All articles tagged with #canine evolution
A study analyzing more than 3,000 dogs, plus wolves and coyotes, links DNA variants near the MSRB3 gene to ear length, explaining why some breeds have long, floppy ears while others have short, erect ones. Presented at a genome conference and published in Scientific Reports, the work suggests both natural factors and selective breeding have shaped canine ear morphology across breeds.
Scientists have confirmed the existence of the world's first dog-fox hybrid, named Dogxim, a cross between a pampas fox and a domestic dog. The discovery challenges previous beliefs about the inability of dogs and foxes to intermix due to their evolutionary divergence. Dogxim, found in southern Brazil after being hit by a car, exhibits both dog-like and fox-like characteristics, including barking like a dog and preferring to catch and eat rats. The genetic testing revealed that Dogxim has 76 chromosomes, a combination of the differing chromosome numbers of domestic dogs and pampas foxes. This finding suggests an increase in contact between wild and domestic species and highlights the potential consequences of human encroachment on the environment.
Scientists have confirmed the existence of the world's first dog-fox hybrid, named Dogxim, a cross between a pampas fox and a domestic dog. Previously, it was believed that foxes and dogs were too evolutionarily divergent to interbreed. Dogxim, who was found injured and taken to a wildlife rehab facility in Brazil, exhibits a mix of dog and fox characteristics, including barking like a dog but having a more pointed face and ears. The discovery challenges our understanding of canine evolution and suggests an increase in contact between wild and domestic species, potentially serving as a warning of environmental overstepping.