs in floodplains, especially if it occurred while raising broods in burrows.

The raccoon dog belongs to the fur-bearing animals.

However, her fur is coarse and not very beautiful, but durable. In areas of mass acclimatization of this predator, significantly more than half of its total catch is caught. Due to low profitability, raccoon dogs are not bred on state fur farms.

In South America, peculiar wild dogs of the genus Dusicyon, numbering 6 or even 8 species, are widespread. With a long, pointed head with large ears, as well as a long bushy tail, they resemble a fox, but in body structure and tall slender legs they are more like a small coyote. They reach a length of 60-100 cm, a tail of 30-35 cm. Thick long fur on the body is reddish, brownish or blackish with a yellow tint, and on the head and neck it is red.

Some of these animals inhabit flat, open plains, others hilly forests, and some inhabit the slopes of the Andes up to an altitude of 4000 m above sea level. Here they find refuge among rocks, in the cavities of tree roots or in burrows of viscachas. They are usually active at night, but are often observed during the day.

All these predators are omnivores, feeding on rodents, rabbits, birds, including domestic birds, locusts and other insects, frogs, lizards, as well as fruits, sugar cane, etc.

In spring (October - November) they give birth to 3-6 young. Both parents participate in their upbringing, and the female selflessly protects the puppies from enemies. At 2-3 months, young predators begin to hunt with adults.

Belonging to the genus Cerdocyon savannah fox, or maikong(C. thous), very similar to the common fox. Its body is 60-70 cm long, its tail is about 30 cm. The color of the short fur is very variable in individual individuals, but in most cases it is pale gray or brownish, often with a yellow tint. The tips of the ears are black.

The Maikong inhabits the open, wooded and grassy plains of South America from northern Argentina to Colombia and Venezuela. It feeds on small rodents, insects (mostly Orthoptera), lizards, frogs, crabs, and birds. Plant foods play an important role: figs, bananas, mangoes, berries, etc. Some animals specifically look for turtle eggs and sometimes kidnap chickens and ducks. The maikong is often called the crabeater fox. However, it does not eat crustaceans more often than many other animals. Maikongs hunt at night, alone or in pairs.

The biology of reproduction has not been sufficiently studied. Pregnant females were caught in April and August, blind cubs were found in September. In captivity, cubs were born in March and August. There are only 2-5 puppies in a litter.

The Savannah fox is highly tamed. Its skins are valued cheaply. During the dry season of the year, it sometimes becomes a source of rabies.

The South American representative of the genus Chrysocyon has an unusually original appearance. maned wolf, or guara, agua rachai(S. brachyurus). It looks like an ordinary fox, but only with extremely long, slender legs. Thanks to the elongated muzzle and elongated neck, its body appears short. The disproportion of the body is emphasized by large erect ears and a short tail. This is also evidenced by its dimensions: body length is approximately 125 cm, tail is about 30 cm, shoulder height is up to 75 cm, weight is 20-23 kg. The color of the long, rather soft coat is also original: in general it is yellowish-red, but the legs and underside are much darker, almost black, while the tail is very light, towards the end white. The fur on the upper side of the neck and withers has the appearance of a standing mane.

The maned wolf is common in Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Uruguay, and Northern Argentina. Here it is found in the pampas and along the edges of swamps covered with tall grass. Under these conditions, long legs are very necessary for aguara tea; they help to look at prey over the tall grass. The animal hunts mainly small animals: agouti, pacu, as well as birds, reptiles, insects; eats fruits and other plant foods; sometimes carries poultry and very rarely, in a group, attacks sheep. Cubs are born in winter. There are only 2-3 of them, almost black in color, with a white tip of the tail.

The next subfamily of canids (Simiocyoninae) includes only 3 genera with one species in each. In appearance, animals of these genera are very different, but in the structure of the dental system and some anatomical features they are similar.

bush dog(Speothos venaticus) from South and Central America has the smallest number of teeth among canines - only 40, and sometimes even 38. In terms of body structure, it partly resembles a badger, but is not so massive and stocky, partly similar to a small mongrel. Its body is 58-75 cm long, its tail is 13-15 cm, and its weight is 5-7 kg. Her body is not too elongated, thick. The head is large, with a short, blunt muzzle, short, as if chopped off ears, and rather large eyes. The tail is not fluffy, but has long hair. The coat is long, smooth, hard, colored a uniform dark brown, almost black color, only the head and shoulders are brownish-yellow.

The bush dog inhabits the forests and savannas of Central and South America. It is perfectly adapted to life in dense thickets along the banks of rivers and freely makes its way through their thicket. In addition, bush dogs are excellent swimmers, dives and sometimes even catch capybaras in the water. These dogs hunt at night, usually in a whole group of up to 10 individuals, destroying all small animals they meet along the way. They swallow meat without chewing, which is functionally associated with a decrease in the number of molars and poor development of the remaining ones.

Belongs to the same subfamily red wolf(Guon alpinus). This is a fairly large animal with a body length of 76-103 cm and a tail of 28-48 cm, and a weight of 14-21 kg. Its appearance combines the characteristics of a wolf, fox and jackal.

This impression is facilitated by thick long hair, a long fluffy tail, a relatively narrow muzzle, and large ears. The general color tone is red, varying greatly among individual individuals and in different parts of the range. This variability, combined with a wide distribution, led to the description of a number of local forms, which at one time were considered independent species, but in fact are subspecies. The red wolf is well distinguished from other genera of the canine family by its reduced number of molars (2 in each half of the jaw) and a large number of nipples (6-7 pairs).

