ILLUSTRATIONS: Alexandre Jubran
No, he didn’t come from the wolf! Check the cladogram of canis familiaris and learn how a prehistoric creature became your best friend. But beware: the evolutionary tree of dogs is still very inexact. This flowchart brings together information from several surveys, which do not always agree with each other.
1) MILLENNIAL GREAT-GREAT-GRANDFATHER
WHEN – 9 million years ago
Ancestor of the wolf, dog and coyote, the Eucyon («true dog» in Greek) was a genus of about ten species that lived in the Northern Hemisphere. They measured from 40 cm to 1 m and weighed about 9 kg. Eucyon lived in competition with larger predators, but had a great ability to adapt to climate change. Man only appeared 8 million years later
2) HOWL OF EVOLUTION
WHEN – 1 million years ago
Until 2014, dogs were believed to be descended from the gray wolf (Canis lupus). On a genetic level, the difference between dog and wolf is less than 1%. But one study found that the two animals actually share an unknown common ancestor. Science is now racing to find out what it is. Today, the world’s population of dogs far exceeds that of wolves, which were once at risk of extinction.
3) THE SORRY DOG COMES BACK
WHEN – 18.8 thousand years ago
According to a recent study, it was at this time that humans began to live with dogs and this would be the determining factor for the emergence of the dog as we know it today (Canis familiaris). Dogs began to approach man (still a nomad, hunter and gatherer) and, under his protection, they gained more chances of surviving. Humans, on the other hand, began to use canine abilities to their advantage.
4) SNOW PREDATORS
WHEN – From 5 to 2 thousand years ago
DNA analysis confirms that the Siberian husky is one of the oldest known breeds. It belongs to the spitz group, characterized by its long, thick and usually white fur. The exact origin of the spitz is unknown, but it is believed that they originate from the Arctic or Siberia. It’s the closest canine group to wolves – it’s likely they even crossed with them.
5) EQUAL BUT DIFFERENT
WHEN – 4 thousand years ago
It was the beginning of the natural development of dog breeds, such as the greyhound and the mastiff, which developed specific skills to survive the various terrestrial environments. Dogs have specialized in diverse activities such as hunting, fetching prey, digging and/or swimming. In Egypt, the dog is represented in temples and tombs and, in Rome, some species become pets.
6) GRAZING DOG
WHEN – 2 thousand years ago
Shepherd dogs are mentioned in the works of Aristotle and Virgil and are recorded in Roman documents from 150 BC Researchers and scientists believe that most shepherd breeds are descendants of the extinct molossus, a breed that also gave rise to several others, such as the rottweiler, Great Dane and mastiff. Today, the border collie is the most used for the activity
7) HUMAN INTERFERENCE
WHEN – 1600 years ago
Selective breeding became common practice in the Middle Ages (between the 5th and 15th centuries). Aristocrats considered it a sign of prestige to keep groups of dogs specially bred to hunt a specific type of prey. The concept of breed used today only appeared in the mid-19th century, when dogs were no longer bred for activities and began to be admired and valued for their beauty.
8) THIS DOG IS A TEN
WHEN – 100 years ago
Founded in 1911, the International Cynological Federation divided the breeds into ten official groups, separated according to function, physical type and history. They are: shepherds, terriers, bloodhounds, retrievers, companion dogs, greyhounds, daschunds, spitz, pinschers/schnauzers and pointing dogs. An 11th unofficial group brings together mutts and other patterns not yet recognized
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