Family CANIDAE
Compiler and date details
December 2010 - Updated by Stephen M. Jackson, c/- Queensland Museum, Brisbane, following Van Dyck & Strahan (2008)
31 December 1998 - J.A. Mahoney & D.W. Walton (1988); updated by Barry J. Richardson (1999), Centre for Biostructural and Biomolecular Research, University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury
Introduction
The family Canidae, which includes the dogs, wolves, jackals and foxes, is represented in Australia by two species, the European red fox, introduced after European settlement of the continent, and the dingo, most probably introduced during the earlier aboriginal settlement of Australia. Canids are carnivorous to omnivorous in diet, terrestrial, solitary or social and tend to be highly vocal. They are usually monoestrus and produce a single litter each year. The legs are slender, the feet digitigrade with either five or four toes on the manus and four of the pes and the claws are straight and non-retractile. The rostral portion of the skull is elongate. The general dental formula is 3/3, 1/1, 4/4, 2/3 = 42 although the number of molars may vary from 1/2 to 4/5. A baculum is present and well developed and a scent gland is usually present at the base of the tail.
The family is represented by native forms on all continents except Antarctica, but native forms are absent on most oceanic islands such as New Zealand, Madagascar and various Pacific islands.
General References
Newsome, A.E. & Common, B.J. 1989. Canidae. pp. 993-1005 in Walton, D.W. & Richardson, B.J. (eds). Fauna of Australia. Mammalia. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service Vol. 1B 827 pp.
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16-Oct-2013 | 13-Dec-2010 | MOVED | ||
| 12-Feb-2010 | (import) |