The red wolf is found in small numbers in the mountains of the Far East, Western Sayan, and Central Asia. The main part of the range is in the mountainous forest regions of Central and South Asia, including Indochina, the Malacca Peninsula, the islands of Sumatra and Java.

Almost everywhere, the red wolf lives mainly in the mountains, rising to the alpine zone. In the southern part of its range it gravitates towards forests. It often makes seasonal migrations, sometimes appearing in landscapes unusual for it - forest-steppe, steppe and even deserts.

The red wolf is a typical predator. He hunts mainly during the day, tirelessly pursuing his victims. Outside the breeding season, it lives in flocks, sometimes numbering dozens of individuals. Obviously, such groups unite a number of families or animals of several generations. They feed mainly on various wild ungulates. It is also known that these predators regularly eat plant foods in the summer.

The biology of reproduction has not been sufficiently studied. Red wolves are strict monogamists; their males participate in protecting and raising the young. In zoos, animals mate in January - February; puppies in April (after a 62-64-day pregnancy), bringing 5-9 cubs. In India, young ones are found throughout the year, but more often in January - February.

Newborn puppies are covered with short, dark brown fur. Their teeth erupt on the 14th day. At six months of age, puppies reach adult weight. Their shelters are usually rock crevices, caves and niches in the slopes, since red wolves almost never dig holes.

The closest relative of the red wolf is considered to be the African wild dog(Lycaon pictus), although they are not at all similar in appearance. This is a predator the size of a wolf. Its body length is 76-102 cm, tail - 31-41 cm, shoulder height is about 60 cm, weight - 16-23 kg. In appearance, the hyena-like dog is a slender, strongly built animal with a lean body, long strong legs, and a rather long tail. The relatively large head has powerful jaws armed with sharp teeth. Large oval ears give the animal a resemblance to a hyena. The bright, spotted color of the short, coarse fur is unusual. None of the family members have anything like this. Irregularly shaped spots of yellow, black and white are scattered across the general dark brown background.

This colorful pattern is not repeated in any of the individuals. Sometimes among them there are completely black ones.

The wild dog is widely distributed south of the Sahara, from sea level to the forest tops in the mountains. It is most characteristic of the savannah with its abundance of ungulates, which serve as the main prey for this ferocious and tireless predator. Packs of wild dogs of up to 40-60 or more heads are active at any time of the day. They chase a variety of antelopes, including large saberhorns. They overtake a medium-sized animal in about a quarter of an hour; they persistently pursue a larger animal until it is completely exhausted. At the same time, predators replace each other, running across each other until they reach the goal. Of course, the sick, crippled and old individuals die first, so wild dogs perform approximately the same selective role as polar wolves in the Alaskan tundra. The gluttony of dogs forces them to wander often and far in search of areas rich in game. With a lack of large game, they are forced to make do with cane rats and other animals, as well as birds. The departure of wild dogs to hunt becomes known by the loud, rather melodious cry of “ho-ho!”, which the animals exchange among themselves. In addition, they produce a sharp, angry bark and, like monkeys, a special chirping sound.

Around March, the pack breaks up due to the beginning of the breeding season. Pregnancy in wild dogs lasts from 63 to 80 days. Females give birth in burrows located in bushes near a watering hole, often close to one another, like a colony. There are 6 - 8 cubs in the brood. The female early begins to feed them with regurgitated meat, and relatively soon the young animals begin hunting together with the adults. They live 9-10 years.

The main enemies of wild dogs are hyenas and lions. They are not very afraid of people, but gradually disappear from populated areas, where they are exterminated by hunters.

The subfamily Otocyoninae includes only one genus and species - African big-eared fox(Otocyon megalotis). It got its name because of its huge ears, 11-14 cm high and also very wide.

They seem all the more large because the animal itself is of medium size: body length 46-58 cm. Apart from the ears, the rest of the big-eared fox is very similar to an ordinary fox. It is mostly yellowish-brown or yellow in color, except for the black paws, tips of the ears and tail. A remarkable feature of the species is the dental system, numbering 48 teeth, including 4 premolars and 4 molars in each half of the jaw. This is the maximum amount for terrestrial placental mammals.

The bat-eared fox lives in deserts. Previously, it was very widespread in East and Southern Africa, but is now severely exterminated and in many areas is close to complete extinction. This is facilitated by the fact that the big-eared fox does not avoid human proximity, is very curious and careless. Being primarily a nocturnal animal, it is often observed during the day, wandering alone, in pairs, or in groups of up to 6 individuals. The bat-eared fox feeds mainly on termites and other insects, as well as fruits, bulbs, small animals, and sometimes carrion. She almost never attacks domestic animals. The gestation period is 60-70 days. Cubs (2-5) appear most often from December to April, but often in other months of the year.

Animal life

Family (lat. familia, plural familiae) is one of the main ranks of hierarchical classification in biological systematics. In the hierarchy of systematic categories, the family is below the order (order) and above the tribe and genus. Examples: butterfly... ... Wikipedia

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Or canids (Canidale), a family of the order of predatory mammals (Carnivora), allocated to a special department (Cynoidea), which occupies an intermediate place in the order between cats (Aeluroidea) and bears (Arctoidea) in the structure of the auditory bladder and ... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Ephron

Canidae (Canidae), a family of mammals in the order Carnivora. Body length from 50 cm (small foxes) to 160 cm (wolf). The head is elongated, the muzzle is sharp, the ears are erect; the tail is long and fluffy. There are 5 toes on the front paws, 4 on the hind paws; claws... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

- (canids, canines), a family of mammals from the order Carnivora. Body length 0.4 1.6 m. 11 genera (about 35 species), including maned wolves, red wolves, arctic foxes, raccoon dogs, fennec dogs (all have 1 species), wolves, foxes, etc. Distributed... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary

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Canidae Red wolf (Cuon alpinus) Scientific classification Kingdom: Animals Type ... Wikipedia

Canine family(Canidae) consists of 10 genera, which unite 35 species. Distributed throughout the world, with the exception of some areas (for example, Madagascar, New Zealand), where only the domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) was brought by humans.

