What species are dogs? Canidae Who belongs to the canine family

Representatives of the wolf family include more than 30 species of predatory animals, famous among which are: wolves And foxes. This family also includes domestic dogs .

Characteristic features of wolves

Body structure. The height at the withers ranges from 30-35 cm in length to 100 cm in a wolf. The differences appeared as a result of adaptation to different living conditions.

Communication. The function of means of communication in wolves is performed by smells, sounds, facial expressions and body postures. Many animals are characterized by a hierarchical pack organization. Discipline in the group is maintained through a strict distribution of roles. One of the laws of a pack is that it must have a leader. The domestic dog considers people to be its gang. Various species of wolves differ in the sounds they use to communicate - from barely audible whining and barking to loud howls.

Paws: have leather pads. The claws are not retractable, used for pushing away during movement and as a tool for digging the ground.
Forepaw: five-fingered, one reduced toe is located higher than the others and does not touch the ground during movement.
Hind foot: four-toed.
Dental system: most carnivores of the genus have small incisors and long, sharp fangs. Molars are used for chewing, fangs with sharp tips are used for tearing meat and gnawing bones. Arranged this way dental system Provides good grinding of a variety of foods.
Sense of smell: well developed, especially in some species. It is twice as good as a human's. The sense of smell plays a very important role in hunting, when choosing a partner, distinguishing pack members and territory boundaries.
Hearing: very sensitive, perceives even high-frequency sounds. The ears of wolves turn towards the source of sound, and in desert animals they also perform the function of thermoregulation.
Vision: acute, but inferior in effectiveness to hearing. Scientists have proven that dogs can distinguish certain colors. The white of the eyes in wolf eyes is usually covered by eyelids, only the iris is visible from the outside.

Did you know? That some wolves, such as coyotes, the domestic dog and the gray wolf, can interbreed with each other and produce offspring capable of further reproduction.

The raccoon dog, which lives in the Far East, is distinguished from other representatives of the wolf family by two features: it is the only one in the family that rushes into a state of torpor during harsh winters, conserving energy due to its low metabolism. This is the only wild dog that cannot howl.
The position of the dog's tail and body indicates what condition it is in. If the dog is confident in himself, his tail is stubbornly raised up. If the dog is in danger, his tail is tense, set back and slightly curled at the base. If the tail is tucked, the dog is depressed or expressing submissiveness.
Scientists are still debating where the dog was first domesticated. Archaeologists discovered the oldest remains of animals undoubtedly belonging to domestic dogs in Yorkshire in northern England - they are 9,500 years old.
Developed intelligence, the ability to adapt to life in different conditions and natural ingenuity helped the predators of the wolf family populate a wide range. Most wolves are social animals and live in packs. They hunt together and raise their offspring - mutual assistance helps them survive.

Wolf lifestyle

Predatory animals of the wolf family lead an active day and night life. They live in a variety of places - from Antarctica to the Namib Desert. Despite the fact that most wolves are good hunters, many of them look for additional food sources.

A wolf pack is an example of one of the most organized groups in the animal kingdom. Depending on the time of year and the availability of food, wolves live alone or in packs of 5-8 animals with a strict division of functions between its members.
Having raised offspring, Asian jackals continue to live in pairs. Older animals hunt together and support each other for the rest of their lives. Strong family unions are characteristic of other wolves: wolves, foxes, and wild dogs.

What do wolves eat?

Most wolves are predators, but meat is not their only food product. Hyenas in packs (up to 30 individuals) hunt impala and other antelopes in organized groups. They can even overcome an animal the size of a zebra.

Foxes live in pairs, but hunt alone; in autumn they feed almost exclusively on apples, berries and rose hips. Wolves eat watermelons in late summer. The fox eats termites, which he finds thanks to his good hearing.

Wolf breeding

Unlike domestic dogs, whose bitches can be bathed twice a year, free-living predators breed only once a year. In wolves living in packs, reproduction is the privilege of the dominant members and those standing at the top of the hierarchical ladder. In some flocks, the reproductive instinct of young or weak females is completely suppressed. Such females take part in feeding and raising other people's offspring. The duration of wolf pregnancy is 50-70 days (depending on the species), their cubs (puppies) are born in a burrow. There are usually 2-4 puppies in a litter, and the Arctic fox has up to 20. Females feed their cubs milk for several months. Wolves take care of their offspring; males also take part in feeding, raising and protecting their cubs. The young grow quickly, play a lot, and learn from their elders. By giving only one offspring per year, wolves maintain the numbers of their species and the family as a whole.

