A large carnivorous mammal of the canine family. Wolf - etymology. Skulls and teeth


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 period depends on the size of the animal: for large species it ranges from 60 to 65 days, for small and medium-sized species it ranges from 50 to 60;
  • The time of year in which mating occurs depends on the length of daylight hours in a particular climate zone (this has been proven when individuals move 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. Therefore, the hind limbs are much more developed than the forelimbs;
  • 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:

Canine family- includes some of the most intelligent animals, living in a strictly subordinate hierarchy and mostly hunting in packs. These predators are fleet-footed, cunning and often fearless. Some of them are not afraid of humans or are easily tamed. They are real helpers in the fight against rodents and insects - the main pests of agricultural land, although sometimes they themselves harm livestock in search of food. In my Top 15 most beautiful representatives of the canid family, I tried to highlight the most remarkable and beautiful predators.

15. Coyote (prairie wolf)

photo: David Davis

A predatory mammal of the canine family. The name comes from the Aztec coyotl, "divine dog". The species' Latin name means "barking dog." The coyote is noticeably smaller in size than the common wolf, but its fur is longer than that of the wolf. The shape of the muzzle is more elongated and sharper than that of a wolf, and resembles a fox. Distributed in the New World, from Alaska to Panama. There are 19 subspecies. The coyote is characteristic of open plains, occupied by prairies and deserts. Rarely runs into forests. It is found both in deserted places and on the outskirts of large cities like Los Angeles. Easily adapts to anthropogenic landscapes. Attacks skunks, raccoons, ferrets, opossums and beavers; eats birds (pheasants), insects. In areas around large cities, domestic cats can make up up to 10% of a coyote's diet. The main enemies are the puma and the wolf. The coyote cannot tolerate the presence of the red fox, its food competitor, on its territory. Sometimes coyotes interbreed with domestic dogs, and occasionally with wolves.

14.


photo: Renato Rizzaro

Carnivorous mammal; the only modern species of the genus. The generic name Cerdocyon is translated from Greek as “cunning dog”, and the specific epithet thous is “jackal”, since the maikong looks somewhat like a jackal. This is a medium-sized fox of a fawn-gray color with red markings on the legs, ears and face. Found in South America from Colombia and Venezuela to Uruguay and northern Argentina. Maikong inhabits mainly wooded and grassy plains, and is also found in mountainous areas during the rainy season. He prefers to hunt at night, alone, less often in pairs. Almost omnivorous. The maikong feeds on small rodents and marsupials, lizards, frogs, birds, fish, turtle eggs, insects, as well as crabs and other crustaceans (hence one of the names of the maikong is “crabeater fox”). Does not disdain carrion. They don’t dig their own holes, they occupy other people’s holes. Maikong is not a protected species. Its fur has no value; During drought, animals are shot as carriers of rabies.

13. Black-backed jackal


photo: Tarique Sani

One of the species of the genus of wolves. The saddle-backed jackal is reddish-gray in color, but on the back of the individual the dark hair forms a kind of black saddle, stretching to the tail. This saddleback is a distinctive species feature that is inherited by all subspecies of the black-backed jackal. Individuals of this species are longer than the common gray wolf, but shorter. Found in South Africa and on the east coast of Africa from Nubia to the Cape of Good Hope. Throughout the entire length of its range, the jackal prefers places heavily overgrown with bushes and reed beds near water bodies. Omnivorous. This jackal is very trusting, easily gets used to people and can even become almost tame. The fur of the black-backed jackal is thick and soft; in South Africa, fur carpets (the so-called kaross) are sewn from the skins (dog) of the black-backed jackal.

12. Bush dog (savannah dog)


A predatory mammal of the canine family; the only species of the genus Speothos. It lives in forests and wet savannas of Central and South America. One of the most unusual dogs, because in appearance it resembles an otter or other semi-aquatic animal. Her physique is heavy, dense, her body is elongated, her limbs are short. Webbed feet. Despite its extensive range, the bush dog is very rare. Initially, it was considered an extinct species, since it was known only from fossilized remains found in Brazil. Most often it inhabits tropical rainforests and gallery forests, choosing the most sparse, open areas of the forest. Also found in savannas. Stays close to water. Bush dogs are nocturnal, spending the day in a hole that they dig themselves, or in a natural shelter. Sometimes they occupy the burrows of other animals (armadillos). Bush dogs are excellent swimmers and divers, which is generally uncharacteristic of canines. In flocks they can attack animals that are larger than themselves in mass - capybaras and rhea ostriches. The meat is swallowed without chewing, which is functionally associated with a decrease in the number of molars and poor development of the remaining ones. They are rare species; their population density is low. Listed in the International Red Book as a vulnerable species. They are not the object of hunting.

