Canidae versus Feliforms: The Grey Wolf, Dog, and Hyena.

            The dog, is a great way of comparing homologous traits as well as those which are analogous. The dog, who have been domesticated by humans, are in fact one in the same as wolves! Specifically those traits which relate to instincts, temperament, and reactions. The wolf, formerly known as the gray wolf, is one of the largest and most far back traced member of the canidae family; the dog  is considered the domesticated version of the grey wolf. Additionally, Genetic drift studies, have confirmed that even domesticated dogs share a common gene pool with the gray wolf!

            According to recent research, reported by, Elaine Ostrander, in 2007, it is suggested that, "The dog has emerged as a premier species for the study of morphology, behavior and disease, due to the recent availability of a high- quality draft sequence, in which lifts the dogs system to a new threshold. Dogs, who originated from the wolf, or gray wolf, have very distinct genetic units which can be hierarchically divided into four groups." Evidence also suggested by Ostrander, in 2007, suggests that, “We review evidence showing that dogs have high levels of linkage disequilibrium. Consequently, given that dog breeds express specific phenotypic traits and vary in behavior and the incidence of genetic disease, genomic-wide scans for linkage disequilibrium may allow  Although dogs and wolfs may be very similar, Ostrander is suggesting that the behaviors in which they act upon are somewhat radically different. While a dog may be more dependent on survival, especially because of domestication, the wolf cannot stand to be domesticated.

            The common ancestor of the dog is the wolf or gray wolf. It is suggested by recent research that: in the structure of their body and brains suggests that they are common ancestors.  A graph, in which a couple similarities and differences presented, suggested by Orstrader, in 2007, Illustrates the similarities and differences in the grey wolf and dog, the differences in their behavior actually more stem from their domestication. For example, like wolves need other wolves, dogs need companionship as well, which is sought through their owners. However, due to different domestications and ways in which they survive creates their disposition in hunting, loneliness, and need for affection. Additionally, wolfs develop larger huskier, and with longer muzzles and faces, similar to the husky which is the first cousin to the wolf.

The Grey wolf

The Husky!

            According to, Diedrich, Cajus, in 2013, the hyena, which is a dog like animal, more so behaves like a feline or viverridaes, and compromise a family of small to average sized mammals which consist of 15 genra, subdivided into 38 species.

            Although hyenas are more so related to felines and cicerrids, hyenas are temperamentally and behaviorally more similar to canines; dogs and wolves. The following ways in which they are similar are that: both hyenas and canines are non-arboreal and hunters who catch prey with their teeth opposed to claws, more so like cats. Additionally, they both tend to eat food quickly and store it as well, along with the similarities in their feet: which are calloused, large, blunt, with nails that are non-retractable; made for running and sharp turns. An interesting difference found was that, the hyenas grooming, scent marking, defecating habits, mating, and parenting behavior, is most closely related to felines and filiforms.

         The felis cattus, which is the cat species, the common ancestor of hyenas, share many similar pursuits as do the canidae lupis family; the wolf and dog. Although these similarities are shared, we know that cats and dogs are very different. When we approach the situation at a surface level and compare, simply, the difference between cats and dogs, we are able to see the difference in how the approach hunting as well as in their behavior. While baring similarities, we see the differences in the hyena versus the dog and grey wolf, in their behavioral patterns more so then their hunting patterns. Additionally, we know they are analogously related because of their similarities in their physical structure and hunting disposition, the difference being their common ancestor; the cat opposed to the dog family, formerly referred to as the Felis catus Linnaeus family and the canidae lupis family.

   

 The Grey wolf

            

The Husky         

 The Hyena

References

Diedrich, Cajus G. "Extinctions of Late Ice Age Cave Bears as a Result of Climate/Habitat Change and Large Carnivore Lion/Hyena/Wolf Predation Stress in Europe." ISRN Zoology 2013 (2013).

Ostrander, Elaine. "The Canine Genome." The Canine Genome. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1 Jan. 2007. Web. <http://genome.cshlp.org/content/15/12/1706.long>.