Origin of the wolf family

Representatives of the wolf family can now be found all over the world. The ancestors of wolves, which became a separate group 36 million years ago, lived in North America. Over the next 20 million years, as a result natural selection the group split into 42 genera, which gradually spread across Eurasia. About 600 thousand years ago, wolves appeared in Southeast Asia, Africa and South America, but they were never able to penetrate the Australian continent, New Guinea and Madagascar - people brought them here with them. The dingo, a subspecies of the domestic dog, lives in Australia.

Predators of the wolf family are now living throughout the world, but the number of genera in the family has been reduced to 12. The numerous genus is Vulpes, represented by the red fox. The second largest wolf genus, Canis, includes several species of wolves, coyote, dingo and domestic dog.

There are also 10 monotypic genera that comprise one species:

1. Hyena dog (Lycaon pictus): Similar to a hyena. Lives in packs with a hierarchical structure. Hyena dogs go out hunting as a whole pack and chase the prey, reaching speeds of up to 50 km/h in a matter of minutes.
2. Wolf (Canis lupus): This animal has not been exterminated by humans due to its developed intelligence and ability to adapt. Wolves live alone or in pairs, sometimes gathering in packs headed by a leader. This is the direct ancestor of the domestic dog.
3. Domestic dog (Canis familiaris): There are about 400 breeds of this mammal distributed throughout the world. Dogs of this breed were bred through artificial selection in Scotland. They are unpretentious eaters and are often used as guide dogs.
4. Bush Dog (Speothos venaticus): Packs of these bear cubs, wolf-like in appearance, live in the forests and savannas of South America. Low growth allows you to make your way through thickets. They swim well. They hunt in packs. The species is in danger of losing its natural habitats, which are being destroyed by humans.
5. Common or red fox (Vulpes vulpes): this predator has adapted to various biotopes, including large cities. Sometimes foxes live in pairs, but hunt alone.
6. Brazilian fox (Dusicyon vetulus): little-known species. It feeds on small mammals, birds and insects. Inhabits pampa with islands of vegetation.

Many owners of four-legged friends do not think about what type of dog they are. Dog handlers and biologists can answer this question. According to the scientific classification, dogs, regardless of breed, belong to the domain of eukaryotes, the animal kingdom, the subkingdom of metazoans, the phylum of chordates, the class of mammals, the order of Carnivores, the canine family, the genus of wolves, the species of wolves, and the subspecies of dogs. Male canines are called males, and females are called females.

Scientific classification

In the scientific world, since 1758, domestic dogs have been called Canis lupius familiars LINNAEUS. It was then that they were identified as a separate biological species by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus. But in 1993, the American Terrestrial Association and the Smithsonian Institution classified these animals and identified them as a subspecies of the wolf (Canis lupus).

Close, similar animals are united into families, orders and classes. If we talk about what class and family dogs belong to from the point of view of zoology, and what other animals are included in this classification, then we can say that they belong to the same class as people - placental mammals. This includes all animals that give birth to their young in the placenta and feed their offspring with milk. The canid family also includes wild animals such as wolves, foxes, jackals, coyotes, dingoes and arctic foxes.

There are other canine animals that resemble dogs only in appearance. They have a unique structure and habits and lead a special way of life. These include bush dogs that look like miniature bears, raccoon dogs that resemble raccoons with a dark mask on their faces, large but peaceful hyena-like dogs and red wolves with a characteristic coat color.

Man's true friend

Dogs are pets. Along with cats, they were domesticated many centuries ago. Domestic dogs descended from wolves. But since these predators have a ferocious disposition, they were crossed with less aggressive jackals. This is how the first breeds were developed.

At all times, the dog was considered a companion, assistant and best friend person. At first, these animals helped people hunt and guard their homes, then they learned to herd cattle and ride in sleds. Today they serve as bodyguards and guides, track down criminals and help search for people caught in avalanches. Decorative breeds They brighten up the leisure time of their owners and are considered family members.

Almost all dogs, except fighting dogs, are distinguished by their friendly disposition, good trainability, and social behavior. At proper education They recognize the owner as the leader, obey him unquestioningly, and also protect small children.

Breeds

In nature, millennia must pass for new species of animals to appear. When a member of a species develops a new trait that is useful for survival in the wild, it is passed on from generation to generation, becoming more established each time. With the accumulation of a sufficient number of certain qualities, a new species appears.