11. Red wolf (mountain wolf)


A predatory mammal of the canine family; the only species of the genus Cuon. A rare canine species that is endangered. His appearance combines the features of a wolf, fox and jackal. The red wolf differs from the ordinary wolf in color, fluffy fur and a longer tail that almost reaches the ground. Based on the variability of color, fur density and body size, 10 subspecies of the red wolf have been described, 2 of them are found in Russia. In Russia it was found mainly in the south of the Far East, where it probably entered from the adjacent territories of Mongolia and China.


There is no reliable evidence that the species lives permanently within Russia today. The red wolf differs from other representatives of the canine family in its reduced number of molars (2 in each half of the jaw) and a large number of nipples (6-7 pairs). They have developed hearing, swim well and jump well - they are able to cover a distance of up to 6 m. Red wolves avoid people; In captivity they breed, but are not tamed. The red wolf is listed in the IUCN Red Book with the status of an endangered species, as well as in the Red Book of Russia.

10. Maned wolf


A predatory mammal of the canine family; the only representative of the genus Chrysocyon. The largest member of the canine family in South America, the maned wolf has a unique appearance. He looks more like a large fox on tall, slender legs than a wolf. Translated from Greek, its name means “short-tailed golden dog.” Despite their long limbs, they cannot be called good runners. They inhabit mainly open grassy and shrubby plains. They lead a nocturnal and twilight lifestyle; During the day they usually rest among dense vegetation, occasionally moving short distances. The diet contains food of animal and plant origin in almost equal proportions.


It hunts mainly small animals: rodents (agouti, paca, tuco-tuco), rabbits, armadillos. It also eats birds and their eggs, reptiles, snails and insects; eats bananas, guavas and nightshade plants. The population density of the maned wolf is low: judging by research, 1 animal is found in approximately 300 km². However, the maned wolf is not an endangered species. They are also susceptible to diseases, particularly parvovirus infection (distemper). Despite the external resemblance to foxes, the maned wolf is not their close relative. In particular, it lacks the vertical pupil characteristic of foxes. Apparently, it is a relict species that survived the extinction of large South American canids at the end of the Pleistocene.

9. Hyena dog (wild dog)


photo: Blake Matheson

A predatory mammal of the canid family, the only species of the genus Lycaon. Its scientific name means: Lycaon - translated from Greek as “wolf”, and pictus - translated from Latin as “painted”. Being the closest relative of the red wolf, the hyena-like dog is more reminiscent of a hyena - its physique is light and lean, its legs are high and strong, and its head is large. The ears are large, oval in shape, similar to the ears of a hyena. The jaws are powerful, the teeth (premolars) are larger than the teeth of other canines and are adapted for chewing bones.

Due to the developed skin glands, the wild dog emits a very strong musky odor. This wild dog was once distributed throughout the African steppes and savannas of sub-Saharan Africa - from southern Algeria and Sudan to the extreme southern tip of the continent. Now its range has become mosaic; it is preserved mainly in national parks and in landscapes undeveloped by humans. It lives in savannas, shrubby heaths and mountainous areas. Not found in the jungle. It is most typical for savannas with their abundance of ungulates, which serve as the main prey for this predator. They live and hunt in packs. 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. The wild dog is included in the IUCN Red List as a threatened species.

