ARCH2108Animals, Plants and People: ARCH2108 Animals, Plants and People The Dog


The family Canidae: The family Canidae Dhole Cuon alpinus Cape hunting dog Lycaon pictus Arctic fox Alopex lagopus Maned wolf Chrysocyon jubatus Fennec fox Vulpes zerda


The genus Canisabout 7 species including:: The genus Canis about 7 species including: Black-backed jackal Canis mesomelas Golden jackal Canis aureus Coyote Canis latrans Gray wolf Canis lupus


Species of Canis often hybridize in the wild: Species of Canis often hybridize in the wild Coyote Red wolves The critically endangered Red Wolf (Canis rufus) may be a stabilized hybrid between Gray Wolf and Coyote Anaesthetized!


Could the dog be of hybrid origin?: Could the dog be of hybrid origin? Konrad Lorenz proposed that some breeds are predominately derived from the Gray Wolf, others from the Golden Jackal. “Wolf breeds” would be those exhibiting one-person fidelity, “jackal breeds” more promiscuous in their affections. He later changed his opinion under the weight of archaeozoological evidence.


Distribution of Gray Wolf,Canis lupus: Distribution of Gray Wolf, Canis lupus Extinct in most of Western Europe since about 17th century Extinct in southern USA and Mexico since early 19th century


Subspecies of Gray Wolves: whence the dog?: Subspecies of Gray Wolves: whence the dog? Arctic wolf Canis lupus albus Indian wolf Canis lupus pallipes Arabian wolf Canis lupus arabs European wolf Canis lupus lupus


Juliet Clutton-Brock’s model:dog breeds primarily from Indian wolf, but with input from local subspecies: Juliet Clutton-Brock’s model: dog breeds primarily from Indian wolf, but with input from local subspecies North American wolf Chinese wolf Indian wolf European wolf


Vilà et al. (1997): two (of four) dog mtDNA lineages are as deep as those among wolves: Vilà et al. (1997): two (of four) dog mtDNA lineages are as deep as those among wolves WOLVES: Saudi Arabia, Spain, China WOLVES: Saudi Arabia, Iran, China, Mexico? WOLVES: Saudi Arabia, India, Russia WOLVES: Saudi Arabia, Israel, Afghanistan, S.E.Europe, Poland, Spain WOLVES: Scandinavia WOLVES: N.America WOLVES: Romania, Greece, Russia DOGS: Ridgeback, Afghan, Otterhound, Bulldog, Basset WOLVES: Western & Southern Europe DOGS: some Elkhounds, Jämthunds DOGS: some Terriers, German Shepherds, Huskies DOGS: most dogs, including dingo, singing dog, Basenji, greyhound, Samoyed, spitz Time depth: 100-150,000 years


Savolainen et al. (2002): Savolainen et al. (2002) from East from West A B C The three major dog clades (using Vilà et al.’s data) each have much more diverse representation in East Asia than in Europe/S.W.Asia/Africa. The time depth of Clade A is 41±4 ka; the three best-defined subclusters are 11±4, 16±3 and 26±8 ka. Clade B has time depth 13±3, Clade C is 17±3.


Slide11: Purple: Latin American precontact dogs Green: Alaskan precontact dogs Black: modern dogs Black: Asian wolves Blue: American wolves Outgroup: Coyotes Leonard et al. (2002): New World dogs have Old World origin


Structure of a wolf pack: Structure of a wolf pack Each pack has a dominant pair who – Patrol boundaries Settle disputes Control pack movements Do all the breeding Hierarchy maintained by movements of tail, ears, mouth and body, and by vocalisations. Subdominant females more aggressive than males.


Group size: Group size Northern wolf packs gather in groups up to 30 in winter to hunt large prey such as moose; in spring and summer, break up into basic packs (4-10) to hunt small prey (and to breed) Southern wolves remain in basic packs.


