Canis

For other uses, see Canis (disambiguation).

Canis
Gray Wolf
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Canidae
Subfamily:	Caninae
Genus:	Canis Linnaeus, 1758
Species
Canis adustus Canis aureus Canis dirus (extinct) Canis himalayensis Canis indica Canis latrans Canis lupus Canis mesomelas Canis rufus Canis simensis   † C. lupus also includes dogs.

Canis is a genus that includes several of the modern wolf and jackal species, including the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) which is the ancestor of the Domestic Dog (Canis lupus familiaris), and the Black-backed Jackal, which according to the fossil record, is the oldest member of the genus . There are between 7 and 10 species, depending on the source that is used. The jackals used to be placed in their own genus: Thor, but that classification is now unused. Molecular evidence indicate that the dhole, or Asiatic wild dog, is also part of Canis. Other closely related genera are Lycaon (African wild dog) and, more distantly, Pseudalopex and other South American Foxes. There are a great many extinct species of the genus Canis. It is an old genus (but very advanced), dating back to the Miocene.

See also

• List of Canis species and subspecies