8. Wild


Secondarily feral domestic dog, the only placental predator in the fauna of Australia before the arrival of Europeans. The name "dingo" originated early in the European colonization of New South Wales and is likely derived from "tingo", a term used by the Port Jackson Aboriginal people to describe their dogs. Judging by the fossil remains, dingoes were brought to Australia not by settlers (approximately 40,000-50,000 years ago), as previously thought, but by immigrants from Southeast Asia. The dingo is usually considered a subspecies of the domestic dog, but many experts consider it a completely independent species. It is believed that the dingo is an almost purebred descendant of the domesticated Indian wolf, which in the wild is now found on the Hindustan Peninsula and in Balochistan. Purebred dingoes do not bark, but are capable of growling and howling like a wolf. They are predominantly nocturnal animals.


Their main habitats in Australia are the edges of wet forests, dry eucalyptus thickets, and arid semi-deserts inland. They make dens in caves, empty burrows, among the roots of trees, usually not far from water bodies. In Asia, dingoes stay close to human habitation and feed on garbage. Approximately 60% of the Australian dingo's diet consists of small mammals, in particular rabbits. They hunt kangaroos and wallabies; to a lesser extent they feed on birds, reptiles, insects and carrion. Initially, the attitude of settlers towards dingoes was tolerant, but the situation quickly changed in the 19th century, when sheep farming became an important sector of the Australian economy. Dingoes that hunted sheep were caught in traps, shot and poisoned. At the end of the 19th century, in New South Wales alone, farmers annually spent several tons of strychnine on fighting wild dogs. In some countries, keeping dingoes as pets is prohibited.

7. Corsac (steppe fox)


photo: Marc Baldwin

A predatory mammal of the genus of foxes of the canine family. Similar to the common fox, but noticeably smaller, with larger ears and high legs. The corsac differs from the common fox by the dark end of its tail, and from the Afghan fox by its shorter tail. Corsacs run very fast and are able to overtake a car. Distributed in steppes, semi-deserts and partly in the deserts of South-Eastern Europe and Asia. In Russia it is found: in the west - occasionally reaching the Don region and the North Caucasus. Has a good sense of smell, vision and hearing.


The corsac feeds mainly on small rodents (voles, pieds, mice, jerboas), reptiles, insects, birds and their eggs. Less often it catches gophers, hedgehogs, and hares. When there is a lack of food, it eats carrion and all kinds of garbage. The main enemies are the wolf and the fox. Corsac is an object of the fur trade (winter skins are used). Beneficial in exterminating rodents. There are no exact data on the corsac population. The Corsac species is listed in the International Red Book.

6. Raccoon dog (Ussuri fox, Ussuri raccoon)


photo: Maxime Thué

A predatory omnivorous mammal of the canine (canine) family. The animal is the size of a small dog. The natural habitat of the raccoon dog is the forest and mountain forest areas of North-Eastern Indochina, China, Japan and the Korean Peninsula. In Russia, it was initially found only in the Ussuri region and in the southern part of the Amur region. The raccoon dog's favorite habitats are wet meadows with swampy lowlands, overgrown floodplains and riverine forests with dense undergrowth. She is unpretentious in choosing housing. Its shelters are usually the burrows of badgers and foxes (often residential). Active at dusk and at night.


According to the method of collecting food, it is a typical gatherer, exploring all kinds of secluded places in search of food. Omnivore. It feeds on animal and plant foods. It is worth noting that the raccoon dog is the only one of the canine family that, in case of danger, if possible, prefers not to fight, but to hide, pretending to be dead, which often helps it out. The only representative of the canine family that hibernates for the winter. Many raccoon dogs are destroyed by wolves, as well as lynxes and stray dogs. Sometimes she is a carrier of the rabies virus.

5. Common fox (red fox)


photo: Vittorio Ricci

A predatory mammal of the canine family, the most common and largest species of the fox genus. Distributed very widely: throughout Europe, North Africa (Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, northern Tunisia), most of Asia (up to northern India, southern China and Indochina) , in North America from the Arctic zone to the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The fox was acclimatized in Australia and spread throughout the continent, with the exception of some northern regions with a humid subequatorial climate.

Foxes inhabit all landscape and geographical zones, from the tundra and subarctic forests to the steppe and deserts, including mountain ranges in all climatic zones. Foxes living near hiking trails, boarding houses, in places where hunting is prohibited, quickly get used to the presence of humans, are easy to feed and can beg. They are of great economic importance as a valuable fur-bearing animal, as well as a regulator of the number of rodents and insects. In southern Europe, wild foxes are the largest carrier of the rabies virus.