The evolution of canids went in the direction of improving the pursuit of prey on flat terrain, as evidenced by their anatomy. Although representatives of 35 species belonging to 10 genera range in size from the tiny fennec fox to the large gray wolf, most of them have a similar structure - a strong and flexible body, a long bushy tail, long limbs. Canids are digitally walking animals; their hind legs are four-toed; non-retractable claws. The only exception is the bush dog, which has a squat body with relatively short limbs. The smallest of the canids, the fennec, lives in arid zones that are poor in food resources, while the largest (and wolves) live in places where there is plenty of prey.

Canids arose in North America in the Eocene (55-34 million years ago); Five fossil genera were discovered in sediments of that time. Two forms of ancient canids - Hesperocyon from North America and Cynodictis from Europe - resembled civets in structural details. With an elongated body and relatively short legs, they were similar to Miacoidea, from which all carnivores descend. The evolutionary flowering of the family coincided with the end of the formation of all the characters of modern canids: in the Oligochain (34-24 million years ago) there were 19 genera, and in the Miocene (24-5 million years ago) - 42 genera.

The ridge of the carnassial tooth in most canids has two apices, but in the bush dog, hyena dog and red wolf it has only one. Species within the three largest genera Canis, Vulpes and Disicyon are quite similar to each other, and differences between genera may also be small. The most specific external characteristics are those of the hyena dog, bush dog, bat-eared fox, raccoon dog, red wolf, maned wolf, and arctic fox. All of them belong to monotypic genera.

Life in a pack

The most amazing feature of canines is their flexible and adaptive behavior. This is most noticeable in the complexity of their social organization. As for food preferences, intraspecific variability is not inferior to interspecific variability. Hyena dogs, and possibly dholes and bush dogs, hunt large prey in packs, pairs, or family groups. Gray wolves, coyotes and jackals do the same thing: but they eat everything - from the meat of freshly hunted animals and carrion to berries. This is probably why their lifestyle varies from solitary to gregarious. Thus, depending on the predominance of a particular type of food, gray wolves can live in isolated monogamous pairs or in packs of up to 20 individuals.

In general, canids, even such as arctic foxes and foxes, prefer to stay in groups, even if they hunt alone. This is explained by a lot of reasons: joint defense of territories or large carcasses, care for cubs, competition with neighbors. This is clearly shown for the Ethiopian jackal, which lives in packs but almost never hunts cooperatively.

Canids are endangered

Despite their high ability to adapt, representatives of the canine family can be very vulnerable when their usual biotopes are destroyed. The short-eared fox and bush dog are apparently so rare that there is concern for their future. The number of the Ethiopian jackal is less than 500 individuals, the hyena dogs are about 3000-5500, and the maned wolf from the Brazilian and Argentine pampas is only 1000-2000 animals. All these species are endangered. The situation of highly socialized canines is especially deplorable, since they are victims of the so-called Ollie effect: if their numbers are low, they are doomed to extinction. The life of hyena dogs depends on successful hunting in conditions of close interaction of individuals in a large pack. Therefore, packs consisting of less than 5 members fall into decline: animals cannot simultaneously hunt, protect prey from other predators and take care of their cubs. Despite numbering 3,000 individuals, hyena dogs are more endangered than previously named species, with there being no more than 600 viable packs on the African continent.

Skulls and teeth

Canids have long snouts and well-developed jaws; They are characterized by a dental formula of I 3/3, C 1/1, P 4/4, M 2/3 = 42 (an example is the gray wolf). Three species evade this type: the big-eared fox (48 teeth), the red wolf (40) and the bush dog (38). The cutting carnassial teeth (P4/M1) and the grinding molars are well developed; these are the largest teeth (with the exception of the big-eared fox).

Domestication (domestication) of canids

Various hypotheses have been put forward regarding the origins of the domestic dog; At the same time, it was not excluded that at different times more than one species of canid was domesticated to one degree or another. Even if this is true, the wolf is considered the most likely ancestor of the modern domestic dog. The domestic dog is scientifically known as a subspecies of the wolf, Canis lupus familiaris. The earliest archaeological evidence supporting the existence of the domestic dog some 14,000 years ago is found in Germany: a single jaw. Compared to the wolf, it is shortened, with compactly spaced teeth. Other early remains, over 11,000 years old, believed to belong to domestic dogs, are known from Kun in Iran. These discoveries show that the wolf became man's first companion, ahead of other animal species, even before man began to cultivate food plants. In fact, recent molecular evidence has confirmed that dogs were domesticated more than 10,000 years ago.

How domestication took place is not entirely clear, which has been the subject of all sorts of speculation. Various theories have been put forward regarding the use of wolves by our ancestors: for hunting, home guarding, disposal of food scraps and waste around settlements, and in times of famine - even as food. Perhaps domestication occurred by accident: the tribe’s hunters brought wolf cubs, released them at the site of their camp, and raised them simply as pets.

The Chihuahua is a breed of domestic dog from Mexico that was bred by the Aztecs before the Spanish colonization in 1519.

The dog has accompanied man for more than 36,000 years. We evolved together with this pet, sharing our food and shelter with it. But not all animals belonging to the canine family are as beneficial to humans. Among the variety of species, there are both small and cute and life-threatening to people.

