simple/entry level infographic of domestic dog evolution - Page 1

source;

http://visual.ly/evolution-dog

Yes, that's great, as far as it goes ... nice and colourful for kids, and such.

But it takes no account of alternative thoughts on the development of
canis familiaris -  as it notes "most scientists now agree" that the dog
evolved from the gray wolf / timber wolf ...  There are genetic studies, as
I understand (though I haven't researched to see if I can find you examples
to quote) that give the wolf ancestor as more likely the middle-eastern
range of sub-species.  Which if you think about it is fairly logical, because
they would  - in warmer climes - be in more contact with more humans.

Neither view however is as interesting as the work done by Coppinger et al
on the process from wild-then-feral-then-village dogs.  There may have been
some wolf connection earlier on in the family tree, but the common view that the
domestic dog evolved straight from wolf-cubs being tamed and brought up by humans
makes less sense than the idea that there were actual 'dogs' hanging around
human society long before they were taken into the hearts and homes of people.


C/F   Dingo history.

I was about to say more or less the same thing.

This is grossly oversimplified and scientifically at
least 20 years out of date.

The Coppinger book is a classic, and should be
studied by all people seriously interested in dogs:

http://www.amazon.com/Dogs-Understanding-Canine-Behavior-Evolution/dp/0226115631/ref=la_B001ITRNRK_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1396184728&sr=1-1

HM, did you mean to say the"wolf" ancestor as more likely the middle eastern range of subspecies.? Or did the "dog" ancestor.........?
A very good program showed studies trying to pinpoint to dog ancestor through mitochondrial DNA. I think they concluded the likely animal to be the Indian wolf, not sure if that was the one, but it resembled the dingo. Maybe the Dole?

More information:

http://www.angelplace.net/dog/Origins.pdf

Joan, the wolf.  There is some connection in type between the red wolves in India
and those around North Africa;  not sure if what we see today is exactly
what was there pre- the splitting of continents etc, I don't know it in enough
detail.  If I ever get time I'll read up on it.  But basically, yeah, those wolves.
Not the ones living up in arctic climes.
  Not suggesting there are major differences between wolf sub-species,
but possibly enough to make some difference in the eventual genetic malliability of the
dog as a species.  And there's the statistical likelihood, with bigger populations.

Thanks Jim for the book reference,  I think there is also another one the
Coppingers wrote, specifically about the progression of the domestic dog, and it
mentions that in its title somehow ;  my copy is still somewhere in storage following
my last move, so I can't tell people the actual title, but I'm sure it could be googled.  
About 2009-ish ?