4. Big-eared fox


photo: Nicola Williscroft

A predatory mammal of the canine family, the only species of the genus. The scientific name of this animal is translated from Greek as “big-eared big-eared dog.” Similar to an ordinary fox, but smaller and with disproportionately large ears. It is found in two regions of Africa: from Ethiopia and southern Sudan to Tanzania, and from southern Zambia and Angola to South Africa. This distribution is associated with the habitat of its main food - herbivorous termites. Inhabits arid lands - dry savannas and semi-deserts, sometimes close to human habitation.


The diet consists mainly of insects and their larvae: 50% are termites, the rest are beetles and locusts; less than 10% are lizards, small rodents, and bird eggs. The big-eared fox is quite numerous, and there is even an expansion of its former range. The main threats to the number of eared foxes are hunting (its meat is edible and its fur is used by local residents).

3. Arctic fox (polar fox)


photo: Julian Rossi

A predatory mammal of the canine family, the only representative of the arctic fox genus. A small predatory animal resembling a fox. The only representative of the canine family that is characterized by pronounced seasonal color dimorphism. Based on color, they distinguish between the ordinary white fox (pure white in winter, dirty brown in summer) and the blue fox. Distributed beyond the Arctic Circle, on the coast and islands of the Arctic Ocean, in the tundra and forest-tundra zones. In Russia, this is a typical representative of the fauna of the continental tundra and forest-tundra. On sandy hills and coastal terraces, it digs holes, complex underground labyrinths with many (up to 60-80) entrances. The Arctic fox is omnivorous; its food includes about 125 species of animals and 25 species of plants.


photo: Cecilie Sonsteby

However, it is based on small rodents, especially lemmings, as well as birds. It feeds on both beached and caught fish, as well as plant foods: berries (blueberries, cloudberries), herbs, algae (seaweed). Does not refuse carrion. The Arctic fox has well-developed hearing and sense of smell; somewhat weaker - vision. The arctic fox is pursued by larger predators. He is attacked by foxes, wolverines and wolves; young arctic foxes are grabbed by eagles and snowy owls. Young animals often die from helminthic infestations, adults - from encephalitis and rabies. An important game animal, it is a source of valuable fur; in the north it forms the basis of the fur trade. The skins of the blue fox, which is also the subject of cage breeding, are especially valued.

2. Wolf (gray wolf or common wolf)


photo: Jens Hauser

A predatory mammal of the canine family. In addition, as the results of studying the DNA sequence and genetic drift show, it is the direct ancestor of the domestic dog, which is usually considered a subspecies of the wolf. The wolf is the largest animal in its family. The wolf was once much more widespread in Eurasia and North America. In our time, its range and the total number of animals have noticeably decreased, mainly as a result of human activity: changes in natural landscapes, urbanization and mass extermination. As one of the key predators, wolves play a very important role in the balance of ecosystems in biomes such as temperate forests, taiga, tundra, mountain systems and steppes. In total, there are approximately 32 subspecies of wolves, differing in size and shades of fur. It lives in a wide variety of landscapes, but prefers steppes, semi-deserts, tundra, forest-steppe, avoiding dense forests.

Lives in flocks, settles in certain areas, the boundaries of which are indicated by odorous marks. The basis of wolves' diet is ungulates: in the tundra - reindeer; in the forest zone - elk, deer, roe deer, wild boars; in the steppes and deserts - antelopes. Wolves also attack domestic animals (sheep, cows, horses), including dogs. They are active mainly at night. The wolf harms livestock and hunting, but on the other hand, plays an important role in the ecosystem, controlling the number of animals and destroying weak and sick individuals. Wolf hunting is carried out all year round and without special permits. This is done in order to reduce the population of an animal that harms livestock production.