Canine family: representatives

Chromosomal analysis assigns the following phylogenetic divisions to the representatives of the family:

1. Wolf(dogs, jackal, red, gray, eastern wolves, etc.);
2. Foxes(red fox, arctic fox, fennec fox, etc.);
3. South American canids(Brazilian fox, bush dog, maikong, maned wolf);
4. All kinds of monotypic taxa(raccoon dog, as well as bat-eared and gray foxes).

All members of the family are predators. The first species appeared about 43 million years ago. About 11.9 million years ago, a branching into foxes and dogs occurred.

During evolution, two subfamilies became extinct - hesperocyonous and borophagous.

To date, a total of 34 species are known. Their wild varieties live on all continents except Antarctica. The habitat is varied, including deserts, mountains, forests and grasslands.

The size ranges from 24 cm (fennec) to 160 cm (gray wolf) in length.

They are distinguished by high intelligence in comparison with other types of animals. They have long been domesticated by humans and occupy second place (after cats) in popularity as a pet.

Brief characteristics of species

Despite their large numbers and diversity, all species belonging to the family have a number of common features:

• They have a similar shape; only the relative length of the muzzle, limbs, ears and tail differs significantly from species to species;
• The cheekbones are wide and there is a lambdoid crest at the back of the skull. In some species, a median (sagittal) ridge runs from the forehead to the back of the head;
• The bony orbits around the eyes never form a complete ring;
• The paws of all species, without exception, are divided into fingers. In most cases, there are five fingers, with the last (thumb) not touching the ground when moving. The exception is the African hunting dog, which is four-toed;
• The nails are slightly curved, relatively blunt and never retracted;
• The pads on the soles of the feet are soft;
• The surface of the skin around the external openings of the nostrils is always bare;
• The tails are thick;
• The length and quality of the coat varies depending on the time of year;
• Newborn puppies are born blind, with their eyes opening a few weeks after birth;
• The number of teeth in most cases is 42.

Social behavior of canids

Almost all canines are social animals: they cannot imagine their lives without cooperation with representatives of their species. The laws of the pack have been studied by zoologists for a long time and do not constitute any secret:

• They live in the open air. They have a kennel or hole only to find shelter in bad weather or for breeding;
• Males and females form “family” pairs. Representatives of such a union go hunting together and raise their offspring together;
• However, some species live in large family groups. For example, for the African wild dog their number ranges from 20 to 40 individuals. With small quantities (less than seven), successful reproduction is impossible;
• There is a clearly structured hierarchy in the pack. The dominant representative (the strongest and most experienced) leads everyone else;
• The communication system is quite complex. Smell, visual cues, gestures, simple vocalization (barking, howling, growling) are used to transmit information;
• The flock lives only in its territory, which is marked with urine secretions. Representatives of other packs are subject to expulsion.

How does reproduction occur?

The reproductive qualities of canids are quite unique among mammals:

• Typically, these animals demonstrate monogamy (one partner to create a family) and long-term parental care for their offspring;
• In ovulated females who were unable to conceive, the phenomenon of imaginary pregnancy occurs (there are external symptoms in the absence of fertilization);
• The breeding period depends on the size of the animal: for large species it ranges from 60 to 65 days, for small and medium-sized species it ranges from 50 to 60;
• The time of year in which mating occurs depends on the length of daylight hours in a particular climate zone (this has been proven when individuals move across the equator). In domesticated dogs, estrus occurs much more often than in wild dogs: this is probably due to exposure to artificial lighting;
• The number of puppies varies from one to sixteen per female. They grow in a kennel dug in the ground. Helpless for a long time: it takes up to several years to become full-fledged members of the pack.

Foxes: the canine family

The genus of foxes is one of the most numerous in the canine family. It contains about 12 different species of foxes (all named after their habitat):

1. Arctic;
2. Indian (or Bengal);
3. American;
4. Stepnaya;
5. Afghan;
6. African;
7. Tibetan;
8. South African;
9. Sandy;
10. Fennec;
11. Dwarf agile;
12. Ordinary.

Among the characteristic features of the genus:

• The bone structure is similar to other relatives in the family. However, there are some differences: the limbs of canines are usually adapted for fast running, while foxes avoid sprinting behavior. They are better suited for sudden jumps and capturing prey. Therefore, the hind limbs are much more developed than the forelimbs;
• They are omnivorous. Invertebrates, small vertebrates and plants are most often preferred as food;
• They usually live in forests, but often get close to human habitations.

The dog, wolf, fox, jackal, coyote, and scribe belong to a family of species named after its most famous representative, the canids. Thanks to their unusual physical abilities, coupled with extraordinary animal intelligence, they conquered five of the six continents. Only man is able to cope with these unruly animals.

Video: complete list of animals from the canine family

In this video, Alina Denisova will show all the animals that are part of the canine family:

The canine family includes some of the most intelligent animals, living in a strictly subordinate hierarchy and mostly hunting in packs. These predators are fleet-footed, cunning and often fearless. Some of them are not afraid of humans or are easily tamed. They are real helpers in the fight against rodents and insects - the main pests of agricultural land, although sometimes they themselves harm livestock in search of food. In our Top 15 most beautiful representatives of the canine family, we tried to highlight the most remarkable and beautiful predators.