There are several theories about the origin of domestic dogs. But most scientists adhere to the hypothesis that they belong to the species of wolves and some species of jackals. However, dogs are descended from wolves of various subspecies. Scientists believe that the ancestor of such large dogs as huskies, shepherd dogs and others was the common gray wolf, and the ancestor of poodles, terriers, hounds and greyhounds was the smaller Indian wolf.

Subsequently, man modified dogs, breeding many various breeds, both large and small. Artificial selection occurs much faster than natural selection. In this case, the desired trait is revealed much more strongly than in the original species.

There are approximately 400 domestic breeds known in the world. They are usually divided into 4 groups:

• hunting;
• official;
• decorative;
• sledding

Each breed has certain characteristics. Hunting species include greyhounds, which have strong jaws and good eyesight; hounds with a good sense of smell; burrowing dogs - terriers and dachshunds; pointers and spaniels that help hunt birds.

Among the service breeds are Doberman Pinschers, Great Danes, Boxers and Bulldogs. The service-search and rescue dogs include St. Bernards and Shepherds, which are distinguished by high intelligence and good trainability.

Decorative breeds are calm and pretty. These include pugs, poodles, spitz dogs, lap dogs and others small breeds. They are often called pocket dogs, but they make excellent companions.

It is also worth mentioning the dogs that residents of the Far North use to pull horse-drawn vehicles. Huskies and their varieties, such as huskies and malamutes, work well in sleds. They are distinguished by their endurance, thick fur and strong legs.

When deciding to purchase a puppy, you should keep in mind that this is a big responsibility. In order for a dog to grow up healthy, smart and non-aggressive, it needs to be properly looked after, fed on time, walked, educated and trained. It happens that irresponsible owners throw their pets out into the street, and they join packs of wild dogs that roam the streets, feed on waste and sometimes even attack people. This suggests that the instincts of wild animals, which are accustomed to fighting for their existence, awaken in dogs.

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 the large number 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 removed;
• 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 season depends on the size of the animal: large species it ranges from 60 to 65 days, for small and medium-sized ones - from 50 to 60;
• The time of year in which mating occurs depends on the length of daylight hours in a particular climatic zone(it was proven when individuals moved 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 pups 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. That's why hind limbs much more developed than the front ones;
• 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:

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 of them on its front legs, and domestic dogs have 4 hind legs sometimes there are 5 fingers. 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 coat color 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 total number teeth are reduced to 40, and the South American bush dog (Speothos) does not have the upper back 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 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 times of famine. winter time, when the distribution and abundance of the predator 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 homes in remote areas, hard to reach places, always close to bodies of water, carefully camouflage it and, on the approach to 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. Foxes sometimes become prey for wolves, raccoon dogs, corsacs, as well as domestic dogs, which wolves hunt on purpose, boldly abducting 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 mass breeding years).

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 beast has amazing ability starve without losing your vitality. In the Yamal tundra, a wounded wolf lay without changing place and without hunting, that is, 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 flock 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 trace of fatigue. If there are a couple 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 one determine their number. 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 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 the mass harmful rodents.

The coyote has a 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 harsh 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 the end of March to the end of 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 by burping. 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 small 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 food 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 grounds, 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 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 thickets of 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 specialists with with good reason Dingoes are considered 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, fluffy 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 don't have economic importance and are bred by pet lovers. This group ranks first in the number and variety of breeds. 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 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 characteristics.

Despite all the diversity morphological features and the 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. Even domestic birds are abducted by the fox not so often and not so large number, 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 salmon fish, 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 a sufficient amount of 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 hunted 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 mainly 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 can withstand hunger and even after a week or even two it remains fully active. 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 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 far south Turkmen SSR very rarely they get 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 approximately 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, New Earth, many islands of the Arctic Ocean i Canadian archipelago. On the other hand, arctic foxes constantly 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 a snowstorm and severe frosts 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. In years of famine, these migrations take on a particularly massive scale. If Arctic foxes usually descend to the south several hundred kilometers, then, as tagging results 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 sandy deserts North Africa, 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 underneath; 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. Beginning in 1934, the raccoon dog was repeatedly released in the European part of the USSR. Here it acclimatized perfectly 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.

WITH biological point From a perspective, 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, it sometimes covers 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 furrows 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 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 winter 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, 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.

Peculiar species are widespread in South America wild dogs the genus Dusicyon, numbering 6 or even 8 species. 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, the 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 in 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 people are found within all year round, 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 mainly colored yellowish-brown or yellow, with the exception of 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 and 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.

Life of animals

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