1. Fennec


A miniature fox with a distinctive appearance that lives in the deserts of North Africa. Sometimes it is classified as a special genus, Fennecus. This animal got its name from the Arabic fanak, which means “fox”. The smallest member of the canine family, it is smaller in size than a domestic cat. The largest population of fennec cats is found in the central Sahara, although they are found from northern Morocco to the Sinai and Arabian Peninsulas, and as far south as Niger, Chad and Sudan. Inhabits sandy deserts, where it prefers to stay in thickets of grass and sparse bushes, which provide it with shelter and food. He lives in holes with a large number of secret passages, which he digs himself; leads a nocturnal lifestyle. They live in family groups, the number of individuals in which reaches up to 10. Fenech is omnivorous and digs most of its food from the sand and earth.


Fenech feeds on small vertebrates, eggs, insects (including locusts), carrion, plant roots and fruits. Huge ears allow him to catch the slightest rustle made by his victims. It can go without water for a long time, obtaining liquid from meat, berries and leaves. Stocks food supplies. Fenech exhibits great agility and liveliness, the ability to jump high and far - up to 0.7 m up. Its protective coloring allows it to blend into the sandy landscape. The exact number of fennecs is unknown. They are hunted, killed for their fur, and captured and sold as pets.

In your home, be like a meek lamb, but
Wake up the enemy like a predatory wolf and like a terrible lion
I. T. Pososhkov. Father's will to his son (1718-1725)

A predatory mammal of the canine family, together with the coyote and jackal, it forms a small genus of wolves (Canis). Biologists consider the wolf to be the direct ancestor of the domestic dog, which is usually considered a subspecies. There are different theories of the domestication of the wolf, according to the first - the initiative for domestication belonged to man, according to the second - the wolf himself began to develop a new ecological niche near the sites of primitive man, where there was food waste, i.e. its “self-domestication” took place.

* Dictionary of the Russian Academy from 1789
Wolf. “The beast is fierce, predatory, carnivorous, from the outside it looks like a large dog; the hair is gray-yellowish with black, the skull and snout are thicker in comparison with a dog, the log (tail) is fluffy, straight.”

According to the general opinion of researchers, packs of wolves terrorized the rural population until the 18th century; relations between wolves and humans have always been “tense” due to the constant threat posed by the predator to human life and domestic animals. The threat of wolf attacks decreased in the 19th century due to extensive road construction, increased population, and deforestation.

In publications on the “wolf” topic, there are other views on this predator; some researchers believe that the “wolf problem” is exaggerated, and wolves do not attack people. There was a discussion about this in the press in the 80s, incl. Norwegian, where “Friends of Wolves” accused Soviet zoologists of incompetence.

1) Existing etymology

A) Wiktionary

Wolf. The root is a wolf. Meaning - a relatively large predatory furry mammal of the canine family.

Etymology according to Max Vasmer

From Praslav. forms *vьlkъ, from which, among other things, came: Old Russian. volk, st.-slav. vlk (Zogr., Supr.), Russian. wolf, Ukrainian Vovk, Bulgarian Volk, Serbohorv. Vuk, Slovenian vo;k, Czech, Slovak. vlk, Polish wilk, v.-luzh. wjelk, n.-luzh. welk. Praslav. *vьlkъ goes back to the Proto-Indo-European. *wlqwos/*lukwos; ancestral lit. vil;kas, Latvian v;lks, other Indian v;kas, Avest. v;hrka-, Gothic. wulfs, alb. ulk, Greek l;kos, lat. lupus (borrowed from Sabine). Original meaning “tearing apart”, dragging me here. The assumption about the root *vel- “damn, grey-yellow” is unreliable.

B) Etymological dictionary. Semenov A.V.

Old Russian - volk. Old Slavonic - vlk. Common Slavic – vъlkъ. The word “wolf” was borrowed from Old Church Slavonic (which, in turn, came from Common Slavonic) in the 11th century. and means “an animal of prey, akin to a dog.” The primary source is the Indo-European base with the lexical meaning “to drag”. It follows that the ancient Slavic word is translated as “one who drags” (for example, livestock). Words with similar sounds and semantic content are found in Lithuanian (vilkas - “wolf”), German (Wolf), Gothic (wulfs).

2) The wolf in the Old and New Testaments

The fauna of Israel in the biblical era was rich and varied, the species of large animals are described accurately and in detail, the lion (Ariya, Levia, Shahal, Gur - a symbol of the tribe of Judah), the wolf (ZEEV - a symbol of the tribe of Benjamin) and the jackal (Tan) are mentioned.