Coyote (prairie wolf)

A predatory mammal of the canine family. The name comes from the Aztec coyotl, "divine dog". The Latin name of the species means “barking dog.” The coyote is noticeably smaller in size than the common wolf, but its fur is longer than that of the wolf. The shape of the muzzle is more elongated and sharper than that of a wolf, and resembles a fox. Distributed in the New World, from Alaska to Panama. There are 19 subspecies. The coyote is characteristic of open plains, occupied by prairies and deserts. Rarely runs into forests. It is found both in deserted places and on the outskirts of large cities like Los Angeles. Easily adapts to anthropogenic landscapes. Attacks skunks, raccoons, ferrets, opossums and beavers; eats birds (pheasants), insects. In areas around large cities, domestic cats can make up up to 10% of a coyote's diet. The main enemies are the puma and the wolf. The coyote cannot tolerate the presence of the red fox, its food competitor, in its territory. Sometimes coyotes interbreed with domestic dogs, and occasionally with wolves.

Maikong

Carnivorous mammal; the only modern species of the genus. The generic name Cerdocyon is translated from Greek as “cunning dog”, and the specific epithet thous is “jackal”, since the maikong looks somewhat like a jackal. This is a medium-sized fox of a fawn-gray color with red markings on the legs, ears and face. Found in South America from Colombia and Venezuela to Uruguay and northern Argentina. Maikong inhabits mainly wooded and grassy plains, and is also found in mountainous areas during the rainy season. He prefers to hunt at night, alone, less often in pairs. Almost omnivorous. The maikong feeds on small rodents and marsupials, lizards, frogs, birds, fish, turtle eggs, insects, as well as crabs and other crustaceans (hence one of the names of the maikong is “crabeater fox”). Does not disdain carrion. They don’t dig their own holes, they occupy other people’s holes. Maikong is not a protected species. Its fur has no value; During drought, animals are shot as carriers of rabies.

Black-backed jackal

One of the species of the genus of wolves. The saddle-backed jackal is reddish-gray in color, but on the back of the individual the dark hair forms a kind of black saddle, stretching to the tail. This saddleback is a distinctive species characteristic that is inherited by all subspecies of the black-backed jackal. Individuals of this species are longer than the common gray wolf, but shorter. Found in South Africa and on the east coast of Africa from Nubia to the Cape of Good Hope. Throughout the entire length of its range, the jackal prefers places heavily overgrown with bushes and reed beds near water bodies. Omnivorous. This jackal is very trusting, easily gets used to people and can even become almost tame. The fur of the black-backed jackal is thick and soft; in South Africa, fur carpets (the so-called kaross) are sewn from the skins (dog) of the black-backed jackal.

Bush dog (savannah dog)

A predatory mammal of the canine family; the only species of the genus Speothos. It lives in forests and wet savannas of Central and South America. One of the most unusual dogs, because in appearance it resembles an otter or other semi-aquatic animal. Her physique is heavy, dense, her body is elongated, her limbs are short. Webbed feet. Despite its extensive range, the bush dog is very rare. Initially, it was considered an extinct species, since it was known only from fossilized remains found in Brazil. Most often it inhabits tropical rainforests and gallery forests, choosing the most sparse, open areas of the forest. Also found in savannas. Stays close to water. Bush dogs are nocturnal, spending the day in a hole that they dig themselves, or in a natural shelter. Sometimes they occupy the burrows of other animals (armadillos). Bush dogs are excellent swimmers and divers, which is generally uncharacteristic of canines. In flocks they can attack animals that are larger than themselves in mass - capybaras and rhea ostriches. The meat is swallowed without chewing, which is functionally associated with a decrease in the number of molars and poor development of the remaining ones. They are rare species; their population density is low. Listed in the International Red Book as a vulnerable species. They are not the object of hunting.

Red wolf (mountain wolf)

A predatory mammal of the canine family; the only species of the genus Cuon. A rare canine species that is endangered. His appearance combines the features of a wolf, fox and jackal. The red wolf differs from the ordinary wolf in color, fluffy fur and a longer tail that almost reaches the ground. Based on the variability of color, fur density and body size, 10 subspecies of the red wolf have been described, 2 of them are found in Russia. In Russia it was found mainly in the south of the Far East, where it probably entered from the adjacent territories of Mongolia and China. There is no reliable evidence that the species lives permanently within Russia today. The red wolf differs from other representatives of the canine family in its reduced number of molars (2 in each half of the jaw) and a large number of nipples (6-7 pairs). They have developed hearing, swim well and jump well - they are able to cover a distance of up to 6 m. Red wolves avoid people; In captivity they breed, but are not tamed. The red wolf is listed in the IUCN Red Book with the status of an endangered species, as well as in the Red Book of Russia.

Maned wolf

A predatory mammal of the canine family; the only representative of the genus Chrysocyon. The largest member of the canine family in South America, the maned wolf has a unique appearance. He looks more like a large fox on tall, slender legs than a wolf. Translated from Greek, its name means “short-tailed golden dog.” Despite their long limbs, they cannot be called good runners. They inhabit mainly open grassy and shrubby plains. They lead a nocturnal and twilight lifestyle; During the day they usually rest among dense vegetation, occasionally moving short distances. The diet contains food of animal and plant origin in almost equal proportions. It hunts mainly small animals: rodents (agouti, paca, tuco-tuco), rabbits, armadillos. It also eats birds and their eggs, reptiles, snails and insects; eats bananas, guavas and nightshade plants. The population density of the maned wolf is low: judging by research, 1 animal is found in approximately 300 km². However, the maned wolf is not an endangered species. They are also susceptible to diseases, particularly parvovirus infection (distemper). Despite the external resemblance to foxes, the maned wolf is not their close relative. In particular, it lacks the vertical pupil characteristic of foxes. Apparently, it is a relict species that survived the extinction of large South American canids at the end of the Pleistocene.