Territoriality: Territoriality Scent marks placed along paths on conspicuous landmarks Borders marked very intensively Other pack members often “endorse” scent marks by dominants Howling marks territory, and is a cohesion mechanism within the pack Territory size 60-400km2 (up to 12,800 km2 in one Alaskan study)


Hunting: Hunting Northern wolves: hunting is a very social activity, preceded by bonding ceremonies (tail-wagging, whining, mutual face-licking) Kill efficiency is low: for moose, 8%; for smaller deer 25-63% according to snow conditions Young prey more vulnerable in spring and summer, older animals in autumn and winter Sex ratio of kills, males: females - 2½:1 Southern wolves kill gazelles, sheep and goats, hares; commonly hunt singly


Helper system: Helper system Subordinate members of pack are offspring of previous years; may delay dispersal till second or third year of life A helper may take part in the hunt, or stay with pups while other pack members are away On returning from a hunt, all pack members – helpers as well as dominant pair – regurgitate meat for the pups


Wolf pups playing: Wolf pups playing


Breeding season: Breeding season At breeding time, much chorus howling, muzzling, fur sniffing, increase in play - - and increase in aggression, which may result in change of ranking Aggression begins in friendly interactions, escalates when challenger bites harder than usual Real fights are silent Loser runs away, often chased by all pack members


Breeding: Breeding Wolves breed late winter or early spring Dogs breed twice a year Mating tie lasting 10-30 minutes Gestation 63 days 1-4 or more per litter (some dog breeds very prolific) Eyes open 14 days Social responses well developed 6 weeks Fully mature 9-12 months


Wolves and dogs: Wolves and dogs Wolves, dingoes and working dogs have narrow shoulders, elbows turn inwards, hindfeet placed in tracks of forefeet (most dogs place hindfeet outside tracks of forefeet) Wolf and dingo tails low-slung, sickle-shaped; many dogs curly-tailed Dogs’ jaws shortened (often uneven), teeth crowded, muzzle relatively broad Dogs have a “stop” (a sudden drop at root of nose) because of enlarged frontal sinuses


Wolves and dogs, contd…: Wolves and dogs, contd… Earlier maturation (6-9 months) Two breeding seasons per year All males mark Barking enhanced Hunting sequence (track - stalk – kill – retrieve) has been disrupted Underfur lost in most, but overdeveloped (and guard hairs lost) in poodles Development of “theory of mind” as far as humans are concerned


Slide22: Wild wolf (Poland) Wolf born wild, reared in zoo Wolf born in and reared in zoo Wolf whose parents were born in zoo Changes in wolf skull under different rearing conditions. But wolf does not develop a “stop”


Dingo: Dingo


Early colonial descriptions of New South Wales mention dingo only as an Aboriginal camp dog: Early colonial descriptions of New South Wales mention dingo only as an Aboriginal camp dog Is the long-coated Mountain Dingo a feral legacy of the destruction of Aboriginal society in the Southeast?


When did dingoes arrive in Australia?: When did dingoes arrive in Australia? Earliest finds: Madura Cave, Nullarbor - 3450 ± 95 B.P. Wombah, NSW - 3200 B.P. Fromm’s Landing, SA - 3000 B.P. They were never present in Tasmania or Kangaroo Island


Slide26: Dingoes are usually sandy-coloured. Black-and-tan (B locus allele) and White (probably C locus?) occur in wild; unknown if this is natural, or due to interbreeding with introduced dogs


Dingo: Dingo Usually roam solitary Group howling at breeding time (April-May) Make breeding dens Helper system as in wolves Only mother appears to bring food One helper remains near den Mother regurgitates water for pups Food mainly rabbits, but kangaroos, sheep sometimes hunted; scavenge


Dingo-like dogs in nearby regions: Dingo-like dogs in nearby regions New Guinea Singing Dog Tengger Wild Dog (East Java) Recorded in 1896, and not since


Thai dingoes?: Thai dingoes? Marginalized, pariah-like dogs resembling dingoes in colour and skull Koh Samui The earliest are from Ban Chiang , N.E.Thailand, 5,500 years B.P.


Slide30: Corbett (1985): multivariate analysis of Australian and Thai dingo skulls Domestic dogs Thai dingoes Australian dingoes


Brain size reduction in dogs: Brain size reduction in dogs Wolves Dogs Log brain weight Log body weight


Modern breeds selected for intelligence (poodle, German Shepherd) have increased brain size compared with primitive dogs (Swiss Neolithic Lake dwellings) : Modern breeds selected for intelligence (poodle, German Shepherd) have increased brain size compared with primitive dogs (Swiss Neolithic Lake dwellings)


- or New Guinea Singing Dogs: - or New Guinea Singing Dogs


- or Batak dogs (Sumatra) : - or Batak dogs (Sumatra)


