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Is a dog more closely related to a coyote or wolf?
- Dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) are more closely related to wolves (Canis lupus) than to coyotes (Canis latrans). In fact, domestic dogs are considered a subspecies of the gray wolf.
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Which of the two are more closely related: a red fox, a gray wolf, or a coyote?
- Of the three, the gray wolf and coyote are more closely related to each other than to the red fox. Gray wolves and coyotes belong to the same genus (Canis), while the red fox belongs to a different genus (Vulpes).
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Is a dog more closely related to a gray fox or a red fox?
- A dog is more closely related to a gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) and a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) than to either of these foxes. However, both species of foxes are not as closely related to dogs as the wolf is, since they belong to the Vulpes genus.
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What are all of these descendants of?
- All these canids (dogs, wolves, coyotes, red foxes, and gray foxes) are descendants of a common ancestor in the Canidae family. This family has its origins in ancient carnivorous mammals, with Canis species (like wolves and coyotes) and Vulpes species (like foxes) diverging from common ancestors millions of years ago.
In summary, domestic dogs are most closely related to gray wolves, while gray wolves and coyotes are more closely related to each other than they are to red foxes.