Canis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Canis Temporal range: Miocene to Recent 9–0 mya
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Canidae
Genus:	Canis

Canis is a special group of animals that includes many of your favorite furry friends! This group is home to the domestic dog, wild wolves, clever coyotes, and speedy jackals. The word 'Canis' actually means "dog" in Latin. These animals have lived on Earth for a very long time, since about 9 million years ago!

Meet the Canis Family

The Canis family has about seven to ten different kinds of living animals. Besides the ones we know today, there were also many Canis species that are now extinct, meaning they no longer exist.

What Makes Them Special?

Animals in the Canis group are built for hunting. They have strong canine teeth that are perfect for catching and holding their prey. Their back teeth, called molars, are so strong they can even crunch bones!

Unlike some other hunters, like big cats, Canis animals are amazing at chasing their prey over long distances. They can run for a long time, tiring out their meals before catching them. This makes them very successful hunters in many different parts of the world.

Different Kinds of Canis Animals

The Canis group includes many well-known animals:

• Dogs: Your pet dog is a member of the Canis family! Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) are believed to have descended from ancient wolves.
• Wolves: There are several types of wolves, like the gray wolf (Canis lupus) and the Eastern wolf (Canis lycaon). They often live in packs and are known for their howling.
• Coyotes: Coyotes (Canis latrans) are found in North America. They are very adaptable and can live in many different environments, from deserts to cities.
• Jackals: Jackals are smaller members of the Canis group, like the Eurasian golden jackal (Canis aureus) and the African golden wolf (Canis lupaster). They are known for being scavengers and opportunistic hunters.

All these animals share similar features that help them survive and thrive in their habitats.

Images for kids

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  Skulls of dire wolf (Aenocyon dirus), gray wolf (C. lupus), eastern wolf (C. lycaon), red wolf (C. rufus), coyote (C. latrans), African golden wolf (C. lupaster), golden jackal (C. aureus) and black-backed jackal (Lupulella mesomelas)

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  Diagram of a wolf skull with key features labelled

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  Eurasian wolf skull

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  Gray wolf (Canis lupus)

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  Eastern wolf (Canis lupus lycaon or Canis lycaon) (includes latrans admixture)

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  Red wolf (Canis lupus rufus or Canis rufus) (includes latrans admixture)

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  Coyote (Canis latrans)

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  African golden wolf (Canis lupaster)

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  Eurasian golden jackal (Canis aureus)

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  Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis)

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  Himalayan wolf (Canis lupus chanco)

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  Indian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes)

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  Domestic dog (Canis familiaris)

See also

In Spanish: Canis para niños