Hyena dog (wild dog)

A predatory mammal of the canid family, the only species of the genus Lycaon. Its scientific name means: Lycaon is translated from Greek as “wolf”, and pictus is translated from Latin as “painted”. Being the closest relative of the red wolf, the hyena-like dog is more reminiscent of a hyena - its physique is light and lean, its legs are high and strong, and its head is large. The ears are large, oval in shape, similar to the ears of a hyena. The jaws are powerful, the teeth (premolars) are larger than the teeth of other canines and are adapted for chewing bones. Due to the developed skin glands, the wild dog emits a very strong musky odor. This wild dog was once distributed throughout the African steppes and savannas of sub-Saharan Africa, from southern Algeria and Sudan to the extreme southern tip of the continent. Now its range has become mosaic; it is preserved mainly in national parks and in landscapes undeveloped by humans. It lives in savannas, shrubby heaths and mountainous areas. Not found in the jungle. It is most typical for savannas with their abundance of ungulates, which serve as the main prey for this predator. They live and hunt in packs. The main enemies of wild dogs are hyenas and lions. They are not very afraid of people, but gradually disappear from populated areas, where they are exterminated. The wild dog is included in the IUCN Red List as a threatened species.

Wild dog Dingo

Secondarily feral domestic dog, the only placental predator in the fauna of Australia before the arrival of Europeans. The name "dingo" originated early in the European colonization of New South Wales and is likely derived from "tingo", a term used by the Port Jackson Aboriginal people to describe their dogs. Judging by the fossil remains, dingoes were brought to Australia not by settlers (approximately 40,000-50,000 years ago), as previously thought, but by immigrants from Southeast Asia. The dingo is usually considered a subspecies of the domestic dog, but many experts consider it a completely independent species. It is believed that the dingo is an almost purebred descendant of the domesticated Indian wolf, which in the wild is now found on the Hindustan Peninsula and in Balochistan. Purebred dingoes do not bark, but are capable of growling and howling like a wolf. They are predominantly nocturnal animals. Their main habitats in Australia are the edges of wet forests, dry eucalyptus thickets, and arid semi-deserts inland. They make dens in caves, empty burrows, among the roots of trees, usually not far from water bodies. In Asia, dingoes stay close to human habitation and feed on garbage. Approximately 60% of the Australian dingo's diet consists of small mammals, in particular rabbits. They hunt kangaroos and wallabies; to a lesser extent they feed on birds, reptiles, insects and carrion. Initially, the attitude of settlers towards dingoes was tolerant, but the situation quickly changed in the 19th century, when sheep farming became an important sector of the Australian economy. Dingoes that hunted sheep were caught in traps, shot and poisoned. At the end of the 19th century, in New South Wales alone, farmers annually spent several tons of strychnine on fighting wild dogs. In some countries, keeping dingoes as pets is prohibited.

Corsac (steppe fox)

A predatory mammal of the genus of foxes of the canine family. Similar to the common fox, but noticeably smaller, with larger ears and high legs. The corsac differs from the common fox by the dark end of its tail, and from the Afghan fox by its shorter tail. Corsacs run very fast and are able to overtake a car. Distributed in steppes, semi-deserts and partly in the deserts of South-Eastern Europe and Asia. In Russia it is found: in the west - occasionally reaches the Don region and the North Caucasus. Has a good sense of smell, vision and hearing. The corsac feeds mainly on small rodents (voles, pieds, mice, jerboas), reptiles, insects, birds and their eggs. Less often it catches gophers, hedgehogs, and hares. When there is a lack of food, it eats carrion and all kinds of garbage. The main enemies are the wolf and the fox. Corsac is an object of the fur trade (winter skins are used). Beneficial in exterminating rodents. There are no exact data on the corsac population. The Corsac species is listed in the International Red Book.

Raccoon dog (Ussuri fox, Ussuri raccoon)

A predatory omnivorous mammal of the canine (canine) family. The animal is the size of a small dog. The natural habitat of the raccoon dog is the forest and mountain forest areas of Northeast Indochina, China, Japan and the Korean Peninsula. In Russia, it was originally found only in the Ussuri region and in the southern part of the Amur region. The raccoon dog's favorite habitats are wet meadows with swampy lowlands, overgrown floodplains and riverine forests with dense undergrowth. She is unpretentious in her choice of housing. Its shelters are usually the holes of badgers and foxes (often residential). Active at dusk and at night. According to the method of collecting food, it is a typical gatherer, exploring all kinds of secluded places in search of food. Omnivore. It feeds on animal and plant foods. It is worth noting that the raccoon dog is the only one of the canine family that, in case of danger, if possible, prefers not to fight, but to hide, pretending to be dead, which often helps it out. The only representative of the canine family that hibernates for the winter. Many raccoon dogs are destroyed by wolves, as well as lynxes and stray dogs. Sometimes she is a carrier of the rabies virus.

Common fox (red fox)

A predatory mammal of the canine family, the most common and largest species of the fox genus. Distributed very widely: throughout Europe, North Africa (Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, northern Tunisia), most of Asia (up to northern India, southern China and Indochina) , in North America from the Arctic zone to the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The fox was acclimatized in Australia and spread throughout the continent, with the exception of some northern regions with a humid subequatorial climate. Foxes inhabit all landscape and geographical zones, from the tundra and subarctic forests to the steppe and deserts, including mountain ranges in all climatic zones. Foxes living near hiking trails, boarding houses, in places where hunting is prohibited, quickly get used to the presence of humans, are easily fed and can beg. They are of great economic importance as a valuable fur-bearing animal, as well as a regulator of the number of rodents and insects. In southern Europe, wild foxes are the largest carrier of the rabies virus.

