Canini is a

taxon In biology, a taxon (back-formation from ''taxonomy''; : taxa) is a group of one or more populations of an organism or organisms seen by taxonomists to form a unit. Although neither is required, a taxon is usually known by a particular name and ...

which represents the dog-like

tribe The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of human social group. The predominant worldwide use of the term in English is in the discipline of anthropology. The definition is contested, in part due to conflict ...

of the subfamily

Caninae Caninae (whose members are known as canines () is the only living subfamily within Canidae, alongside the extinct Borophaginae and Hesperocyoninae. They first appeared in North America, during the Oligocene around 35 million years ago, subsequent ...

(the canines), and is sister to the fox-like tribe

Vulpini Vulpini is a Tribe (biology), tribe which represents the fox-like taxon of the subfamily Caninae (the canines), and is sister to the dog-like tribe Canini (tribe), Canini. It comprises the 15 extant and 21 Extinction, extinct species found on all ...

. The Canini came into existence 9 million years ago. This group was first represented by ''Eucyon'', mostly by '' Eucyon davisi'' that was spread widely across North America and is basal to the other members of the tribe. Its members are informally known as true dogs.

Taxonomy

Members of this tribe include: : Common names of most of the South American canines include "fox", based on resemblance, but they are more closely related to wolves than to ''

vulpini Vulpini is a Tribe (biology), tribe which represents the fox-like taxon of the subfamily Caninae (the canines), and is sister to the dog-like tribe Canini (tribe), Canini. It comprises the 15 extant and 21 Extinction, extinct species found on all ...

'', the Eurasian and North American foxes. The cladogram below is based on the phylogeny of Lindblad-Toh ''et al''. (2005), modified to incorporate recent findings on ''

Canis ''Canis'' is a genus of the Caninae which includes multiple extant taxon, extant species, such as Wolf, wolves, dogs, coyotes, and golden jackals. Species of this genus are distinguished by their moderate to large size, their massive, well-develo ...

'' species, ''

Lycalopex The South American foxes (''Lycalopex''), commonly called ''raposa'' in Portuguese, or ''zorro'' in Spanish, are a genus inhabiting South America. Despite their name, they are not true foxes, but are a unique canid genus more closely related t ...

'' species, and '' Dusicyon''.

References

External links

{{Taxonbar, from=Q28266 Mammal tribes Canines