* Isaiah 65:25: “The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be food for the serpent; they shall not harm or harm in all My holy mountain, saith the Lord.” consequently, the wolf was seen as a source of "evil and harm."

The wolf was considered a vile animal for its rapacity, cruelty and wild disposition; caused great damage to the herd, destroying more sheep than he could eat. Nevertheless, in national symbolism we find the image of the wolf both among the Jews and other peoples, for example, among the Turks and Romans (the she-wolf suckled Romulus and Remus), who traced their origins to the wolf.

3) Term in Russian

A) In Russian chronicles (12th century), the established biblical image of a wolf is correlated with the characteristics of Prince Igor Rurikovich (914-945). In 945, Igor, at the request of his squad, dissatisfied with their material support, went to the Drevlyans and imposed an unbearable tribute on them, artificially creating the threat of famine. In the Tale of Bygone Years for the year 945, this situation is described: “The Drevlyans, having heard that it was coming again, held a council with their prince Mal: ​​“If a wolf gets into the habit of the sheep, he will carry out the entire flock until they kill him; so is this one: if we don’t kill him, he will destroy us all.”

B) National Corpus of the Russian Language

* On the reasons for the destruction of the kingdoms (1600-1610): “Then the wolf, having taken away fear and apprehension from himself, took away all the animals, not only until he was full, but also, by his own will, rummaged and ate, and not only the animals, but also the shepherds themselves.”

* Conspiracy from adversaries (1625-1650): “31) if there were dark darkness, they would have a ox’s tongue, a black grouse’s mustache and intelligence, a gray hare in a commotion, they would run from me like gray hares and sheep, and the tongue would would chase them like a gray wolf and bite them by the hind leg.”

4) Generalization and conclusion

So, we found out that the wolf belongs to the family of canines, or canines, or wolves (lat. Canidae) - a family of mammals of the order of carnivores. The term is recorded in early Russian chronicles, liturgical documents and secular acts; it is a common Old Russian surname and nickname.

The term V.L.K. (K.L.V.), probably initially (we can only assume, there are no sources) characterized in the Russian language the entire family of canines (there were quite a lot of wild and feral dogs), without division into subspecies; with the development of the literary language, the concept of dog was isolated and a dog.

* Dictionary of the Russian language of the 11th-17th centuries (Academy of Sciences, M., 1975), . See http://etymolog.ruslang.ru/doc/xi-xvii_2.pdf

A) Dog (dog) and dog. Dog, dog. It is not good to take away bread from a child and damage it to a dog (Matthew 15:26) Ostromir Gospel, 1057; in the Hebrew text Matt. 15:26 the word “kelev” (dog, dog) is used.

B) Volk (вълкъ, влъкъ), The Tale of Bygone Years under 945 (according to researchers, P.V.L. was written at the beginning of the 12th century, preserved in copies of the 14th century).

B) Dog. “And my hounds and dogs in their villages eat half a meal” (Document 1475).

It is advisable to consider the term in connection with biblical vocabulary and images.
The Slavic origin of the term “wolf” is incredible, there is no lexical or historical basis, after all, vocabulary is distributed in a certain ideological system, isn’t it? There are no written monuments of the “Slavic” language; You cannot rely on something that has not been created and does not exist.

5) Hebrew terminology and biblical image

Let's put the term in a form close to the grammar of the Hebrew language, read it the other way around (as in Hebrew) - WOLF (other VЪLKЪ or VLЪKЪ) = KLOV or Ъ+КЛЪВ, Ъ+КЪЛВ. Obviously, the common root will be the letter combination - K.L.V. We instantly identify the rational (logic and common sense) Hebrew term KELEV, in a letter without vowels (vowels) - K.L.V.

* WOLF = read backwards - Hebrew. KELEV dog, dog.

* Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron

“The source of the Proto-Slavic vowel sound b is most often the Indo-European short I (cf. Sanskrit snusha, sunus, Old Slavic снъkha, son, Russian daughter-in-law, son) and less often the unstressed O (cf. Russian gonyu, gonj, Old Slavic gnati), in a few cases, b arose in place of the Proto-Slavic b (before the combination l + consonant, cf., for example, Proto-Slavic and Old Russian vлкъ from the even more ancient *влкъ / Lithuanian vilkas).” Thus, linguists already in the 19th century noted that the Russian letter EP (Ъ) expressed the sound I or O; those. volk ​​= wolves (wolf).