Big-eared fox

A predatory mammal of the canine family, the only species of the genus. The scientific name of this animal is translated from Greek as “big-eared big-eared dog.” Similar to an ordinary fox, but smaller and with disproportionately large ears. It is found in two regions of Africa: from Ethiopia and southern Sudan to Tanzania, and from southern Zambia and Angola to South Africa. This distribution is associated with the habitat of its main food - herbivorous termites. Inhabits arid lands - dry savannas and semi-deserts, sometimes close to human habitation. The diet consists mainly of insects and their larvae: 50% - termites, the rest - beetles and locusts; less than 10% are lizards, small rodents, and bird eggs. The big-eared fox is quite numerous, and there is even an expansion of its former range. The main threats to the number of eared foxes are hunting (its meat is edible and its fur is used by local residents).

Arctic fox (polar fox)

A predatory mammal of the canine family, the only representative of the arctic fox genus. A small predatory animal resembling a fox. The only representative of the canine family that is characterized by pronounced seasonal color dimorphism. Based on color, they distinguish between the ordinary white fox (pure white in winter, dirty brown in summer) and the blue fox. Distributed beyond the Arctic Circle, on the coast and islands of the Arctic Ocean, in the tundra and forest-tundra zones. In Russia, this is a typical representative of the fauna of the continental tundra and forest-tundra. On sandy hills and coastal terraces, it digs holes, complex underground labyrinths with many (up to 60-80) entrances. The Arctic fox is omnivorous; its food includes about 125 species of animals and 25 species of plants. However, it is based on small rodents, especially lemmings, as well as birds. It feeds on both beached and caught fish, as well as plant foods: berries (blueberries, cloudberries), herbs, algae (seaweed). Does not refuse carrion. The Arctic fox has well-developed hearing and sense of smell; somewhat weaker - vision. The arctic fox is pursued by larger predators. He is attacked by foxes, wolverines and wolves; young arctic foxes are grabbed by eagles and snowy owls. Young animals often die from helminthic infestations, adults - from encephalitis and rabies. An important game animal, it is a source of valuable fur; in the north it forms the basis of the fur trade. The skins of the blue fox, which is also the subject of cage breeding, are especially valued.

Wolf (gray wolf or common wolf)

A predatory mammal of the canine family. In addition, as shown by the results of DNA sequence studies and genetic drift, it is the direct ancestor of the domestic dog, which is usually considered a subspecies of the wolf. The wolf is the largest animal in its family. The wolf was once much more widespread in Eurasia and North America. In our time, its range and total number of animals have noticeably decreased, mainly as a result of human activity: changes in natural landscapes, urbanization and mass extermination. As one of the key predators, wolves play a very important role in the balance of ecosystems in biomes such as temperate forests, taiga, tundra, mountain systems and steppes. In total, there are approximately 32 subspecies of wolves, differing in size and shades of fur. It lives in a wide variety of landscapes, but prefers steppes, semi-deserts, tundra, forest-steppe, avoiding dense forests. Lives in flocks, settles in certain areas, the boundaries of which are indicated by odorous marks. The basis of wolves' diet is ungulates: in the tundra - reindeer; in the forest zone - elk, deer, roe deer, wild boars; in the steppes and deserts - antelopes. Wolves also attack domestic animals (sheep, cows, horses), including dogs. They are active mainly at night. The wolf harms livestock and hunting, but on the other hand, plays an important role in the ecosystem, controlling the number of animals and destroying weak and sick individuals. Wolf hunting is carried out all year round and without special permits. This is done in order to reduce the population of an animal that harms livestock production.

fennec

A miniature fox with a distinctive appearance that lives in the deserts of North Africa. Sometimes it is classified as a special genus, Fennecus. This animal got its name from the Arabic fanak, which means “fox”. The smallest member of the canine family, it is smaller in size than a domestic cat. The largest population of fennec cats is found in the central Sahara, although they are found from northern Morocco to the Sinai and Arabian Peninsulas, and as far south as Niger, Chad and Sudan. Inhabits sandy deserts, where it prefers to stay in thickets of grass and sparse bushes, which provide it with shelter and food. He lives in holes with a large number of secret passages, which he digs himself; leads a nocturnal lifestyle. They live in family groups, the number of individuals in which reaches up to 10. Fenech is omnivorous and digs most of its food from the sand and earth. Fenech feeds on small vertebrates, eggs, insects (including locusts), carrion, plant roots and fruits. Huge ears allow him to catch the slightest rustle made by his victims. It can go without water for a long time, obtaining liquid from meat, berries and leaves. Stocks food supplies. Fenech shows great agility and liveliness, the ability to jump high and far - up to 0.7 m up. Its protective coloring allows it to blend into the sandy landscape. The exact number of fennecs is unknown. They are hunted, killed for their fur, and captured and sold as pets.

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There are about 40 species of animals in the canine family - wolves, coyotes, jackals, foxes, arctic foxes, wild and domestic dogs. Almost all canines are dexterous and skilled hunters. They have an elongated snout with strong jaws, which are convenient for reaching the victim in the chase and inflicting numerous bites on it with sharp teeth until it falls from its wounds. For fast running, dogs acquired a strong body and long strong legs with powerful blunt claws.

