Testing the idea of a new ancestor (Canis rubronegrus) for the domestic dog: do extant wolves/jackals show traces of black-and-tan colouration? part 2

@beartracker @tonyrebelo @jeremygilmore @botswanabugs @paradoxornithidae @maxallen @douglasriverside @dejong @zarek @jwidness @jakob @marcelo_aranda @ptexis @dinofelis @ludwig_muller @gigilaidler @simontonge @bobby23 @matthewinabinett @magcl @saber_animal

...continued from https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/milewski/88861-testing-the-idea-of-a-new-ancestor-canis-rubronegrus-for-the-domestic-dog-do-extant-wolves-jackals-show-traces-of-black-and-tan-colouration-part-1#

DISCUSSION

This scrutiny seems to confirm that none of the extant spp. of Canis qualifies as a plausible main ancestor of the domestic dog, in terms of colouration.

The wolf has

an extremely-developed pale feature around the mouth (https://www.alamy.com/portrait-of-a-wolf-in-a-forest-image212077265.html?imageid=F8E18E6E-9598-4376-9155-9F450F60442C&p=298512&pn=3&searchId=6581e23028fb20f41df8b3294650744f&searchtype=0 and https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/gray-wolf-gm1027603634-275500533?phrase=wolf+rear+view&searchscope=image%2Cfilm), and
an indistinct pattern on the chest and anterior surface of the neck ((https://www.alamy.com/the-mackenzie-wolf-in-all-his-glory-stands-and-watches-vigilantly-image591471171.html?imageid=FF65DDEB-2EDD-4616-9051-5274199A885D&p=2270024&pn=1&searchId=1d22485793346b4fb7fbedc88f9fc348&searchtype=0).

The former seems original in the wolf, and related to the fact that this is the most gregarious species of Canis (https://www.pond5.com/stock-footage/item/102336784-pack-grey-wolves-howling-includes-audio). However, the latter may be partly anthropogenic, i.e. the faintly-expressed pectoral feature in the wolf may possibly be owing to hybridisation with the domestic dog.

Most tellingly: there is no ischial feature, to speak of, in the wolf (https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-subordinate-european-grey-wolf-canis-lupus-woundad-above-lowered-tail-75483789.html?imageid=50723B43-435F-43EB-BACF-7D27959FF98F&p=80876&pn=1&searchId=1d22485793346b4fb7fbedc88f9fc348&searchtype=0).

With respect to the four extant jackal-like spp.:

the superciliary and ischial (https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-an-alert-australian-kelpie-dog-watches-a-black-cat-walk-away-17359677.html?imageid=D5E6F6C3-8431-4F51-B325-BD65042A60C6&p=38707&pn=1&searchId=ab08e945bb3f16457c6b9e8e0d8f9f94&searchtype=0) features are absent,
all other features, except the bucco-gular feature, are faint/nebulous, and
in the kekebero, there is a caudal feature, unique to C. simensis within the genus, instead of an ischial feature.

CONCLUSIONS

Extensive, symmetrical whitish on the face - reminiscent of that in the wolf - is seen in the domestic dog in a few large-bodied breeds (https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/wolf-like-dog-breeds/ and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siberian_Husky and https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/grey-dog-running-away-gm489387274-74666657?phrase=wolf+rear+view&searchscope=image%2Cfilm and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgwVIkybehg).

There seems no reason to doubt that these breeds are derived partly from the wolf.

The following illustrates the distinction. The breed on the left is derived partly from the wolf, that on the right overwhelmingly from C. rubronegrus: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/two-large-breed-dogs-siberian-husky-2336525207.

However, the important point - previously overlooked - is that most of the 339 breeds (https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/canine-corner/201305/how-many-breeds-dogs-are-there-in-the-world) fall into the latter category.

Overall, my interpretation is that the evidence supports the possibility that the main ancestor of the domestic dog is an extinct species, viz. C. rubronegrus, the 'black-and-tan jackal'.

As I see it:
The onus is now on those believing that the domestic dog is derived mainly from the wolf to explain how the ischial flag has arisen:

Please focus on the buttocks in the following of the rottweiler:

Posted on January 22, 2024 09:10 PM by

milewski

Comments

Testing the idea of a new ancestor (Canis rubronegrus) for the domestic dog: do extant wolves/jackals show traces of black-and-tan colouration? part 2

Comments

Add a Comment