* The dog is mentioned in the Old Testament, 1 Sam. 17:43: “And the Philistine said to David, Why are you coming at me with a stick? Am I a dog (kelev)? The term dog (kelev) is used 32 times in 31 verses of the Bible, meaning: dog, pagan sacrifice, also meaning - male prostitute.

*In the New Testament (Hebrew text): Matthew 15:26: “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs (kelev).” Dogs in Judaism were considered unclean animals; they were allowed to be used only to guard herds and were not kept in houses.
Thus, the Russian term “wolf” (V.L.K. = K.L.V.)) is obviously derived from the Hebrew root K.L.V. transliteration method - translation of characters from one alphabet to another, different one.

Mn. 1. The family of mammals, which includes dogs, wolves, foxes, jackals, arctic foxes, etc. 2. decomposition A breed of greyhound dog with long wavy hair; greyhounds. Ephraim's explanatory dictionary. T. F. Efremova. 2000... Modern explanatory dictionary of the Russian language by Efremova

Yx; pl. A family of predatory mammals, which includes dogs, wolves, foxes, arctic foxes, jackals, etc. * * * canines are the same as wolves. * * * Canidae Canidae, the same as wolves (see WOLVES) ... encyclopedic Dictionary

canids- šuniniai statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas šeima apibrėžtis Šeimoje 11 genčių. Kūno ilgis – 40 160 cm. atitikmenys: lot. Canidae English canids; dogs; dogs and allies vok. Hunde; Hundeartige; hundeartige Raubtiere rus. wolves;... ... Žinduolių pavadinimų žodynas

Canidae (Canidae), a family of mammals in the order Carnivora. Body length from 50 cm (small foxes) to 160 cm (wolf). The head is elongated, the muzzle is sharp, the ears are erect; the tail is long and fluffy. There are 5 toes on the front paws, 4 on the hind paws; claws... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

- (Canidae) see Dogs... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

Same as wolves. .(Source: “Biology. Modern illustrated encyclopedia.” Editor-in-chief A. P. Gorkin; M.: Rosman, 2006.) ... Biological encyclopedic dictionary

Same as wolves... Natural science. encyclopedic Dictionary

canids- oh; pl. A family of predatory mammals, which includes dogs, wolves, foxes, arctic foxes, jackals, etc... Dictionary of many expressions

- (Canidae)** * * The family includes 16 modern genera and 36 species. Canids are widespread in Eurasia, Africa, North and South America; they entered New Guinea and Australia with humans. With the exception of one species, they have more... ...Animal life

Books

  • Russian hound. Story. Standards. Upbringing. Catch-up
  • Russian hound, Konkova E.Yu.. An integral part of the unique Russian culture, along with literature, music and painting, is the heritage of Russian hunting. Hunting was a passion for the ancient Russian princes. Canids…

Canine family(Canidae) consists of 10 genera, which unite 35 species. Distributed throughout the world, with the exception of some areas (for example, Madagascar, New Zealand), where only the domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) was brought by humans.

The evolution of canids went in the direction of improving the pursuit of prey on flat terrain, as evidenced by their anatomy. Although representatives of 35 species belonging to 10 genera vary in size from the tiny fennec fox to the large gray wolf, most of them have a similar structure - a strong and flexible body, a long bushy tail, long limbs. Canids are digitally walking animals; their hind legs are four-toed; non-retractable claws. The only exception is the bush dog, which has a squat body with relatively short limbs. The smallest of the canids, the fennec, lives in arid zones that are poor in food resources, while the largest (and wolves) live in places where there is plenty of prey.

Canids arose in North America in the Eocene (55-34 million years ago); Five fossil genera were discovered in sediments of that time. Two forms of ancient canids - Hesperocyon from North America and Cynodictis from Europe - resembled civets in structural details. With an elongated body and relatively short legs, they were similar to Miacoidea, from which all carnivores descend. The evolutionary flowering of the family coincided with the end of the formation of all the characters of modern canids: in the Oligochain (34-24 million years ago) there were 19 genera, and in the Miocene (24-5 million years ago) - 42 genera.