Gray wolf

The common, or gray, wolf is the “face” of the canine family and the central species of a large genus of wolves. A large, strong and merciless predator, the wolf inhabits the entire northern part of the Earth's landmass, from the tundra of the Far North of Eurasia and North America to the Arabian deserts and Indian jungles. During the hungry winter, wolves gather in large packs to hunt large prey: elk, deer, wild boar. The pack is led by a leader - the strongest and most experienced wolf. In a pack, only the leader and his wife, a seasoned she-wolf, have offspring. The wolf cubs are fed by the whole pack. In the summer, when it is easier to get food, wolf packs often break up, and wolves live alone.

In a pack of wolves, the dominant male demonstrates his power by imitating a bite in the neck of a hierarchically inferior individual, who assumes a submissive pose. The group howl of wolves, accompanied by touching and wagging of tails, looks like a joyful event.

Wolves living in different conditions look different. Timber wolves, inhabitants of dense thickets, are darker colored than their counterparts from the southern deserts, which are hidden in the sand by light gray-beige fur. The largest wolves live in the tundra and on the eternal ice of the Arctic - polar wolves. Spending most of the year among the snow, these wolves turned white. In the summer in the tundra there is a lot of prey for wolves - these are small, mouse-like rodents, lemmings, hares, and geese flying to nesting grounds. But in winter, when everything is covered in ice and snow, packs of polar wolves go on long journeys in search of herds of reindeer or musk oxen. This is not an easy prey: deer have fast legs and are armed with strong hooves, musk oxen are slow, but strong, and they have sharp horns. The prey of wolves is often cubs that have strayed from the herd. But their parents also protect them, and only one out of 10 hunts for wolves is successful.

Jackals and coyotes

Jackals and coyotes are small relatives of wolves. Coyotes, or prairie wolves, live in the North American steppes and prairies, and jackals live in southern Eurasia and Africa. There are 4 types of jackals: common, black-backed, striped and the rarest Ethiopian. Jackals and coyotes do not form packs and do not hunt large prey; they live alone or in families.

Coyotes' main prey is gopher-like prairie dogs. Jackals prey on meerkats and deftly catch the birds, grabbing them in a jump. Both of them do not disdain carrion and waste and even go into cities to rummage through garbage dumps. Coyotes and jackals are not as vicious as wolves, and all disputes are resolved not in fights, but in noisy skirmishes. They are playful and engage in playful fights with each other and with their cubs, teaching them hunting techniques. Friendly and curious, jackals and coyotes are easily tamed.

There is an expression: “Cowardly as a jackal,” but is that true? Jackals often steal prey from large predators such as lions. Lions drive away thieves, and people, seeing how jackals run away from just one menacing roar, considered them cowardly. The jackal is weaker than the lion, which can kill with one blow of its paw. However, the jackal is cunning, dexterous and brave, and as soon as the vigilance of the lions weakens, he will again steal a piece of prey right from under the nose of the huge predator.

Dingo dog

Australia is separated from other continents by a large expanse of water, which is difficult for land animals to overcome. There, in isolation from the rest of the world, ancient marsupial animals, extinct on other continents, such as kangaroos, koalas, cuscus, and two marsupial predators survived: the marsupial wolf and the marsupial devil (the first was already extinct, the second survived only in Tasmania). Australia's only "modern" animal was the wild dog, the dingo. The dog in Australia seemed like an alien from another world, a creation of the future who accidentally ended up in the past - after all, in Australia, unlike the rest of the planet, time and evolution seemed to stand still.

How did dingoes end up in Australia? They were brought there as pets and hunting assistants by people - the first settlers of the mainland, the Australian Aborigines. They gave them the name - “dingo”. In Australia, dingoes found a paradise - it was full of defenseless marsupials that became easy prey. Marsupial predators did not compete with such perfect hunters as dogs. The dingoes that escaped from their owners went wild, multiplied and populated all of Australia. Dingoes had no enemies before Europeans arrived in Australia. Europeans began to raise sheep and rabbits in Australia. Dingoes have accepted pets as a pleasant addition to the menu of marsupials. In response to the extermination of sheep, people began to exterminate dingoes. But wild and multiplying rabbits, as well as new villages and cities with their abundant garbage dumps, gave the dingo a rich source of food. And no matter how much people killed dogs, they restored their numbers, quickly multiplying on good food.

Dingoes are found not only in Australia, but also on the islands of Southeast Asia, from where they were brought to Australia by the aborigines, as well as in Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and southern China. Dingoes live in packs of up to 12 dogs, led by a leader and his wife. Only this pair produces offspring, which are fed by all members of the flock. The flock occupies its hunting area and protects it from the invasion of neighbors. Dingoes living in cities eat garbage and catch rats and mice. In the wild, they prey on small kangaroos and other marsupials, causing damage to the nature of the mainland. But the basis of their diet is rabbits. By reducing the number of rabbits, which deprive marsupials of plant food, which is so scarce in arid Australia, dingoes provide a service to the local fauna.

Maned wolf

In the canine family there are animals that, although called wolves, do not belong to the genus wolves. This is an inhabitant of the South American steppes (pampas) - a maned wolf. Outwardly, he looks more like a large fox than a wolf: red fur, a sharp long muzzle, large ears. This animal has disproportionately high legs and long dark hair at the withers, forming a kind of mane. Stilt legs carry the maned wolf over the tall grasses of the pampas, and he looks out from above for prey: the South American large rodents agouti and pacu, birds, lizards, insects. Maned wolves eat a lot of fruits and roots, and occasionally, when there is no food, these loners unite to jointly hunt domestic sheep. Next to the maned wolves, in the thickets of bushes along the banks of the rivers, small animals called maikongs, similar to short-haired foxes, live. They live alone, in pairs and in small family groups. At night they go out to get crabs, fish, frogs, lizards, insects, and look for berries and fruits.