Earliest dogs?(short jaw, small carnassial, crowded teeth): Earliest dogs? (short jaw, small carnassial, crowded teeth) Oberkassel, Germany 14 ka Kebara, Israel 24-14 ka Kebara, Mallaha (Natufian) 12 ka Palegawra, Iraq 12 ka Seamer Carr, England 9.94 ka Fell’s Cave, Chile 8.5-6.5 ka Tocibara, Japan 8 ka The Natufian dogs of Mallaha and Hayonim are buried along with human skeletons


Domestic dogs are used for -: Domestic dogs are used for - Companionship Draft (Inuit sledges; Plains travois) Food (Africa, Mexico, China) Hair for blankets (Andes, Maori) Warmth (Australia, Mexico) Hunting Guarding settlements and stock Controlling stock animals Following scent trails Racing


Sense of smell: Sense of smell An individual human’s trail followed even when criss-crossed by others (only identical twins smell the same) Only two seconds of hand contact needed Olfactory area of dog contains 14x as many cells as human But they are fallible as trackers; part of cues comes from compressed earth and vegetation


Allometry in dog skulls: Allometry in dog skulls Cranium of a large (21 kg) poodle Cranium of a miniature (3 kg) poodle Large cranium reduced to size of small one, to show change of proportions consequent on change of size (allometry)


Some breeds are grossly deformed: Some breeds are grossly deformed Large breed Peke (overshot jaw)


Origin of breeds: Origin of breeds A short-legged scent-hound known from Egyptian XII dynasty An Amratian bowl (Egypt, 4th mill. B.C.) depicts 4 sight-hounds (saluki?) on a leash Guard dog (mastiff) known from Carthage Two presumed breeds, a large one and a small one, known from Maglemose (Germany, 8000-6500 B.C.)


Egyptian greyhoundBeni Hassan, XII Dynasty (1900 B.C.): Egyptian greyhound Beni Hassan, XII Dynasty (1900 B.C.)


Hare, Brown, Williamson & Tomasello (2002)Experiments on ability of dogs to follow social cues from humans: Hare, Brown, Williamson & Tomasello (2002) Experiments on ability of dogs to follow social cues from humans Experimenter reached toward, gazed at, and marked a baited container. 9/11 dogs, but only 2/11 chimpanzees, used the social cue correctly Experimenter indicated baited container by (1) Gaze-point-tap, (2) Gaze-point, (3) Point, (4) No cue (control) All of 7 wolves performed at chance levels; all of 7 dogs performed above chance level on GPT, 5 on GP, 4 on P, none on Control. No effect of learning.


Hare et al. (2002) contd.: Hare et al. (2002) contd. Experimenter hid food in the presence of dogs and wolves, who were required to find it after delay (nonsocial memory task). 4/5 dogs and 4/5 wolves performed above chance. (A control experiment showed no effect of olfaction). 32 puppies (9 to 26 weeks) tested in Gaze-Point and Gaze experiments. No effect of family- vs. litter-rearing No effect of learning No effect of age GP more effective than G


Primitive breeds: Primitive breeds Aikida (northern Japan) Basenji (Congo)


And finally…: And finally… In South America, the genus Canis is replaced by the genus Dusicyon (common names: culpeo, zorro, aguara - incorrectly called foxes) Chilean “fox”, Dusicyon culpaeus


Charles Hamilton Smith (1839):: Charles Hamilton Smith (1839): Several of the species [of Dusicyon] can be sufficiently tamed to accompany their masters to hunt in the forest without however being able to undergo much fatigue; for when they find the sport not to their liking, they return home to await the return of the sportsmen…


Slide47: …In domesticity they are excessive thieves, and go to prowl in the forest… The native Indians who have domestic dogs of European origin invariably use the Spanish term perro, and greatly promote the increase of the breed in preference to their own, which they consider to be derived entirely, or with a cross, from the Aguaras of the woods…


Slide48: …We find, from late information, that within the last 35 years the indigenous dogs of the Indians have been gradually replaced by the domestic European, and that now it is difficult to find any even in the more remote parts of the interior. When we were in the country [around 1810], this was not the case.


Legacy of culpeo domestication?: Legacy of culpeo domestication? Until about 1880 a “wolf” inhabited the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) No indigenous people are known there There are no other indigenous mammals It had white muzzle and tail-tip like a dingo, enlarged frontal sinuses, and wide muzzle


Falklands “wolf”,Dusicyon australis: Falklands “wolf”, Dusicyon australis