The ridge of the carnassial tooth in most canids has two apices, but in the bush dog, hyena dog and red wolf it has only one. Species within the three largest genera Canis, Vulpes and Disicyon are quite similar to each other, and differences between genera may also be small. The most specific external characteristics are those of the hyena dog, bush dog, bat-eared fox, raccoon dog, red wolf, maned wolf, and arctic fox. All of them belong to monotypic genera.

Life in a pack

The most amazing feature of canines is their flexible and adaptive behavior. This is most noticeable in the complexity of their social organization. As for food preferences, intraspecific variability is not inferior to interspecific variability. Hyena dogs, and possibly dholes and bush dogs, hunt large prey in packs, pairs, or family groups. Gray wolves, coyotes and jackals do the same thing: but they eat everything - from the meat of freshly hunted animals and carrion to berries. This is probably why their lifestyle varies from solitary to gregarious. Thus, depending on the predominance of a particular type of food, gray wolves can live in isolated monogamous pairs or in packs of up to 20 individuals.

In general, canids, even such as arctic foxes and foxes, prefer to stay in groups, even if they hunt alone. This is explained by a lot of reasons: joint defense of territories or large carcasses, care for cubs, competition with neighbors. This is clearly shown for the Ethiopian jackal, which lives in packs but almost never hunts cooperatively.

Canids are endangered

Despite their high ability to adapt, representatives of the canine family can be very vulnerable when their usual biotopes are destroyed. The short-eared fox and bush dog are apparently so rare that there is concern for their future. The number of the Ethiopian jackal is less than 500 individuals, the hyena dogs are about 3000-5500, and the maned wolf from the Brazilian and Argentine pampas is only 1000-2000 animals. All these species are endangered. The situation of highly socialized canines is especially deplorable, since they are victims of the so-called Ollie effect: if their numbers are low, they are doomed to extinction. The life of hyena dogs depends on successful hunting in conditions of close interaction of individuals in a large pack. Therefore, packs consisting of less than 5 members fall into decline: animals cannot simultaneously hunt, protect prey from other predators and take care of their cubs. Despite numbering 3,000 individuals, hyena dogs are more endangered than previously named species, with there being no more than 600 viable packs on the African continent.

Skulls and teeth

Canids have long snouts and well-developed jaws; They are characterized by a dental formula of I 3/3, C 1/1, P 4/4, M 2/3 = 42 (an example is the gray wolf). Three species evade this type: the big-eared fox (48 teeth), the red wolf (40) and the bush dog (38). The cutting carnassial teeth (P4/M1) and the grinding molars are well developed; these are the largest teeth (with the exception of the big-eared fox).

Domestication (domestication) of canids

Various hypotheses have been put forward regarding the origins of the domestic dog; At the same time, it was not excluded that at different times more than one species of canid was domesticated to one degree or another. Even if this is true, the wolf is considered the most likely ancestor of the modern domestic dog. The domestic dog is scientifically known as a subspecies of the wolf, Canis lupus familiaris. The earliest archaeological evidence supporting the existence of the domestic dog some 14,000 years ago is found in Germany: a single jaw. Compared to the wolf, it is shortened, with compactly spaced teeth. Other early remains, over 11,000 years old, believed to belong to domestic dogs, are known from Kun in Iran. These discoveries show that the wolf became man's first companion, ahead of other animal species, even before man began to cultivate food plants. In fact, recent molecular evidence has confirmed that dogs were domesticated more than 10,000 years ago.

How domestication took place is not entirely clear, which has been the subject of all sorts of speculation. Various theories have been put forward regarding the use of wolves by our ancestors: for hunting, home guarding, disposal of food scraps and waste around settlements, and in times of famine - even as food. Perhaps domestication occurred by accident: the tribe’s hunters brought wolf cubs, released them at the site of their camp, and raised them simply as pets.


The Chihuahua is a breed of domestic dog from Mexico that was bred by the Aztecs before the Spanish colonization in 1519.

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