Content
- 1. The taxonomy of dogs
- 2. The origin of dogs
- dog's scientific name
- 3. Physical characteristics
- 4. Behavior of dogs
- 5. Dog food
- 6. Dogs' senses
- 7. Dog breeds
- 8. Reproduction of dogs
- 9. Curiosities about dogs
- 10. Dog life expectancy
O domestic dog it is probably the most popular pet in the world. It is estimated that there are between 70 and 500 million of individuals on the planet, therefore, there are many people who want to know more about these animals, starting with the characteristics that stand out the most.
It doesn't matter if you're doing a school assignment about dogs or if you just want to know everything about them. In this PeritoAnimal article we help you describe the dogs and their characteristics more important, such as its taxonomy, morphology, communication or the dog breeds that exist.
1. The taxonomy of dogs
To really understand the characteristics of the dog (or any other animal) it is essential to know what is yours. taxonomy, that is, its classification in the binomial nomenclature system. Thus, the taxonomy of the dog is represented as follows:
- Domain: Eukarya
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Subreinus: Eumetazoa
- Subphylum: Vertebrate
- Class: Mammalia
- Subclass: Theria
- Infraclass: Placentalia
- Order: Carnivore
- Sub-order: Caniformy
- Family: Canidae
- Subfamily: Caninae
- Genre: Kennels
- Species: Canis lupus
- Subspecies: Canis lupus familiaris
2. The origin of dogs
It is not easy to determine the origin of the dogs, however, it is estimated that the first specimens appeared for the first time ago 15,000 years on the Asian continent, today China, coinciding with the development of agriculture. These first dogs - considered opportunistic scavengers (which eat dead animals), were less fearful and more sociable, which facilitated their domestication - came closer to human populations in search for carrion, mainly starchy foods of plant origin. Thus, thanks to symbiosis - interaction between two species - the first dogs appeared[1].
dog's scientific name
The dog's scientific name is Canis lupus familiaris, very similar to the scientific name of the wolf, kennels lupus, and its subspecies, such as kennels lupus lupus, kennels lupus arabs or Canis lupus signatus.
Does that mean the dog is descended from the wolf? Although they look like them, a study of the family's DNA sequence Canidae indicates that the dog and the wolf belong to the same species, but that they are nevertheless different subspecies. It is therefore considered that wolves and dogs could have a common ancestor, although there are no conclusive studies to confirm this[2].
3. Physical characteristics
the dog is a quadruped mammal (in other words, it walks on four legs) which stands out for having a tail and a covering of hair all over its body. However, today, thanks to the various existing canine breeds, we find dogs of all types. sizes, shapes and colors. For example, in terms of dimensions, the smallest dog, the Chihuahua, measures between 15 and 25 cm in height to the withers (highest point of a dog's shoulder), while the biggest dog breed in the world, the Great Dane, has a minimum height of 80 cm to the withers.
Morphology is also highly variable between the characteristics of a dog. So we find dogs with a very long snout and others with a flat muzzle, the so-called brachycephalic dogs. Another very significant aspect of the species is the tail, which can be long or short, in fact, there are even breeds that are born without it. THE tail it is made up of a variable number of vertebrae, and may have more or less hairs. At ears, endowed with 18 muscles, are very flexible and expressive. We can't stop talking about the coat, which can be of all kinds of colors and patterns, as well as soft, rough or even double.
It is a viviparous animal and, if we ask ourselves about the dog habitat, we must know that nowadays it is very complicated to explain where dogs live, since most of them live in rural towns and villages, hand in hand with man - or, in this case, hand in foot. However, recent studies have discovered a new species of wild canid (kennels lupus hallstromi) which is considered the missing link between the first canids and domestic dogs in the New Guinea highlands[3].
4. Behavior of dogs
Sociobiology reveals that dogs are gregarious animals, which means they live in communities made up of many individuals. But also, today, thanks to the domestication and socialization of the dog, we have the company of an animal that is especially sociable with members of your own species and other species, such as cats, people or rabbits.
O temperament of dogs can be very variable and, contrary to what many people believe, breed does not determine a dog's temperament.[4]. In addition to socialization, the way a dog behaves is influenced by the genetics and learning provided by the owner.
However, if we dig deeper into dogs' habits, we can see that they have a physical language very complete, known as "calm signs", as well as the ability to vocalize. This is one of the characteristics of dogs that most often interest caregivers!
5. Dog food
What do dogs eat? Many people still wonder if the dog is an omnivore or a carnivore, however, some of the morphological characteristics of the species, such as claws, sharp teeth or specific enzymes, are characteristic of the species. optional carnivoress.
However, as we anticipated at the beginning of the article, the dog is also a opportunistic scavenger, which has allowed its domestication. According to several theories, it was precisely this procedure that allowed the dog to digest the starch and, consequently, the materials of plant origin.[1].
6. Dogs' senses
The dog has two particularly well-developed senses: smell and hearing. We'll start with the most important thing, smell, which is fundamental to hunting, social and sexual behavior. Unlike humans, who have only 5 million olfactory receptors, dogs have between 200 and 300 million olfactory receptors. Another key aspect is the sense of hearing, which is much sharper than that of human beings.
7. Dog breeds
Continuing with the characteristics of dogs, we should know that currently there are more than 300 breeds of dogs, recognized by some or other cynological organizations, such as the FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale) or The Kennel Club, two of the most important. There are also other races recognized by secondary federations, governments and autonomies.
Here at PeritoAnimal you can even find an article about dog breeds - before and after, or even a specific article about Brazilian dog breeds.
8. Reproduction of dogs
Ever wonder how dogs reproduce? While males are sexually active throughout the year, female dogs have an average of two fertile periods a year, what is known as heat, when they can get pregnant. If copulation is successful in estrus, the fertile phase, the bitch will have a gestation that will last between 60 and 90 days.
During pregnancy, the bitch will look for a nest (or we will offer it to her) where she will perform the childbirth and, soon, the birth of the puppies. The bitch will feed them and take care of them for the next two months or so, until the weaning from the puppies, when they will finally be able to take care of themselves.
9. Curiosities about dogs
There are a multitude of trivia about dogs that draw a lot of attention from all of us. Did you know that Laika, the canine astronaut, was the first living being to travel into space? And that dogs have fingerprints on their nose? Or that Hachiko is considered the most faithful dog in the world?
Watch the video below 10 trivia about dogs that you can't miss!
10. Dog life expectancy
To finish with the characteristics of dogs, we want to emphasize that the longevity of dogs is very variable and it is due, in part, to the care provided to the dog by its guardian. Thus, a dog that has a good quality of life, which includes good nutrition, daily exercise and preventive health care, will live longer.
However, smaller dogs usually live longer than larger dogs due to their metabolic process. In general, a dog's life expectancy ranges from 7 to 20 years old. And if you're interested, in this other PeritoAnimal article you learn how to calculate the human age of a dog.
